"Please stand and repeat after me"

Twenty-six individuals stood up, from twenty-two separate countries, to take the oath of citizenship.  Different languages, different colors, different stories – but one oath to become citizens of the United States. 

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen…”

My wife and I recently attended a Naturalization ceremony for Global Refugee Day. We were gathered in a large conference room in the downtown library, sitting with a hundred or so other friends and family of those non-citizens who were ready to become citizens. 

There wasn’t any hype in the air – more a mixture of subdued happiness and awe, as they declared, “I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

This is not seeker-sensitive vocabulary. This is cutting, final, and “demands my all,” to quote an ancient hymn.

Let’s consider what is required to make this sort of choice:

Courage.

These people were burning bridges to settle in a new land. This was a solemn but celebrative event. They had left families, land, and loved ones.  And there they all stood, agreeing to be adopted by a new country. Afterwards, my wife and I marveled at the words these new citizens recited. There was no turning back. They were breaking all loyalty and severing all allegiance to their country of origin. There was no wiggle room for moderation. No way out. No compromise. Either they were to become Americans, or not. No middle way.

Loss.

At this ceremony, I sat next to a young Iraqi woman whose husband brought her to the US under a special VISA – he had been a translator for the US military, and was fast-tracked out of Iraq for his and his family’s safety. She was grateful to be welcomed into a safe home, but she was also very honest about how much she missed her hometown, her extended family, and her country. She still loves Iraq, and wishes someday she can return. Leaving something requires losing something. She lost her country to save her life. She, like the others in that room, each has their own story. They each chose to take a journey that led them away from what they’ve known and where they’re from. They had to loss something or someone before they could begin a new journey as Americans.

Hope.

Most of the inductees at this ceremony came to the US to seek refuge, as refugees. They were fleeing violence, death, or persecution. They weren’t coming here to find new wealth and prosperity; they just didn’t want to die in a civil war, or spend their lives in blue tarp covered hut in a UN refugee camp. And so they stood, and repeated these words, “…I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity…” Their hope was for life, a safer life - for their children, a life without fear of wont, or war.

Community.

These new citizens were not standing alone. Each had a community of friends, advocates, and allies standing with them – and for some, they also had extended family members at their side. In reality, it’s a matter of survival for refugee families to find a community of countrymen and neighbors in this new land. They need community to take this step – to bear true faith and allegiance to the United States. It really does “take a village” to resettle a refugee family.

So, join me in reflecting: How does their courage, loss, hope, and community inspire us to make the hard and costly decisions we confront?

How does all this contrast with decisions we make about relationships, jobs, or family?

Are we wiling to renounce all others and be committed to one – to one person, one family, or one cause? 

How can we stand for those we love, and say to them, "I renounce all for you?"

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One last thing…Here is the complete citizenship pledge. Perhaps you could take a moment to read and reflect on the courage, the loss, the hope, and the community that were required to stand publically and say…

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."