What happens when we truly see one another? Not as objects, categories, or problems to solve, but as living souls bearing the divine image? In this thought-provoking exploration of Leviticus 19, we discover the ancient command to "guard the ger" — to protect and honor the foreigner, the stranger, the other among us.
While this passage is often wielded in modern political debates about immigration, its deeper message transcends policy disputes. The command appears at least 36 times throughout Hebrew scriptures, suggesting a foundational ethical principle: see the humanity in those who differ from you, because you know what it feels like to be the outsider.
Following a profound experience at a silent retreat in British Columbia, where participants were asked to look deeply into strangers' eyes without introduction or context, we explore philosopher Emmanuel Levinas's ethics of the face. When we truly look at another person—beyond their height, clothing, accent, or skin color—something remarkable happens. We move beyond seeing them as an object and begin to recognize them as a mystery, a soul, a divine creation worthy of dignity and care.
This perspective transforms how we approach difference in every context. Whether it's people who prefer different worship styles, have different political views, or come from different cultural backgrounds, the command remains: remember your own experience of being the outsider, and extend the same grace you would want to receive.
Most profound of all is Jesus's teaching that when we welcome the stranger, we welcome him. The divine appears in the face of "the other," inviting us to practice a radical hospitality that sees beyond surface differences to the common humanity we share.
Look around you today. Who is "the other" in your life? And what might happen if you truly saw them?
Join us! Facebook | Instagram | www.clcelkriver.org
