Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Oh happy day!
Yesterday started as a brilliant Spring morning. I left home earlier than usual because I had an 8AM appointment downtown at the Spruce Street office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services. I knew, based on what I know about my client, that the appointment would have a positive outcome. We were going to meet with a USCIS officer for his citizenship interview. I knew he would be prepared because he has been a joy to work with in this process. He was determined to study the 100 civics questions and be able to answer them all. (I’ve said this before – I am a citizen and there are questions that I would not be able to answer.)
When I entered the federal building I had my driver’s license in hand and assured the first guard that I was not carrying weapons or pepper spray. Then it’s like going through the TSA, complete with a requirement to send belongings through an x-ray machine, and to be wanded down because of my two metal knees. The guys that do this are very nice and some know me by now, so it’s always a pleasant process. I was in a hurry to get upstairs and find my client, who I had never met in person before. Then I noticed a young man asking a guard for directions. I called out his name, hoping I was right. He turned around and flashed a big smile. “Miss Lynn?”, he asked. We made our way to the USCIS office where we entered the big Immigration waiting room, already occupied by several apprehensive people. After all, they may be waiting for one of the most important meetings in their lives.
When our turn came we were called in by an officer that I have not encountered before. She is a lady maybe in her sixties, soft spoken, and pleasant. She smiled a lot as she went through the procedures of a naturalization interview. She made sure my client knew that he could ask her to repeat anything he did not understand. She made sure that the atmosphere in her office was calm and reassuring. This is just what a candidate needs. I have yet to attend an interview where my client isn’t highly anxious, and that anxiety sometimes interferes with the success of the interview.
My client sailed through all parts of the meeting, answering all the civics questions correctly. We were finished in just under 20 minutes, and the officer congratulated him on having passed his interview. The next step, she explained, is his actual oath ceremony where he will officially become a US Citizen. Some time in June, a young man from Senegal will give up that citizenship and become an official member of the United States of America. He is studying accounting at UMSL, so there’s no doubt that he will be a productive member of our society.
After we left her office we exchanged a high five and went through the waiting room smiling broadly. Somehow that seems reassuring to the people still waiting for their appointments. One young woman whispered, “Congratulations!”, as we passed by her. My client kept thanking me – over and over. Then he introduced me to a friend of his who had also just passed his interview. The two young men were all smiles as we left the federal building. The three of us walked into the sunshine and those young men’s faces were outshining the sun. His friend is from Mauritania and seemed surprised that I have heard of it. As it turns out, even Rose, who lived in Africa, has never known that Mauritania is a real African country.
We got to the parking lot. As I was getting in my car, my client called out and asked if he could take a picture with me. I told him I would be honored. Then I took a picture of the two young men. Then, very sweetly, his friend asked if he could have a picture with me and him. I felt a bit like a celebrity. Even though I hate to have my picture taken under any circumstance, this felt so very sweet and appropriate.
So, this morning I read this from Richard Rohr:
“When we agree to live simply, we don’t consider people who are immigrants, refugees, or unhoused as a threat or as competition. We’ve chosen their marginal state for ourselves—freely and consciously becoming “visitors and pilgrims” in this world, as Francis puts it (quoting 1 Peter 2:11). A simple lifestyle is quite simply an act of solidarity with the way most people have lived since the beginnings of humanity.” Yesterday was simply a very happy day.