Consider Claire Randall of the Outlander novels. Claire fell through time from 1945 England to 18th Century Scotland. Surrounded by Highlanders, and stuck with her clearly British accent, she was a Sassenach. It’s a term used by locals to label outlanders: that is, anyone who is “from away." She's wasn’t one of them—and they reminded 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 like they’re a tribe, but not one to which you can belong?
That's so uncomfortable, and so filled with rejection it can become unbearable. I think all of us have had this kind of experience to some degree: at school or on the playground, at work, in the neighborhood, in our towns—even, sadly, 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.
What are we supposed to do? Keep a stiff upper lip? Remain calm and carry on? The answer might lie with Claire. Until she can return to her home and her previous life, she must find a way to fit in.
God’s guidance to the banished Israelites in this week's scriptures is all about how they might fit in. God wanted them to fit into a place that was foreign in every sense of the word. In language, culture, and societal position, those exiles were outlanders. God’s message through the prophet Jeremiah told them how to act while they remained in Babylon. At last they knew what God expected of them while they were being outlanders—true strangers in a strange land.
God’s message to them: Get married and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children. Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat the produce. In other words, settle in. Of most importance: “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."
When circumstance or other people—or our own choices—make us sassenachs and outlanders, we must not let that immobilize us. We must keep living as best we can. We must grow, flourish even—settle in and bloom where we’re planted.
Most important, we must seek the best for those among whom we are the sassenachs and outlanders. Even going so far as to pray to God for their well-being. Their welfare is our welfare.
That's loving your neighbor as yourself.
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PHOTO: “Stewart (Stuart) Clan Tartan Plaid” by Steve Orr
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon:
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Friday morning is a great time for you to join us at Dayspring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We start at 8:00, sharing our mealtime at Our Breakfast Place (and on Zoom**). We continue with scripture, discussion, and some of the best fellowship anywhere. We're supposed to finish at 9:00, and some do, but some stay longer. It's that good.
Blessings,
Steve
**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=384&z=p&d=79
Print them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Cx_Proper23.pdf
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Psalm 111
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19
Proper 23 (28) (October 12, 2025)
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