The Oxford Dictionary defines “refuge” as:

• The state of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or difficulty.
• A place or situation providing safety or shelter.

At a time when refugees are synonymous with political discord, it’s easy to lose touch with the root of the issue: people looking for a safe place to live, to raise a family, to go to school. 

Dear writers, what does “refuge” mean to you, in YOUR life? In advance of World Refugee Day on June 20, help us renew our understanding of this concept by writing a definition (or two or three), using examples from your own life: 

“Refuge means…” 
“Refuge is…”

For some inspiration, check out some of your fellow writers' efforts to make sense of this concept, at once universal and personal:

1. "Refuge for the Like-Minded" by Gabriel Goodwin
2. "Only Time Will Tell" by Swasti
3. "it does not mean" by Vanilla
4. "Refuge" by FairNoble
5. "Academic Refuge" by Faye