Being the Light: “As Long as I’m Helping Someone, I Feel Good”

Link to the Episcopal Lectionary (readings) for the Third Sunday in Lent

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable unto your sight oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer:

There are times when pulling the different readings from the lectionary together into one common theme seems impossible- and there’s others when the connection is crystal clear- and still even others that the connection comes together after a bit of thought and contemplation. This would be one of those times for me. 

I am someone who gets caught up in the stories of others. Of people watching. Of driving past the homes of others and wondering about them. I can remember being in the middle of heartbreak- driving my sleeping babies around, getting them to nap while their father came home from work: himself exhausted and demanding that I get these two babies out of his hair. Driving around and looking at the houses of others, wondering if they were happy, inventing stories in my own mind of what it might be like to be happy myself. Wondering and dreaming and praying for a better future. One in which home might be safe, stable, welcoming. Warm. I can remember almost every house I drove by that was for sale- and imagining what it could be like if I were in one of them. 

These three passages share a common theme of God’s call to repentance, divine patience, and ultimate judgment, along with a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

In Luke, Jesus addresses two tragic events—Pilate’s massacre of Galileans and the collapse of the tower in Siloam. He challenges the common assumption that those who suffered were more sinful than others, emphasizing instead that all must repent or perish. The parable of the barren fig tree follows, where the owner wants to cut it down, but the gardener pleads for more time to nurture it. This reflects God’s patience in giving people time to bear fruit (repent and live righteously).

Paul then reminds the Corinthians that the Israelites experienced God’s guidance and provision (cloud, sea, spiritual food and drink), yet many fell because of their disobedience and idolatry. He warns that these stories serve as examples to avoid complacency and sin. This passage highlights God’s faithfulness but also warns that judgment comes upon those who refuse to learn from the past.

And in Exodus Moses encounters God in the burning bush, receiving his divine calling to lead Israel out of Egypt. God reveals His name as “I AM WHO I AM”, signifying His eternal and unchanging nature. This passage emphasizes God’s power, presence, and faithfulness in delivering His people, despite their suffering.

Now for me specifically, I was once in a place that felt so barren in so many ways before being brought where I am now. 

Now when we talk about perishing here I think it’s important to remember that God often speaks to us in metaphors. I don’t think this is a physical death here, but a spiritual one. When we don’t act in love we are acting in fear. God tells us over and over that fear removes us from God. 

Going back to my fascination with stories, there’s one I read recently on Kaitlyn Ross 11Alive’s Facebook page. She’s one of those journalists who often tells feel good stories, and so I’ll quote her here:

“We met Rodney Taylor behind the barber chair in Tucker, Georgia.

He was working to help his clients get lung cancer screenings while getting their haircut.

The nonprofit work was making a difference and we were set to showcase that in a report.

The story was shot, written, and edited.

Set to air the next day.

And then Rodney got detained by ICE.

I believe in truth and transparency in journalism.

It would not have been ethical to air that story knowing that he had been arrested.

But it would have also been unethical to kill a story without any explanation or answers.

So we decided to tell his story in full.

I didn’t know it when we interviewed him the day before, but Rodney is an undocumented immigrant.

He was brought here from Liberia at 2 years old.

Rodney was born with clubbed hands and feet and came to the US on a medical visa to have both feet and part of his right hand amputated.

When we shot the story, I thought it was cool that he was working as a successful barber as a triple amputee.

But those differences would’ve meant a death sentence in Liberia, where disability was seen as witchcraft.

So his Mom came here to save his life and get him the medical care he needed.

But she never filed the paperwork to make him a permanent resident.

He grew up here… and got in trouble here.

When Rodney was 16, he robbed his neighbors house with some friends.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and served a short jail sentence.

In 2010, that conviction was pardoned by the Parole Board in Georgia.

31 years later, ICE is using that same conviction to deport him.

Rodney says he never tried to hide his immigration status.

He applied for residency 3 times and also applied for DACA and the Liberian Amnesty Program.

But he has a criminal record, so those requests were denied.

The latest public data shows a majority of people support deporting people who are undocumented with criminal records: 59% according to the latest Pew Research Poll.

Immigration is in the news constantly and it’s a subject people feel very strongly about on both sides.

“The reality is, our laws have not changed in 30 years,” said Immigration Expert Charles Kuck. “What’s changed is how they’re enforced.”

Rodney feels caught in the crosshairs.

I interviewed him from his detention center on a spotty video connection.

He told me the guards are kind but the conditions are bad and he’s losing a lot of weight.

From his detention cell in Lumpkin, Georgia he’s still planning a free community health fair happening tomorrow.

He’s cutting other inmates hair in jail to get them ready for their court dates.

He hasn’t had one yet.

ICE told me the agency does not accept his pardon and the removal case against him is moving forward.

The spokesman was thorough and polite, checking back with me several times throughout my reporting.

The DOJ told me they do not have a record of his case because he has not been charged yet.

So until then, Rodney will keep cutting hair in jail and hoping for the best.

“As long as I’m helping someone, I feel good.”

Rodney doesn’t know what will happen next – and neither do I.

I’ve spent the last few weeks digging into his story and interviewing experts on immigration.

It is complicated.

I know there will be very strong opinions on both sides of the issue here.

We wanted to give a balanced, behind the scenes look at one persons experience as it was unfolding.

This story is complicated.

But it didn’t start out that way.”

Isn’t this remarkable? Rodney could be afraid. Easily so. But he’s not. In fact, he says “As long as I’m helping someone, I feel good”. And I know what so many may say- why didn’t he work harder to get his citizenship? I identify with this.

His story reminds me of my own in so many ways. She married him – she should have known. Why didn’t she divorce him beforehand? Well they’ve got kids now she needs to work it out. 

All of the coulda woulda shoudva’s of this world and reasons why abusers make their justifications for why we should stay in their oppressive systems 

I relate to him. But when I was looking for another home, a way out- I’m not sure I held the same grace he did. I held a lot of anger with God and questions as to why. And more importantly, I was afraid.

This man’s faith is one to behold. And it’s one I frankly admire. Even in the face of his own injustice he has a better faith than I did when I was in the midst of mine. 

Rodney also got in trouble and repented, he was even paroled by the State of Georgia. He started giving back to his community. He did exactly what God is teaching us to do here.

For me, in the midst of my own troubles- I judged, I gossiped, and was quick to anger. It’s something I’m still recovering from. I’m not sure I can say I am in the same place as Rodney. But I am in a place where I can see God more clearly, and my fear of what’s to come is nearly gone. I have faith in the I AM WHO I AM. I would like to think that I am actively learning from my past. The Word of God is clear in these passages. At least, it seems that way to me. We must repent from the act of fear, because while fearing we are removed from God. We will be judged if we do not act in God’s love. God’s love is removed from fear. Fear removes us from love and thus our neighbors and community. Those who have faith, patience, and love will be rewarded- and we will be reminded of God’s faithfulness.

Actionable Item:

Have coffee with someone who thinks differently from you. I got this idea from the Builders Instagram account. Now for me, I wasn’t able to do this this week… and I like to post these right after I’ve taken this action myself. But I was delayed and so this is up a week late. And, I didn’t take this specific action but I did do something similar. My son was a page for Sine Die Day at the Georgia capitol. While there I spoke with people I know of all political beliefs. It’s beyond just talking to someone who thinks differently in my opinion! These are people who are actually on the front lines of making all of this happen. Maybe even don’t just grab coffee with a person- do that of course, but also reach out to politicians. Get to know them- they’re people, too.