Seize the Word

This week’s ABC made me think a little about my own situation. I wasn’t born here; I’m not an American citizen or a permanent resident yet despite the fact that I’ve lived here for the past 8 years; I don’t get to vote but still have to pay taxes; I’m ineligible for a lot of things; and yes, I have at times experienced the discrimination and stigma that comes with being an immigrant, even though I’m here completely legally. Also, I moved around quite a lot before coming to America, so I never really knew what to say when people asked me “Where are you from?”, because my childhood wasn’t spent in just one country or city or neighborhood. To save time now, my short answer is that I’m from San Jose, because I called it home in middle school and high school, and that’s where my parents live, but if your home is somewhere that you feel like you belong, then I would have to say that I’m from Berkeley, because I feel like I belong at Cal and at Crossroads, but it wouldn’t really make sense to say that to someone because I’m not actually from Berkeley, in the sense of the word people have when they ask that question. My Indian passport just means I stand in a different line at the airport there, but I don’t have any real attachment to the country besides some family. So I’m not a citizen in the full sense here or anywhere else, and I’m not sure where I’m from. Guess you could call me confused. But contrasting all those confusing feelings with the fact that we have 100% citizenship in the kingdom, I have to say that its really nice to have a place that I know I belong and am accepted regardless of anything besides Jesus’ sacrifice. Citizenship in heaven is worth so much more than anything this world has to offer (although Crossroads has been good to me ).