That's what happens to Claire Randall, a WWII battlefield nurse. After she returns home from the war, having experienced all those horrors, she has an even more harrowing experience: she falls through time. That's the premise of Diana Gabaldon's runaway bestseller, Outlander. Claire is marooned in the highlands of 18th century Scotland, a place from which she may never return. That, alone, would be disturbing. Then, due to her British accent, she is immediately dubbed a sassenach, a term used by Highlanders to label outlanders, anyone who is from "away."
In other words, she's not one of them and they remind her of it every single day.
Are you an outlander? Do you ever feel like you've been exiled from all that brings you comfort? Do you sometimes find yourself surrounded by folks who seem to all know each other, to have established relationships ... to be a tribe, almost; but not one to which you can belong?
That's such an uncomfortable environment, so filled with rejection it becomes almost unbearable. All of us have had this kind experience, to some degree. At school or on the playground, at work, in the neighborhood, in our towns ... even at church. We don't seem to know the lingo, and, even if we want to assimilate, no one seems interested in helping us. We feel different, and truly, we are different; every aspect of our daily interactions and environment underscoring just how different we are.
What are we supposed to do? Just keep a stiff upper lip? Remain calm and carry on? Complain about it?
Claire Randall doesn't know if she will ever return to the modern world. Her long-game is to do just that; but until that's possible, she works at finding a way to fit in. As a way to be useful, Claire brings to bear her intelligence and her nursing experience (a "healer" in the parlance of that time). She doesn't ever truly fit in, but she finds ways to actively benefit those who surround her.
In this week's Lectionary, we find God has sent the Israelites into exile. They had been conquered and dragged off to Babylon, a people not their own. They were outlanders in every sense; language, culture, societal position. They desperately needed some help ... and God sent help, in the form of a message through the prophet Jeremiah. Partly, it was to make sure they knew that the exile would not be permanent, that a day would eventually arrive on which Israelites living in Babylon would "return" to the country God had given their ancestors.
But perhaps more importantly, it was about letting them know how to act while their exile remained in place. What a treasure! At last they knew what God expected of them while they were being outlanders, true strangers in a strange land.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NRSV)
And there's the guidance for us, as well. When circumstance (or other people) make us sassenachs and outlanders, we must not let that immobilize us. We are to continue our lives as best we can, to keep on living, to grow and flourish.
And just as importantly, we must seek the best for those among whom we are the sassenachs, the outlanders. Even going so far as to pray to God for their well-being.
Their welfare is our welfare. That is loving your neighbor as yourself.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 23 (28) (October 9, 2016)
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/
First reading and Psalm
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66:1-12
Alternate First reading and Psalm
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Psalm 111
Second reading
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Gospel
Luke 17:11-19
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This Friday morning would be a great time for you to join us at Lectionary Breakfast. We start at 8:00, sharing our mealtime at the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant. We continue with scripture, discussion, and some of the best fellowship anywhere. We're supposed to leave at 9:00, and some do, but some stay longer.
It's that good.
Blessings,
Steve
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