May 7, 2026
If your 2026 has been anything like mine, the days have stacked up quickly behind you, and you’re wondering where all the time has gone. One day at a time… get through this task, meet with this person, pick up this kid, brush your teeth … wash, rinse, repeat.
I feel like I’ve been pretty intentional about building purpose into my normal rhythms, but I still find myself skipping over people. At the grocery store check-out, walking to my car, on a phone call, even at church. I can be so quick to pass by someone and not acknowledge them, or I make some sort of judgment in my head about them. I’m more concerned with speed and efficiency than I am about the people.
I’ve gone through seasons where I’ve worked hard to s-l-o-w down. Sometimes it means choosing the longest line at the store or in traffic. Sometimes it’s stopping to chat with someone when I know my list isn’t getting shorter. Sometimes it’s the simple act of being present during a meeting instead of trying to multi-task.
I’m thinking about this especially because it’s May; it seems like people’s lives go into overdrive mode in May. I hear it a lot – end of school celebrations, dance recitals, graduations, vacation prep. It’s a transition into a new season.
But, if you’re anything like me (and hopefully you’re not), when we get busy we only see what’s in front of us, and we don’t feel like we have time to see (or care for) the rest.
What does any of this have to do with refugees and City of Refuge? It’s a fair question. But, arguably it has everything to do with them.
In a culture where efficiency and productivity are a driving force, we too often don’t see others. In a city where thousands of people from all over the world are right here, I wonder how often we stop long enough to make an effort to interact with each other. How often do we make space and time to work through a gap in language or cultural norms and seek to understand one another? How often do we “treat other people the way we would want to be treated”?
The Golden Rule, an age-old adage, but one that has the ability to really strike at the heart. Consider what it might be like to be someone who was forced to leave your home and now has to work hard (sometimes 2-3 different jobs) just so you can survive in this new country and provide for your family. And then go to English class on top of that. And then try to understand and operate in the systems that aren’t built for you, struggling to communicate with people who only speak their native language (so fast!), and who get so frustrated when it takes you a long time to comprehend what they are saying.
I truly cannot imagine how it must feel.
But I can imagine how I’d want to be treated. I can imagine that I’d desperately want people to be kind and compassionate. That I’d want them to be patient. I can imagine that I’d respond well to a smile, laughter, a gentle spirit. Even if we didn’t speak the same language. I can imagine that I wouldn’t want to be forgotten, overlooked, or disregarded.
Here’s the challenge for all of us: To open our eyes! To intentionally s-l-o-w down. To see the people around us, to stop, to smile, to be genuinely curious and compassionate – no matter what someone looks like, what language they speak, how long it takes them to accomplish a task. To recognize that we are all people, trying to coexist in a world that has a lot of bad in it. And that each day, we get to choose what good (even if just the tiniest bit) we get to contribute in the midst of it. A little light in the darkness.
Lots of little things that add up to change the way we live, love, and value others.
I’m grateful for the team at City of Refuge and the way they exemplify this every day. They remind me constantly of the value of relationships, connection, and the dignity that results when we take time to really see.
This is the kind of community we’re working to build—and one we’re inviting you into.
Let’s let today, this week, this month be one where we rebel against hurry and are willing to stop our feet and make space for a little more humanity in our schedules.
Debbie Beal
Executive Director
Help Sustain our Mission
At City of Refuge, we get to slow down, build relationships, and truly see our refugee neighbors every day. We’re working toward a goal of 1,000 people giving $50/month to sustain this work—and every new monthly partner helps make that possible.
Quarterly Update: May 12th
Join us on Tuesday, May 12th from 12-1pm for our next Quarterly Update: a chance for you to hear from staff about our recent successes, challenges, and what’s coming up!
Add the Zoom call to your calendar by signing up below!
Saturday Hours at the Boutique
Thrift with purpose these next two weekends by shopping at City Boutique, open Saturday May 9th and May 16th from 10am-1pm.
These Saturdays are in addition to our regular Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm & Fri 9am-6pm hours. So many opportunities to find great deals and support a good cause!
