Home at last

We are home from New York City.  Over the next few days I will be posting my reflections of what I learned during my stay there.  It was a rich experience.  I am glad to be home for a time of reading, reflection, writing and sleeping in my own bed.  I have missed home and I am grateful to be here for awhile.

Mike and I visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island the day before we flew home.

Ellis Island

Looking up at Lady Liberty

I was really glad we took the time to explore what and why the statue of liberty is.  It is an engineering marvel thanks to the ingenious Monsieur Eiffel who used his bridge building skills to create the infrastructure for the copper exterior.   The statue is so iconic and has so many meanings for people in our country and for those entering our country.  It was well worth the visit and was related to my study of the immigration experience.  I took a picture of one of the many pieces of art that were done over the years that interpreted the immigration experience.  The one I choose to share represents some of the things I have been learning on this sabbatical.

Who do we hold captive?

I will let the image of liberty as prison speak for itself.

We also took time to see a Broadway play.  I was really encouraged by almost everyone, native New Yorker or not, to go to Broadway.  We bit the bullet (tickets are spendy, even half price) and went to see "It's Only a Play."  We were not disappointed.  It exceeded my expectations.  I am still remembering it and was really glad I witnessed first class acting and comedic timing that was impeccable.

I wanted to let you dear readers know that Mike and I are doing the service at our church, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship next Sunday, May 3rd.  Our theme is Immigration Injustice.  Here is a brief description:

Immigration Injustice: Reflections from faithful witness at the southern border.

Drew and Mike Betz, Speakers

Drew and Michael were members of a BorderLinks Delegation sponsored by the UU College of Social Justice in Tucson in February, 2015.  They spent four days studying and witnessing the issues of injustice, broken policies and modern samaritan efforts to save lives and dignity in the harsh desert of the Southwest.  They will reflect on some of the images and stories they brought home through reading and first hand experience and ask the questions: Why should we care if the system is broken? What is our role as a community of faith and as individuals of conscience? How can we respond Border to Border?

The service begins at 10:30 a.m.  If you are close by we would love for you to join us.  Directions can be found on the website, linked above.  Most services are also recorded if you are inspired to listen.

I leave you with some other images of NYC.

New York City Library, one of many jaw dropping images.

Riding the F Line

Sleeping on the way home

One of my favorite subway art pieces, taken at the Marcy Avenue station in Brooklyn. Made of glass this piece was in the open air and the light shone through it.

As always, thanks for reading.