My dear readers probably know by now that I’m not a religious person. I grew up celebrating Chrismukkah (though wasn’t as clever as Seth Cohen so never came up with a catchy name for it) but never attended church or synagogue. I tend to classify myself as an agnostic.
Still, as I get older I tend to believe more and more that there is something out there that’s bigger than all of us. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t necessarily conceptualize it as God in the typical sense. But sometimes I feel it.
And today I did something I never do — I closed my office door, I closed my eyes and I prayed. Now, I know my focus is normally taken up with boys, boys, boys, so I share very little of my work life or otherwise, but I may have mentioned at some point that I have been handling a pro bono asylum case. This is the case that, time and time again, has helped me to gain some perspective. My client, a transgendered person from Mexico, is this incredibly beautiful spirit who has experienced violence and abuse that nobody should have to bear in their lives. She has lasting scars and wounds and post traumatic stress disorder and depression and anxiety. And still she keeps on keeping on.
So my prayer today was this: If ever in my life I am able to use whatever lawyering skills I have to reach a positive outcome, please, please, please let it be now. Nothing would make me happier than knowing that she won’t have to return to a country that has caused her nothing but sorrow.
Off to try to sleep….
Filed under: career, law, litigation, work
SF – I myself worked on an asylum case through my clinic in law school. I know what a heavy feeling of responsibility to shoulder that is. One of my best friends is actually considered an expert in that particular area of asylum law (I cannot believe we are just now starting to address sexual and domestic violence issues under asylum law…). Should you need any help (though I am sure you are more than capable) or just want to vent, feel free to e-mail. Good luck
SF – I read somewhere once that “going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, any more than standing in your garage makes you a car”. That being said, I believe that there is SOMEthing out there that’s greater than I am. And I’m going to pray to that today for both you and your asylum case.
I’ll pray
Will be sending good vibes out to your client and to you. Given the thoughts and feelings that you’re obviously putting into this, I hope you both find success.
[...] shared with you about how, after much prayer (and hard work), the immigration judge in San Diego granted my client asylum. That was probably [...]