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Salty

“Ye are the salt of the earth…” Matthew 5:13

In general, I feel confident about walking into new spaces. I love to meet new people, and I thrive on hearing their stories. Today feels a little different. I am writing and sending this piece into a space where I am not sure how it will be received by some readers. I read some of the comments you have made and the posts you have shared on social media. I have had conversations with some of you, only to later find out I was labeled in a way meant to be derogatory. But as much as I feel slightly apprehensive about what I am about to say, as a Christian, I need to respond to some current events. So, bear with me, read every word, think about it before you respond, and if you are a believer, take your thoughts in prayer to God. And if you have done all these things, feel free to have a conversation with me.

As a young reader, I often looked across my mother’s bookshelves to see if I could read something new. She had an eclectic book collection, including Animal Farm by George Orwell, Roots by Alex Haley, and The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. Among her books was a worn copy of The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, the story of a Jewish girl hiding in the Netherlands under Nazi occupation. In the book, Anne ponders the meaning of life while hiding. She penned, “In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart.” She wrote, “Those who have courage and faith shall never perish in misery.” I remember sobbing as I finished the book, knowing that Anne didn’t make it out safely and died in a concentration camp. It was my first conscious moment of knowing that whole groups of people could be persecuted because of their status: whether it was their color, religion, country of origin, or gender.

As I became a Christian, I learned more about how Christians like Corrie ten Boom and Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood up against the Nazis during the holocaust. Bonhoeffer’s words challenged me: “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice; we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.” I wondered, given the opportunity, would I stand up for a marginalized group of people like they did, or would I sit back like the countless masses, ignoring atrocities right before my eyes. Deep in my heart, I feared I might be a coward.

Today, I am standing up for immigrants, a group of marginalized people in the United States. Let me state unequivocally: I believe in strong borders. Just like I lock my door at night, I believe we should have borders where we are aware of who is coming into our country from all sides. But with those borders, we need to reform our current immigration laws so that it makes it easier for people to enter our country legally. We, who sit on the sidelines, need to educate ourselves on the policies of what it means to be a migrant, asylum seeker, immigrant, and refugee. For example, according to US immigration law, to seek asylum, a person must first enter the United States and then apply for asylum once they get here. The problem with this idea is that they are considered “illegal” by some until asylum is granted. For these asylum seekers, it can often be years before their cases can be decided.

My own views of immigration have been shaped by advocate Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome and former employee of Focus on the Family. Bri came to understand immigration when challenged about her pro-life beliefs by a colleague. Bri was asked if she believed in dignity for all life, including immigrants. Bri did a deep dive both into the Bible and into our past and current immigration laws. As a Christian, she was convinced that the Bible spoke to this issue. Throughout the Bible, scripture admonished people of faith to support families and individuals who leave countries for desperate situations in hopes of leading a better life. Her conviction led to starting a nonprofit, Women of Welcome, where Christians could start conversations about immigration and find ways to support immigrants in our communities. Her book, Start with Welcome, is one of the most influential books I have read in the last five years.

I have been following what has been going on in Minnesota, and my heart grieves for these people. As a nation, we have quickly trained a group of people to act as immigration enforcers (ICE). In previous administrations, it took 5-6 months before a person was considered properly trained for ICE. Now training is completed in 8 weeks. I have so many questions. Why are we fast-tracking individuals to hold a firearm in highly volatile situations? Are we pairing them with more seasoned ICE officials who have learned how to successfully de-escalate these situations?

Why are we creating a fear-based culture, where ICE officials are showing up at schools, following buses, and detaining anyone with brown or black skin? I understand the need to arrest those who are criminals and start the process of deportation. But we are a country of law; we have processes where we can legally deport them, not detain a 5-year-old and use him as bait to get to his dad. Thank God he has been returned to his home in Minnesota.

Another good question: how did Christians respond to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti? Personally, I was horrified seeing two people made in the image of God, shot and killed right before my eyes from many different camera angles. Yet the response from many was that they had no business protesting or that they were instigating the shooting. I have no doubt that ideology shapes how people interpret what they saw in the multiple videos. Furthermore, it will also be shaped by the algorithms of where people get their news. But as a Christian, I need to show the same disgust and horror I felt when Charlie Kirk was killed as I do when Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed. I should also stand against any comment in favor of any of these killings, including ones made by the vice president and the ICE official who shot Good and called her a derogatory name.

I am all for peaceful protests, and for the most part, that is what is happening in Minnesota. Individuals are marching in the streets protesting ICE. They are working as a community to help protect families who are too scared to get their groceries or take their kids to school. Some of these frightened people have the proper papers but are afraid they will be detained anyway. And for good reasons. Over 100 refugees who have been vetted under US immigration law have been detained, sent to Texas, and, if released, left to their own means to get back to Minnesota. Christian churches that welcome immigrants have empty pews because the Trump administration has authorized ICE to enforce immigration policy while people worship in churches, hospitals, and schools since early 2026. Yes, one group did unlawfully protest inside a church because one of its pastors worked for ICE. The protest was ugly, and I agree, we should not be protesting in a place of worship. But we also should show the same disdain when our government is encouraging ICE to raid hospitals, schools, and churches.

I could go on and on. But I want to close with scripture for readers to ponder. I encourage you to go to Bri Stensrud’s Instagram page, listen to the Russell Moore podcast titled What Happens When You Look Away From the Minneapolis Shootings, and pray. For me, my heart breaks for what is happening in Minneapolis. And I hope if ICE comes to Carlisle, I will stand up and do the right thing—because all life matters!

  • ‘They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” Psalm 94:6-7 NIV
  • “I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.”’ Job 29:16 NIV
  • ‘“Cursed is anyone who obstructs the legal rights of immigrants, orphans, or widows.” All the people will reply: “We agree!”’ Deuteronomy 27:19 CEB
  • “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20 ESV
  • “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” Matthew 25:35 ESV

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Snow and Plows

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.” Philippians 4:11 ESV

One of the benefits of living in Carlisle is that we no longer have to take care of a yard. It also means the HOA takes care of all snow removal, including shoveling our walk and driveway. Honestly, I did not mind shoveling. But weather forecasters predicted bitter cold to follow the snow, and I was relieved to know neither Terry nor I would have to deal with the ice-clad snow.

Monday morning, I was still dreaming of snow-covered landscapes and hot coffee when I heard shovels scraping pavement outside my bedroom window. Next, what I assumed to be a Bobcat with a plow groaned while pushing snow across our cul-de-sac. I heard Terry rustling and asked if he thought the noise was plowing. He stood up and confirmed the grating noise was indeed the landscaping crew working hard to clear the driveway. I lifted my phone and the time 5:28am swam into view. I started to grumble and caught myself before uttering a complaint. Instead, I verbally reminded myself to choose gratefulness and contentment.

Throughout my writing, I have repeatedly stated that contentment is the most important trait one can develop. It is not something that people are naturally born with. Instead, it is what Paul refers to as a secret in Philippians 4:11. He says, “I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” This is not a top-secret clearance message Paul received from God. Rather, it was something Paul also needed to cultivate in his own daily life.

Paul’s name may have changed after conversion, but his personality did not. This man was recorded as being zealous in his belief that the people who followed Jesus were committing blasphemy. He was on his way to Damascus to hunt them down when God spoke to him. Like most new believers, Paul may have been ready to jump to the streets to share about his encounter with God. Instead, the Bible records that he spent 3 years praying and studying the life of Jesus. I can imagine Paul thinking to himself after 2 months, I am ready. But instead, God clearly had another plan in mind. He waited another month and inquired of God whether he was ready. But just like a child who asks if we are there yet, Paul was repeatedly denied and waited for God to release him. This gave Paul time to learn contentment in God’s plan, not giving in to his zealous nature to take on the cause of Christ.

This waiting time helped Paul learn how to manage challenging situations later in life. His ministry reached the greater part of the known world at the time. He was welcomed by some communities, while in others he was chased out of town. Paul was whipped, stoned, and shipwrecked. At the time of his letter to the Philippians, he was in a Roman prison. Yet, after Paul stated he had learned to be content, he continued to say in verse 13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

For me, contentment is not based on my bank balance, the vacations I do or do not take, or whether I am having a good hair day (curly, frizzy hair is a real issue in this current season of life). Instead, I have to trust God daily to supply my needs, and I try to express gratitude in all circumstances. I recognize I come from a place of privilege; I have shelter, food, clothes, and healthy relationships. But Paul was in some terrible situations where he didn’t have his basic needs being met, and he still chose to pursue contentment. I only pray that I can do the same.

This week has been super cold with temperatures dropping below zero. It reminds me of Wisconsin, and it is the first time that I have not been homesick for my lake. It would be easy to fall into the trap of complaining about the bitter cold, wishing I were basking in the sun. So, I bundle up in warm sweaters and cozy socks, and drink warm beverages. I continue to curl up on the couch with extra throws while reading by the glow of my fireplace. And I remember daffodil season is only two short months away.