There are no strangers -- only neighbors

There is a true story about a man who was liberated from a Nazi concentration camp when he was 15 years old. Yitzak was brought to America where he went to high school and college. He got a job but never trusted anyone, so he lived in isolation.

Later in life, he contracted a very rare form of cancer. His doctor sent him to a treatment center run by nuns. They were very concerned about Yitzak and treated him with compassion. They openly prayed for him.

One day, Yitzak went for a walk and he prayed, "God, I have been afraid of other people -- strangers -- almost all of my life. But I have grown to like these strangers at the clinic. Is it really OK for me trust and to even love strangers?"

Immediately he heard the voice of God that said to him, "Yitzak, what is a stranger? I don't make strangers. You human beings make strangers. My son said to love your neighbor -- the stranger -- as yourself."

For the past eight years, I have been the director of a four-day camp for adults who are physically, mentally and emotionally handicapped. They express their sense of alienation from what one of them called "the other world." In their "world," there are no strangers and certainly no man-made barriers that could separate them and cause them to reject their neighbor.

Two years ago, our camp was moved on the calendar to where it ended close to the Fourth of July. While our nation was about to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I wondered how could we be a part of this celebration? After all, they too were included as a part of "all men are created equal with certain unalienable Rights, among those are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

Most all of the usual expressions were not really advisable, since loud noises can be frightening and even sparklers are problematic. So I decided to pray over this problem and I heard, "Everyone loves a parade."

So this year we had a parade. Surrounding the camp flagpole is a large, paved circle that I thought would be perfect. I bought flag bandanas, patriotic pinwheels and a flag and a small flagpole that could be held in a procession. Patriotic music was selected and would be played over a sound system. Those less mobile were the parade spectators -- the cheerleaders. The parade formed, and when the music started, the parade took off. To my surprise, everyone seemed to know all the lyrics by heart as they marched around and around singing songs about their America the beautiful.

Between pauses in the music they chanted "USA, USA, USA." Finally, I stopped the parade long enough for us to say the Pledge of Allegiance. What I heard from their hearts I won't forget.

I learned in a new way something about God's vision of unity, peace, liberty and justice for all. I saw in a new way America.

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Parks is rector of St. Theodore's Episcopal Church in Bella Vista. He can be reached by email to [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column don't necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.

Religion on 07/16/2014