Author: Steve Swope

A Six-Year Old’s Compassion

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Six-year old Alex

Deep within each of us is a moral compass. We can look at that compass and follow it or not; that is called free will.  It is interesting how instinctive and easy it is for children to follow the moral direction it points with compassion and heartfelt sympathy for others.  A six-year old New York boy named Alex saw the picture of little Omran Daqneesh in the back of an ambulance in Aleppo, Syria and was moved with compassion.  He was so moved that he wrote a letter to President Obama asking the President to go get Omran and bring him to the U.S. so that Alex’s family  “will give him a family and he will be our brother.”  The moving story of Alex’s plea can be found here: Alex’s Letter to the President.

Deep within each of us is a moral compass.  Like Alex, we each should follow it; it will help us navigate to a better world.

Stark Choice in Syria – Become Refugees or Risk Injury and Death

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Wounded 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh sits alone in the back of the ambulance after he was injured during airstrikes targeting Aleppo, Syria, on Wednesday, August 21, 2016 (Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

In January of this year I visited Greece and Serbia with a delegation from @CatholicRelief to better understand the #RefugeeCrisis in the Middle East and Europe and to witness the humanitarian relief being provided.  While there we had the opportunity to meet many refugees and aid workers.  In this blog, I have reported stories of just some of the people that we encountered.   Continue reading “Stark Choice in Syria – Become Refugees or Risk Injury and Death” →

An Absence

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Crater Lake National Park – July 24, 2016

Recently I was asked by a friend via email if I had decided to stop posting to this blog.  It was a reasonable question because my most recent post was on July 21st and today is August 29th.  The answer to the question is no; I do plan to continue posting to this blog.  My absence from posting stories about the refugee crisis, odd things that strike me as funny, strange or just interesting and other ruminations can be easily explained.

On July 20th I received a telephone call from Providence Hospital in Medford, Oregon with the news that my brother Bryan had been admitted and was in critical condition in the ICU.    I flew to Medford on July 21st and was with my brother when he passed away in the early morning hours of July 23rd.  Bryan had a terminal illness (IPF) but his health had taken a sudden and final turn for the worse the week before. Continue reading “An Absence” →

JustAScottishGirl Blog: Remembering…

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A few months ago I posted from a blog written by a woman who goes by the name JustAScottishGirl.  She has spent the better part of the past 10 months working with the refugees who are coming ashore on the island of Kos, Greece.  Today she posted another poignant piece reflecting on her time there and the successes and failures she has witnessed.  It is well worth reading.

Memories are funny things, they sneak up on you when you least expect, making you feel want to have a little cry in the middle of dinner or making you burst out laughing when you are with… 

Read it all here: Remembering…

True Happiness, Peace and Joy!

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I baptize Sawyer at St. George on July 17th. Sawyer is being held by his father with his mother and brother close by.

Being a Catholic Deacon involves a lot of things.  Most of us are involved in social justice ministries, we prepare couples for marriage, we stand up for the voiceless, the poor and the vulnerable, we preside at funerals and weddings and try to always be bridges and not walls as we serve others.  All that said, one of the most joyous things we do is baptize young children.  I am always inspired by the spirit of holiness, welcome, happiness and peace present at each baptism.  Yesterday was just such an occasion when I baptized Sawyer, the son and grandson of some dear friends. Sawyer, welcome into the great Christian community!

The Georgia Bulletin: The Refugee Crisis in Europe from an Eyewitness’ Perspective

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POPE GENERAL AUDIENCE
Pope Francis walks with refugees as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 22.  The pope invited more than a dozen refugees to sit near him on stage during his catechesis.  CNS photo/Paul Haring

This Commentary was authored for The Georgia Bulletin and was published on July 7, 2016.  Please read the full commentary at:  Deacon Steve Swope’s Georgia Bulletin Commentary on Refugees.

You Can’t Make Up Things Like This…

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The Arrest Log from the Newnan Times Herald, July 8, 2016.  The Newnan Police Department (NPD) arrested this local citizen for battery.  One must wonder what inspired her parents to provide this particular name to their child.  Any ideas? 

I think it is also a coincidence that she was arrested for battery – may be low voltage, maybe wrong voltage, maybe just a dead battery.  I have it on good authority that this is genuinely the defendant’s name.  You just can’t make up this kind of stuff…

U.S. Congress Passes the Global Food Security Act

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The Global Food Security Act, sponsored by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) passed the House of Representatives today.  It previously passed in the Senate.  This bill which the president said he will sign will require the United States Government to have a coordinated whole-of-government approach to food security that will improve millions of lives. In addition, the bill guarantees two years of funding for America’s food security investments. This funding goes mainly to small impoverished men and women farmers to help them through a program called Feed the Future, which has already helped 7 million small-scale farmers grow more food, and improved nutrition for 12.5 million children.    

This is a remarkable victory for the world’s poorest and yet another shining example of Christian and American compassion and generosity.

Generosity and Courage

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The Ahmed family at the home of Jim and Peggy Karas, left, who were joined by other sponsors. Credit Damon Winter/The New York Times

This is what generosity looks like when we are freed from the irrational fear of refugees.  This Canadian model is worthy of praise and imitation.  Read the NYT Article: Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word – Welcome!