Seeking Refuge

Seeking refuge is no a modern necessary.  All humans have the right to feel safe and be free of the constant fear of harm and yes that should extend to terrorism, in a world living in conflict.  Fleeing conflict occur in ascent times.  Many rules sort to kill those who posed threat to their power and authority.

I reflect on the mother of Mosses who fearing for her baby's sons life hide him in the weeds.  We know this story ended in the Pharaoh's daughter finding Mosses and raising him as her own.  Moses mother had no guarantee the her son would reason safety.  So Moses was an individual - a baby that posed no threat to anyone.

That is not the way the ruler saw it.  He had order all babies under one to be killed.  Try to imagine knowing you infant was to be killed. . . Ask what risks you would take, would you stay or flee?

Make no mistake whatever your choice it was the ruler who was a fault not the mother who chose to put her baby a risk.  Her son faced certain death.

Here we have the definition of a true refugee, someone facing death and thus fighting for survival.  Imagine if you were face with death, what choices would you make?  

Somewhere in the world today is a mother or father faced with these same choice,  perhaps even in Israel as conflict returns.

There was another young child living in that region who life was directly threaten by a King.  Jealous because this child was to be a King like the ruler centuries before hand he ordered all males under one to be killed.  This time Jesus's parents seek to seek refuge in another country.  Did they ask to enter legally?  

We know they had by law travelled to Bethlehem for the census. These were law abiding people who sort safety in hiding in  another country.  How would you respond?  

Whatever, you think of these ancient stories. They set a background to begin to examine out own conscious and convictions..  

Whoever you think Jesus was, there in no denying he was a historical figure whose life was at constant risk.  Christians like me spend this season every year to remember this child and what he brought to the world . . . A promise of everlasting peace.  Isn't peace what you're wishing for . . . A world where your personal safety and you're families safety is not a risk?

This time of year I can't help reflecting on my personal hopes for 2018 while reflecting on the history of those seeking refuge.

The world and Australians, certainly our government seeks asylum seeks as cue jumpers and law breakers, but by definition the are people fleeing probable death. These people first seek refuge in a refugee camp where resources are in shortage and the possibilities of safety and prosperity are shared. Here in a camp they may not know what is legal and illegal, in terms of their journey ahead. 

It is likely the know nothing of Australia's boarder protection law are the want is safety and perhaps the promise land. Let's flick back to Moses and the second time he seeks refuge in a foreign in land . . . This time he did seek permission to leave and it was denied. He heart wanted the blessing of the King  but in the end he was force to break the law and flee.  We do not always have choices to do the right thing when it comes to our safety.

Refugees are a displace people seeking safety.  Whether that be Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand or PNG.  These are unknown places and countries people hear about as flea from perhaps an area that now operates in a constant state of lawlessness.  

I have heard claims that Boarder Protection drops leaflets about our boarder protection laws and detention for those who seek to risk everything to come to Australia. There are legal and illegal was to come to Australia and boat is not the only illegal way to enter Australia.  Many more simply overstay their visa.

Think about all the paper you find in the street?  If you saw leaflets on the ground would you pick it up.  Until now you're never heard of Australia.  Chances are where your fleeing a country your first goal is to reach safety,  Once you're out of immediate danger and your not trying to keep the family alive then you might start to process resettlement and building a new life.

I think every asylum seeker, even Muslims and those who seek to do evil are seeking the promised land. . They want the same as we do the best life for there kids.  Now these people are living in a camp in 'no mans land' where food and water is in short supply when a few names of countries being tossed around and maybe some transport options.  

Ok maybe you're seen clips of Indonesia, The USA, Canada, Australia and even PNG on television, my guess is you've never  seen picture of Christmas Island or Nuara like Jesus' parents and Moses' mum before them your intention is to get your family to safety. You hear a few people say their thinking of seeking refuge in Australian and the first stage of the journey is to get to Indonesia. Maybe others are looking at England or Canada.  The reality is you want safety and the best chance of a good life.

So may be in the camp your told your legal options.  You know you can apply for refugee status.  Trouble is you're left how without all your identification papers and  everything you need to apply legally to live in another country.  Maybe your just waiting for your papers to be processed when you hear others talking about taking a boat from Indonesia to Australian and you as to speak to the person who think is selling you ticket to get to Australian.  Your not in Indonesia yet.  You have not seen the boat and you assume the paper work will occur in Indonesia. 

All you doing is buying a boat ticket that leaves another country to get to where you're going.  It is not illegal to buy a ticket.  So you sign-up with this group to travel to Australia every thing seems ok and you're on the road to safety. Then you arrive in Indonesia with your ticket paid.  You go to the dock ask some questions, maybe you even check out a boat.  

However you have no idea how far you need to travel, or maybe you think to ask how may days at sea.  My bet is you have not idea how many people you'll be travelling with or by getting on the boat your breaking the law. So you get a date to sail. 

You paid this man almost all the money you have it must be legal. Departure day arrives. There are so many people at the docks,  OK these more than one boat right?

Suddenly reality hits everyone is taking the same boat to Australia, this isn't what you paid for.  Well it was but it wasn't what you pictured.  You find yourself and your family in no man's land. All your cash has paid for this trip to Australia.  Not to leave makes you an illegal immigrate in one country or chancing your passage to Australia, believing you'll be protected under the refugee Act if you survive.

You know the truth you know when these people arrive in Australia they are law breakers and the will face indefinite detention. You know our country takes no responsibility for their welfare. In truth these people have no idea of the ticket to hell they purchased in stead of the promised land.

How can we  judge these people and where is the compassion? We as a nation were born in foreign lands.  This is a land we stole - our forefathers common criminals. As we grew as a nation, we grew in wisdom and compassion. Our shore welcome many who risk everything to arrival in Australia.  Those coming by boat to seek asylum is part of the nation we built.

We act like this is the only way to enter Australia illegal.  Thousands arrive on work visa each year, choosing not to return home.  Our governments claims to be just and upright, but more needs to be done to correct the harm done when the British stole this nation and treated the inhabits as criminals.

We a land of milk and honey, whose natural wealth and beauty could support these people and more.  Where has our generous spirit gone?  This Christmas some of these families are spending their 5 th Christmas in detention without a trial or sentencing, despite offers form New Zealand these boat people are detained.  

Many around the world have commend this off shore processing and what is now seen as indefinite imprisonment.  Surely after 5 years refugee status could be confirmed. Rather than shown mercy and compassion the government confirms its commitment to send a strong message to people smugglers. The ones who know they are breaking many laws and only receives fines.  These fines are paid from the profits of ticket sales of those living in detention,

People smugglers unlike those who provide their income get a trail.  Suddenly the land of the fair and free seems to have disappeared and the majority of Australians are happy with the governments board protections laws and its commitment to protect the Australia way of life. 

Like many before me its not very difficult to poke holes in the governments defences and its claims to be protecting our way of life.  I have no difficulty accepting these people have broken law. I do have issue on the fairness of the law,  these people having no trial and the punishment imposed.

This is without consideration of the many international human rights laws our government continues to break while claiming rightness in its handling of boarding protection. The choice between compassion and admiring their mistakes and remaining firm on an unfair law we continue to see their compassionate response.     

Board protection laws when it comes to asylum seeks has nothing to do with the protection of our way of life.  Terrorist enter and  leave our country the same way as us.  By plane the have the know how and the money to evade detection.  Terrorism knows no boundaries and the internet spreads their doctrine of lies and deception to attract others to fight for their cause. 

It is not terrorist I fear, thy parade the message of hate and need for control. It is the hidden  and deceptive emery I fear.   What would it really hurt to #letthemcomehere?

This post was inspired by Shiloh Moore who has shared this Christmas message since 2015.