How Did You Get Here?

C. E. Schutz family from 1914 (with my grandfather, Theophil, front right)

How much do you really know about your family’s origin story in coming to the country where they live now? In my case, it’s not much. Oh, I have been given various genealogical resources about my ancestors’ arrival in the United States, but I’m not particularly interested in the names and dates. Or even what they did and where they went once they got here. I don’t believe those facts tell the real story. And I think most of the people looking into their family histories are perfectly OK with that.

We’re not always very brave when it comes to hearing the truth about what people went through to get where they are now.

So I’m thoroughly grateful to Missourian Lucas Kunce, who recently shared the story of a refugee from Eritrea on his Substack. I’m grateful that his presence helped bring this family’s full story to light. Generational trauma is a real thing, and burying the hard realities that happened in the past does not make them go away.

On the other hand, neither does seeking revenge on the perpetrators. In the words of the protagonist of this story …

“If I had chosen hate, or resentment, or dwelled on what he had done, it would have ruined this beautiful life we made here in America. I would have lost even more than he had taken. Jesus showed us the power to forgive. I follow his example.”

During these difficult times when we have so many questions about others’ motives, perhaps a good place to turn our curiosity is into our own families’ past.