An Open letter to Latinos Wishing to Enter the United States
# 1 – I don’t walk in your shoes and promise not to demean you by acting like it.
# 2 – I promise not to tell you what I think you should or shouldn’t do about your living situation. That’s none of my business.
# 3 – I will provide information so you can make wise, informed decisions. Proverbs 2:10-11 beautifully says, “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you.”
# 4 – Will you promise to read until the end so you can hear me out?
Betterment ≠ Happiness
In ancient times, a populace wanted to be like all the other nations around them. They demanded a king to rule over them, a wish, albeit not a wise one, that was fatefully granted by their Sovereign, known to grant His subjects what they wanted to reveal what they needed. It’s a timeless tactic of His that must regularly be employed because, apparently, each succeeding generation forgets the hard lessons learned by their predecessors, with subsequent generations following suit and so forth. We, His subjects, tend to miss the obvious and continue doing so habitually, regardless of which country or context we find ourselves in. To read the whole story, look up 1st Samuel 8.
Now, back to this king business. It is perfectly fine if people want a king to rule over them; it’s their prerogative versus a system of judges who ultimately make the decisions, a prime minister, cabinets, parliament, or what have you. That is no different than people aspiring for better living conditions, increased wages, higher quality of life, superior health care, etc. That’s not the problem. Who wouldn’t want such things? The trouble lies in believing betterment, in whatever form it may take, will itself provide the necessary filler for an otherwise empty life. Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, said, “To Americans, tragedy is wanting something very badly and not getting it. But many people have had to learn that perhaps the worst form of tragedy is wanting something badly, getting it, and finding it empty.”
If the primary goal of getting to America is happiness, the statistics prove otherwise. According to Psychiatry.org, the 2nd leading cause of Latino deaths for people aged 10-34 in America is suicide. Each year, 243,000 Latinos attempt to end their lives. Over the last five years, 1,215,000 Hispanics in America have tried to kill themselves. And did you notice the “10 years old?” above?
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? – Mark 8:36
If getting to America equals hitting the lottery, which many of my brothers and sisters frequently say, the statistics for actual jackpot winners in the US don’t bode well either. According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, 70% of lottery winners go broke in five years. If we were to survey each winner, “Did you undergo spiritual bankruptcy also?” The majority, if honest, would answer “yes.”
Famous American millionaire quotes:
· When asked, “How much is enough?” this man replied, “Just a little bit more.” – John D. Rockefeller
· The care of $200,000,000 is enough to kill anyone. There is no pleasure in it. – W. H. Vanderbilt
· I am the most miserable man on earth. – John Jacob Astor
· I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness. – John D. Rockefeller
· I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job. – Henry Ford
· Millionaires seldom smile. – Andrew Carnegie
Marriages among Latinos in other countries, from what I can tell, and I believe I’m correct here, are healthier than the typical American marriage. Finding a complete family unit gathered around a dinner table for hours into the night, uninterrupted by distractions and unfazed by time, is not only an anomaly in the US, it’s entirely unheard of. Latin families enjoy the ride and, more importantly, enjoy each other. Go figure. American families are too hurried to get to the next thing and then the next thing after that. Arriving at the destination in record time is the objective, and there’s nothing pleasant about the drive getting there or once you arrive. I’ll go ahead and generalize the point because it’s simply true: 50% of our marriages end in divorce, and what I described above is a significant culprit.
Next up, look at all the singers, actors, celebrities, and musicians who have achieved great success. Take a closer look at their personal lives. Did everything go exceptionally well for them? Can you point to a single instance where life was perfect for even one superstar? Despite their wealth, fame, and overall quality of life, were they truly happy and content? Absolutely not. That’s a deception. The enemy would prefer nothing more than for you to pursue the world’s finest offerings at the expense of what Christ offers: Himself.
Here’s my point: Never settle for anything less than God’s best, regardless of where you live. It’s in Jesus that we live and move and have our being. Christ is not far from you right now. (Acts 17:27-28) Please cling to Him, the Holy Spirit, and the promises of God while He can be found. And as you do, rest assured, “Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you.”
I kept my promise, and if you read this far you kept your promise too. And for that I am grateful. Thank you for hearing me out!
Jesus said, for those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
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