The Migrant Family

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Song: Higher Ground

In 1920, James Smith and Mary Daly Moore departed Glasgow, Scotland and settled in the steel works town of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada. They bore Fredrick Robert Moore who married a neighborhood sweetheart, Eleanor Bearman. Fred and Eleanor moved to the States, to California, where they raised three children, the eldest of whom was Rodney Fredrick who was wed to Suzanne Van Deweghe. They likewise migrated to Tennessee where I grew up the eldest of their four youngsters.

The movement of peoples from continent to continent, country to country, state to state is a fascinating story. And it is a common heritage to the stewing populace of our melting pot nation.

Occasionally you cross a peculiar folk who are making a migration of a different kind. Their destination lies not across the Atlantic. The stream they’ll ford takes not so long to pass though the yonder bank is hid from view. They’re seeking to settle not on the Pacific coast. The land where they are pointed is more peaceable still. New and better jobs with higher wages is not what drives them. It is their hope in an age-old promise of a sweeter rest and no more wages that draws them on. These migrant peoples are not the sons and daughters of James Smiths and Mary Dalys. They are children of Abraham who have left this country to look for the city with foundations. Come, go with them!

Jason Moore