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Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Call of Your Heart
Last night I went to a class held by my friend's Rabbi. The plan was that a local Imam would join the Rabbi in leading the class in learning about the similarities and differences between Islam and Judaism. Unfortunately, the Imam was called away to something else and couldn't make it, so the Rabbi did his best at looking at the story of Abraham in the Quran and comparing it to the same story in the Torah.
I was disappointed, because without the Imam, we, of course, got a lop-sided view of the comparison between the Quran and the Torah. Still, THE RABBI IS READING THE QURAN! That's big.
In 2003, I was leading the social justice group at the local Unitarian church. We had been very invested in doing what we could do to stop the imminent war. After the war began, I figured that one helpful thing we could do would be to get to know the local Muslim community - to make a bridge by learning not only about the religion of Islam, but also about the cultures of the people who had come here from the Middle East. These people were being demonized; the government was detaining them and warring with them for no reason that I could figure out. I knew nothing about Islam and wanted to learn.
And I wanted to connect at the place where we are all the same.
So some of us visited the local Islamic Center. That is where I met the Imam who was supposed to be at the class last night. We attended prayers at the Center a number of times. We invited the members of the Islamic Center to the Unitarian Church for lunch, and we asked the Imam to speak to us so that we could learn about Islam. Since that time, the Imam, who was born and raised in Iraq, has become a bridge between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Over time, Michael and I became friends with some of the Center's members and spent time with them, sharing long talks of spirituality. Once, we hosted a dinner that brought together devout couples of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity specifically to share what their religion meant to them. I would sometimes find myself in tears at the beauty of it all. I loved those times, but unfortunately, most of my Muslim friends have moved away now.
I am not a Muslim or a Christian or any other name. I cannot call myself by any religion, yet I honor and learn from all religions. I am afflicted with an an ailment that only allows me to see beyond the doctrines, rituals, and beliefs of religions - or lack of religion - to where there is only one thing. It doesn't matter to me if you worship Jesus or Mohammed or anyone else or nothing else. We all came from one place and you can call that place whatever you want. All that matters to me is what you bring to this life.
From what I hear, the Rabbi of last night's class and the Imam have become friends. That makes me smile. I hope that their friendship and respect will be contagious and will spread around the world.
I was disappointed, because without the Imam, we, of course, got a lop-sided view of the comparison between the Quran and the Torah. Still, THE RABBI IS READING THE QURAN! That's big.
In 2003, I was leading the social justice group at the local Unitarian church. We had been very invested in doing what we could do to stop the imminent war. After the war began, I figured that one helpful thing we could do would be to get to know the local Muslim community - to make a bridge by learning not only about the religion of Islam, but also about the cultures of the people who had come here from the Middle East. These people were being demonized; the government was detaining them and warring with them for no reason that I could figure out. I knew nothing about Islam and wanted to learn.
And I wanted to connect at the place where we are all the same.
So some of us visited the local Islamic Center. That is where I met the Imam who was supposed to be at the class last night. We attended prayers at the Center a number of times. We invited the members of the Islamic Center to the Unitarian Church for lunch, and we asked the Imam to speak to us so that we could learn about Islam. Since that time, the Imam, who was born and raised in Iraq, has become a bridge between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Over time, Michael and I became friends with some of the Center's members and spent time with them, sharing long talks of spirituality. Once, we hosted a dinner that brought together devout couples of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity specifically to share what their religion meant to them. I would sometimes find myself in tears at the beauty of it all. I loved those times, but unfortunately, most of my Muslim friends have moved away now.
I am not a Muslim or a Christian or any other name. I cannot call myself by any religion, yet I honor and learn from all religions. I am afflicted with an an ailment that only allows me to see beyond the doctrines, rituals, and beliefs of religions - or lack of religion - to where there is only one thing. It doesn't matter to me if you worship Jesus or Mohammed or anyone else or nothing else. We all came from one place and you can call that place whatever you want. All that matters to me is what you bring to this life.
From what I hear, the Rabbi of last night's class and the Imam have become friends. That makes me smile. I hope that their friendship and respect will be contagious and will spread around the world.
The wise man said just walk this way
To the dawn of the light
The wind will blow into your face
As the years pass you by
Hear this voice from deep inside
Its the call of your heart
Close your eyes and you will find
The passage out of the dark
- klaus meine
To the dawn of the light
The wind will blow into your face
As the years pass you by
Hear this voice from deep inside
Its the call of your heart
Close your eyes and you will find
The passage out of the dark
- klaus meine
posted by Carol at 10:58 AM
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