Where's your citizenship?

Well I managed to confuse the officials, and that’s official.

By an accident of birth; actually can birth be accidental, now I think of it that’s a very strange phrase… however, because I was born abroad I have dual citizenship. Thus I have two passports, and on some trips it is easier to use both. So I turned up at the airports and got my baggage checked and they stuck a sticker on one passport, and then at security, and because I was flying to the States it was smoother to travel on the other passport so I presented it. However there was no sticker and there was great consternation that I had got thus far without a check. Second passport presented, much holding of both and swivelling of head between the two, and all was well.

It has been making me think about citizenship though.

I have the passport of my country of birth. I am a full citizen. I have all the rights of any other citizen. I can come and go, get consular support, and do whatever else a citizen is entitled to do. However I exercise no responsibility or duty beyond paying for a passport occasionally. I pay no taxes, I don’t vote (although I guess I could), I have never served in the military or worked in any serious capacity to serve the nation. In what sense am I really a citizen? Certainly my fellow compatriots, when I meet them, smile ruefully when I brandish my passport and share their benefits.

It’s an obvious point, but the spiritual dynamic is one upon which I have reflected in the small hours amply afforded by jet lag. As Christians we also have a dual citizenship, and we are very keen on the benefits this brings. I am not sure, however, that we are always so diligent when it comes to the responsibilities and duties.