Email: Kirk Johnston

Now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.  He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself a new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. … In Christ the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. 
- Ephesians 2:13-16, 21-22

On a Borderlinks trip in September, and then again when Rick Ufford-Chase, Harry Horn, and I visited the wall that now marks our border with Mexico, my heart hurt and my stomach sank. I immediately found myself transported to another time and place, an alternate reality. I found myself in Belfast facing a “peacewall.” Looking at the green metallic wall that separates two communities, I hear injustices that have played out over the years. I feel the hatred and deep division that is only partially expressed in a wall. I see the soulless surveillance cameras monitoring a division in God’s creation, in God’s people.

But it was OK in Belfast. I was a U.S. citizen, and I had no direct involvement in the conflict. I was automatically neutral. I was privileged in neutrality and in an innocence of being a foreigner. I was free to move from one community to another across the walls and divisions of the communities. If I were stopped by anyone in the neighborhoods I had a get-out-of-trouble-free pass by using my slightly southern accent. “Hey y’all how are you doing today?” Living in a divided society where I did not grow up and had no connections to the cause of these divisions allowed me to take a step out of the society and become an observer when things got too hard to deal with. I had an out. I am not Irish. I could remove myself from being a cause in the problem.

I am now living with the realities of another border and the divisions of communities. My government’s border. My border.

As I dig deeper into the realities of the border and begin to live with them, I keep hitting a wall. I am still privileged. I still can cross the wall and border. I can.... I mean I could choose to ignore my contribution to the wall and the systemic reasons behind it. But at this wall, at this border, I have no out. I am not neutral or innocent. This wall “protects” me. It “protects” the lifestyle that I have grown up with. It sustains the empire that I live in.

I have learned more over the past few months about the history of the border, the Border Patrol, and the wall. And as I digest these histories and look at the bigger picture, I keep looking for a solution to the ongoing immigration issue that we have in the United States.   I lament the new manifestations of prejudices and fear towards the immigrant. Have we forgotten that we are all immigrants?

I wonder what would happen if we put a portion of what it costs to construct this wall into programs to build a stronger infrastructure in Mexico. What would it look like to spend part of our defense budget on the root causes of terrorism and hatred against U.S. military policies to bring about a greater security?

I am also struggling with what is blocking me from promoting Christ’s peace. How do I need to change myself, my lifestyle, and my support of broken systems? I am tired of a fear-based society, and I am tired of contributing to the oppression of others so that I can live a privileged life.

How do I follow Christ’s example in my context? What role must the church take in a society that blindly or with open eyes supports fear and oppression? What steps do I and we need to take to begin to exhibit God’s kingdom here on earth? 

Grace and Peace,

Kirk Johnston

To find out more about my year you can explore my Web site and blog.

If you would like to financially support me over this year you can send a tax deductible check to:

St. Mark's Presbyterian Church
Attn: Linda Marshall
3809 East Third Street
Tucson AZ 85716

Checks can be made out to St Mark's Presbyterian Church with "YAV" and my name written in the memo line.

If you or someone you know might be interested in doing a Young Adult Volunteer year, you can find out more by replying to my email or by checking out the program online.