I was just at an Israeli/Palestinian symposium. Most of my experience is not speech-ripe yet, however I will share one insight from the evening.
There were two simultaneous ideas floating around in terms of getting to solution.
1. A Palestinian professor of law at Berkeley, Dr. Hatem Bazian suggested partnerships between the institutions of higher education in the United States and the three universities in the Gaza Strip. He also suggests similar partnerships between K-12 schools here and there.
2. A rabbi, disicpled by the mentors of Dr. MLK Jr. suggested that we need to find ways of constructing peace.
I can't help but to wonder if a combination of the two ideas is the part of the only real solution that exists. What I mean is this...
I happen to disagree with the notion that further diplomacy is going to lead to any kind of a feasible soltion to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The United States is so tied up in our own economic crisis that it will be years before we are able to give the attention to that crisis that it needs. Also--I think our world may be living in what Einstein called insanity already as it is: we keep doing the same stuff expecting different results.
As I listened to Dr. Bazian and Rabbi Lynn talk, I was struck with the notion that the very kind of peace construction that is needed is for the emerging generations of Americans, our elementary kids to live in pro-people relationships. In stating that this is for the emerging generation of Americans, I'm not underestimating the urgency of the situation over there. I am suggesting, though, that the only solution to what is happening is not diplomacy and it is not partnership...it is relationship.
I wonder what would happen if, in households all around America, children began coming home telling stories of real friendships that they developing with real children in Gaza. I wonder how that would begin to change the perspective of generations of families who have blindly supported injustice with our political disposition as well as our tax dollars for years. I wonder what kind of peace would begin to be created if, when children hear of bombing and aid being cut off for the Gaza, they plead with their parents to do something about it.
I wonder if, when America, moved by relationship instead of greed and politics, would move with such force that our government would have to dig their heads out of the sands of arrogance and respond.
I can't help but to offer the simplex notion that Jesus (the incarnational God) is the solution.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
It's Raining Today
I'm sitting in one of my new favorite coffee shops. I've been here for several hours now, mostly studying but, at times, eavesdropping on nearby conversations...you learn a lot about people this way.
It's been raining on and off again all day--currently, we're on our fourth go-around. I grew up in the mid-west where it's always green and rain is more of a burden than a joy. I can't say that I've ever celebrated rain.
I live in California now...today I celebrate rain!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Salaam and Shalom?
Are you watching what's happening in Israel? Are you watching what's happening in the Gaza Strip?
You need to be watching BOTH stories.
As for me, I haven't been able to pull away from my computer. I'm watching video after video of what is happening in Israel and in Gaza. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on from both sides.
Why?
I'm confused. My heart is broken.
Why?
With war, nobody wins. I don't care of there are 1000 deaths on one side and only 1 on the other...everybody loses!
My heart breaks for both sides of this crisis. Both Israel and Palestine are victims of their own making. Both refuse to talk with each other. Both see the "land" as theirs. No one will budge...so they kill.
Sometimes it takes the form of missiles and ground attacks, other times it takes the form of teenagers, strapping bombs to themselves in "martyr" missions...driven to it by their own choosing and sense of honor and killing other teenagers. 17-year-old girls who would be friends in another place on this earth, die in each other's shadow at a grocery store (see "To Die in Jerusalem" for the story of Ayat and Rachel) for nothing.
And then I read the American newspapers that blindly support Israel because it is strategic that we do so. If we can control Israel we can control the Middle East. Is this our master plan?
And then I listen to mainline American Christians blindly support Israel. They're God's peopel right? That's the story they read in the Old Testament. But what about the times that Yahweh kicked them out of their own land because they were adopting the practices of their neighbors? What about the times of disicpline because of their faithlessness and failure to love? Whatever happened to standing in the gap against injustice? Where is compassion? Are we (American Christians and the American government) turning a blind eye to the beginning of another holocaust?
Bush, in response to the incredibly lopsided numbers of both air strikes and casualties (at that time there were 300 Palestinians dead and 4 Israelis dead) he referred to this being an obvious sign that Hamas is a known terrorist threat.
What?!? How is this obvious?
I posted a video on my facebook. The video shows footage from inside of the Gaza Strip. One of the comments I received was, "There are two sides to every story, aren't there? It'd be nice to hear the other side along with this one."
My response?
"Turn on your television or read your newspaper. The 'other side' of the story is all we're being fed in the U.S."
I want to know the whole story. I want my heart to break with compassion for justice and for, in both langauges, salaam and shalom.
Jesus...you are the only bringer of salaam and shalom.
By the way...over 40 Palestinians, mostly children, just died in a U.N. school where they were seeking shelter. They died because a missle slammed into them.
Why?
For nothing.
You need to be watching BOTH stories.
As for me, I haven't been able to pull away from my computer. I'm watching video after video of what is happening in Israel and in Gaza. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on from both sides.
Why?
I'm confused. My heart is broken.
Why?
With war, nobody wins. I don't care of there are 1000 deaths on one side and only 1 on the other...everybody loses!
My heart breaks for both sides of this crisis. Both Israel and Palestine are victims of their own making. Both refuse to talk with each other. Both see the "land" as theirs. No one will budge...so they kill.
Sometimes it takes the form of missiles and ground attacks, other times it takes the form of teenagers, strapping bombs to themselves in "martyr" missions...driven to it by their own choosing and sense of honor and killing other teenagers. 17-year-old girls who would be friends in another place on this earth, die in each other's shadow at a grocery store (see "To Die in Jerusalem" for the story of Ayat and Rachel) for nothing.
And then I read the American newspapers that blindly support Israel because it is strategic that we do so. If we can control Israel we can control the Middle East. Is this our master plan?
And then I listen to mainline American Christians blindly support Israel. They're God's peopel right? That's the story they read in the Old Testament. But what about the times that Yahweh kicked them out of their own land because they were adopting the practices of their neighbors? What about the times of disicpline because of their faithlessness and failure to love? Whatever happened to standing in the gap against injustice? Where is compassion? Are we (American Christians and the American government) turning a blind eye to the beginning of another holocaust?
Bush, in response to the incredibly lopsided numbers of both air strikes and casualties (at that time there were 300 Palestinians dead and 4 Israelis dead) he referred to this being an obvious sign that Hamas is a known terrorist threat.
What?!? How is this obvious?
I posted a video on my facebook. The video shows footage from inside of the Gaza Strip. One of the comments I received was, "There are two sides to every story, aren't there? It'd be nice to hear the other side along with this one."
My response?
"Turn on your television or read your newspaper. The 'other side' of the story is all we're being fed in the U.S."
I want to know the whole story. I want my heart to break with compassion for justice and for, in both langauges, salaam and shalom.
Jesus...you are the only bringer of salaam and shalom.
By the way...over 40 Palestinians, mostly children, just died in a U.N. school where they were seeking shelter. They died because a missle slammed into them.
Why?
For nothing.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Just Hearts
Six months ago, I was in a conversation with a friend and we were reflecting on the experience of Moses when Yahweh faced him.
God's heart was breaking because of the oppression of His people and He knew that Moses' heart had broken once upon a time for the same reason. God let Moses know that He was going to invite him to do something about it.
After stumbling over himself, he wonders out loud, "What if they don't listen to me?"
God's response: "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff."
"Yeah," said God. "I'm going to use what's already in your hand (which happened to be the tool of his trade) to set people free."
As this friend and I continued to reflect, she realized that her heart had been breaking for a community of poverty-stricken families living in one of the largest city dumps in the world. As we talked, she realized that she had a business degree and relationships with people who could help her start a fair-trade non-profit that could potentially become a creative form of a micro-finance organization already in her hand.
Just Hearts was born and launched last Sunday at Open Door. Through micro-finance, they are helping to create jobs for women and children endangered by the chains of human trafficking in both Nicaragua and Thailand.
God is using what's already in her hands to set people free.
God's heart was breaking because of the oppression of His people and He knew that Moses' heart had broken once upon a time for the same reason. God let Moses know that He was going to invite him to do something about it.
After stumbling over himself, he wonders out loud, "What if they don't listen to me?"
God's response: "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff."
"Yeah," said God. "I'm going to use what's already in your hand (which happened to be the tool of his trade) to set people free."
As this friend and I continued to reflect, she realized that her heart had been breaking for a community of poverty-stricken families living in one of the largest city dumps in the world. As we talked, she realized that she had a business degree and relationships with people who could help her start a fair-trade non-profit that could potentially become a creative form of a micro-finance organization already in her hand.
Just Hearts was born and launched last Sunday at Open Door. Through micro-finance, they are helping to create jobs for women and children endangered by the chains of human trafficking in both Nicaragua and Thailand.
God is using what's already in her hands to set people free.
An Email...
An email I just wrote to our team of justice coordinators at Open Door...
I just finished reading a book called Slave. It is an autobiography of a woman named Mende Nazer, a Sudanese young woman who was abducted and sold into slavery as a little girl, but who eventually had the courage to escape after nearly 12 years. It is a riveting true account of her story.
As I was reading, I began to wonder if the monthly dialogues around the issues of poverty and slavery could benefit from just such a book. I'm wondering what would happen if our community engaged in a book dialogue/book study of books such as these. My next book is one called Infidel and is the story of an exploited Arab woman and her journey to freedom. She also wrote Caged Virigin--the book I'll read after Infidel. I also have a book called Sold which is a collection of stories of slaves who have been freed....
Attaching the issue to real stories of real people is one way in which I believe that God will continue to feed this break for us. More importantly, we could use stories such as these to guide us into the Text to listen for His heart on matters of poverty, slavery, and abolition.
I was just emailing with a young friend who gave a collegiate speech on human trafficking, inspired by some of the stuff happening at Open Door. She instantly had four people come up to her wanting to know what they can "do" about it. Here was my response....
Being a part of the solution here in the Bay Area is a creative process. Call+Response does offer some great ideas, however the world of storming brothels and rescuing slaves isn't necessarily a reality here. I would recommend directing your four friends to a community such as Open Door that are experimenting creatively with being solution. One way we are doing this is through monthly round table dialogues that are focused on getting educated while exploring God's heart on this issue. Another potential idea is hosting a book study focused on reading the autobiographies of rescued slaves so that the crisis can be attached to real people. The most tangible thing that we are engaged in is the launch of a non-profit fair-trade organization called Just Hearts. This is a creative micro-finance organization that is literally creating jobs in both Thailand and Nicaragua to impoverished families. As jobs are being created through the creation of jewelry and other goods, women and children who would typically be sold into slavery are finding a way out.
Not sure if this is helpful or not. I guess what I'm saying is that the best thing that people can do is get involved with a community of people who are about being solution and who are actively listening for God's leading in that endeavor. Make sense?
I wonder how God is going to use this issue, our break, and shepherding to guide people into His Kingdom. He is absolutely about abolition, physically and spiritually. I long for us to be a part of both.
I just finished reading a book called Slave. It is an autobiography of a woman named Mende Nazer, a Sudanese young woman who was abducted and sold into slavery as a little girl, but who eventually had the courage to escape after nearly 12 years. It is a riveting true account of her story.
As I was reading, I began to wonder if the monthly dialogues around the issues of poverty and slavery could benefit from just such a book. I'm wondering what would happen if our community engaged in a book dialogue/book study of books such as these. My next book is one called Infidel and is the story of an exploited Arab woman and her journey to freedom. She also wrote Caged Virigin--the book I'll read after Infidel. I also have a book called Sold which is a collection of stories of slaves who have been freed....
Attaching the issue to real stories of real people is one way in which I believe that God will continue to feed this break for us. More importantly, we could use stories such as these to guide us into the Text to listen for His heart on matters of poverty, slavery, and abolition.
I was just emailing with a young friend who gave a collegiate speech on human trafficking, inspired by some of the stuff happening at Open Door. She instantly had four people come up to her wanting to know what they can "do" about it. Here was my response....
Being a part of the solution here in the Bay Area is a creative process. Call+Response does offer some great ideas, however the world of storming brothels and rescuing slaves isn't necessarily a reality here. I would recommend directing your four friends to a community such as Open Door that are experimenting creatively with being solution. One way we are doing this is through monthly round table dialogues that are focused on getting educated while exploring God's heart on this issue. Another potential idea is hosting a book study focused on reading the autobiographies of rescued slaves so that the crisis can be attached to real people. The most tangible thing that we are engaged in is the launch of a non-profit fair-trade organization called Just Hearts. This is a creative micro-finance organization that is literally creating jobs in both Thailand and Nicaragua to impoverished families. As jobs are being created through the creation of jewelry and other goods, women and children who would typically be sold into slavery are finding a way out.
Not sure if this is helpful or not. I guess what I'm saying is that the best thing that people can do is get involved with a community of people who are about being solution and who are actively listening for God's leading in that endeavor. Make sense?
I wonder how God is going to use this issue, our break, and shepherding to guide people into His Kingdom. He is absolutely about abolition, physically and spiritually. I long for us to be a part of both.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Better than the "Good 'Ol Days"
Two of our friends from college came out to spend two days with us. It was the first time we'd all been together in over seven years!
There are those friends who, no matter how long its been, walk in grace, truth, love, and trust with you. These are two of those people.
Once they landed, we went to the Farmer's Market in the City, drove through San Francisco, and did the Golden Gate Bridge. I was struck by how, even though these were great experiences and sights to see, we were lost in conversation.
It felt like every hour of our time together was life-giving...never was there a dull moment. My favorite time was last night over dinner after Open Door. Two of my friends from CA sat at table with two of my friends from MN...it couldn't have been better. After the CA's left, the four of us sat down, soon to recognize that we had experienced something rich--worshipful, really--in the last two days. Our time was more full than the good 'ol days.
We were the same people, kind of...
There are those friends who, no matter how long its been, walk in grace, truth, love, and trust with you. These are two of those people.
Once they landed, we went to the Farmer's Market in the City, drove through San Francisco, and did the Golden Gate Bridge. I was struck by how, even though these were great experiences and sights to see, we were lost in conversation.
It felt like every hour of our time together was life-giving...never was there a dull moment. My favorite time was last night over dinner after Open Door. Two of my friends from CA sat at table with two of my friends from MN...it couldn't have been better. After the CA's left, the four of us sat down, soon to recognize that we had experienced something rich--worshipful, really--in the last two days. Our time was more full than the good 'ol days.
We were the same people, kind of...
Right On
Jac and I were out to dinner with a mentor of mine last week. It was one of those, "Time stood still for an hour-and-a-half" dinners.
I've invited this friend to mentor and advise me, to listen for what's really going on with me, and to speak candidly about what he hears and observes.
He spoke candidly on Wednesday night and it uncovered some things and created language I was searching for in others. Jac's imput served to strenthen what he was saying. I mostly listened with rapt attention as everything that they were saying was right on.
It was good to be sitting down with two people who are on the board of directors of my life. I live, follow, and love more fully after meals like that. I was much more nourished by the dialogue than by the physical food...although the food was good too.
I've invited this friend to mentor and advise me, to listen for what's really going on with me, and to speak candidly about what he hears and observes.
He spoke candidly on Wednesday night and it uncovered some things and created language I was searching for in others. Jac's imput served to strenthen what he was saying. I mostly listened with rapt attention as everything that they were saying was right on.
It was good to be sitting down with two people who are on the board of directors of my life. I live, follow, and love more fully after meals like that. I was much more nourished by the dialogue than by the physical food...although the food was good too.
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