Emily Parker spoke with author Stephan Bauman about his new book 'Break Open the Sky', learning what really brings happiness from those we would usually dismiss, and how to choose love over fear.

That's something that every American can do in one shape or form. Maybe that just simply means listening to a story, or it could mean sharing a meal with someone. A lot of the faith community in the United States is in touch with these communities and so for many people it's just a matter of hey, come along to a meal to learn a little bit about Afghanistan or Iraq or even Syria; or be part of a welcoming neighbour group that's welcoming refugees to their country. These are refugees that come through our system legally through the United States and have for many years, and it's a great part of our heritage as a nation.

For me personally it's that constant question of who I'm going to see in the street and meet. Am I going out of my way to reach across the social barriers, or ethnic barriers, to just consider the other person that's very different from me in terms of their background and faith? Am I going to make that choice to reach out in love, even if it's just a smile to somebody on the street? I think that's a big step today when so much of the newscasts and the print media is conveying fear.

Stephan Bauman

Emily: You mentioned that at the moment we're seeing more refugees come through borders on a daily basis. Do you think that there is enough being done to encourage refugees to become part of everyday life and to fit into the culture that they're now moving in to?

Stephan: At a macro level, the number of refugees that are being allowed to legally immigrate to the United States is decreasing. That's largely because of the current administration. But we have a long history; in the years when Ronald Reagan was President, as a Conservative President, we were accepting over 200,000 refugees. Today it's less than 75,000 and decreasing. So at a macro level it's less.

Bear in mind that these refugees are vetted, often for two and three years with all sorts of levels of screening and interviews by our Departments of Security, Homeland Security, CIA and so on; even bio-metric scans with retinas. It's very robust and far more than what tends to sometimes come across in the statements by politicians.

I've met with political leaders at the community level, I've met with church leaders, and I've met with business owners that are telling amazing stories. The refugees are often construed as some of the best workers in businesses. Communities that receive refugees after a one to two year investment and actually that investment is more by the Federal Government, not by the local Government, those same communities are seeing benefits by those refugees coming into their communities. That might be new start-ups in business, or it's the fabric of those communities being celebrated by those who are living there in those neighbourhoods. The stories that I have heard over 10 years now at the local level are very positive and encouraging and a very different story than what we tend to hear from a national perspective from Washington DC, or some of our politicians, or many of the people in our country that are afraid.

I tend to tell people, let's look at the facts and see what's really happening, all the way from the process for a refugee to come all the way through, to what are the benefits of refugee communities in certain communities and States. It's a very different story and one to take note of.

Emily: So with all of that in mind then, what is your understanding of God's grace and love?

Stephan: That's such a great question. When I reflect on faith, and on God, I can't help but look to the example of Jesus who reached out across ethnic lines, who said if you want to find me, find me in the person who's in prison, who's poor, who's sick, who's the stranger; the person that is a sojourner that's wandering from one place to the next.

When it comes to grace and love, I think if we as a people of faith, even though we don't have all the answers, can't find a way to welcome those who come from very difficult situations, whether it's persecution or violence, coming out of Syria; if we can't find it in our hearts to welcome them and help them find a place to live, then I just wonder, what is the quality and substance of our faith?

I've seen such extraordinary examples of people of faith and communities of faith, making a way for people, mums and dads, and kids from Syria, who, by the way, wouldn't come to the United States or countries in Europe if they had a choice to go back home. They'd rather go back home. Many of those that I've met, and my colleagues have met, still carry their house keys. They're just hoping that they can go back home to their house, but they wonder if their house is even still there. Often it's been bombed or demolished, so their second choice is to go to another country and make a new life. But I have great examples and stories of people who have stepped over that gap and chosen to love and not be afraid, and these are everyday people. When refugees and immigrants experience that, it is a watershed experience. They judge our country and our faith very differently by those who offer, as you say Emily, love and grace.

Emily: Why did you name your book 'Break Open the Sky'?

Stephan: There's a poet, an author, a guy named Walter Mosley, he's African-American. He's very hopeful in his writing, but he's a realist as well. Let me read you this quote. He says this, "We are not trapped or locked up in these bones. No, no. We are free to change. And love changes us. And if we can love one another, we can break open the sky." When I read those words I thought, that's it! It takes the step of faith and this courage to say you know what, I'm not going to give in to pessimism, or cynicism, and certainly not the fear of our age. We're not trapped; we do not have to fall prey to that fear. We are free to change, we can love and when we do it really does change things.

It's not necessarily people like me, or people that are writing books or speaking. That's all well and good, but it's the people out on the street, it's the people in neighbourhoods; it's across the way in the cubicles in the offices; it's every one of us making those daily decisions to love the person, the other, especially when that other person is different than us.

It's a hopeful message and I wanted to frame the book around something hopeful rather than around something that is critiquing or cynical.

Emily: If anybody wants to find out more and buy a copy of the book, how could they do so?

Stephan: Either stephanbaumann.com or breakopenthesky.com. Check out some things on my website. Of course Amazon, and all the carriers carry the book as well.