A mother from Iraq spent the weekend in grief, mourning with friends from her new community here in Spokane; a Shiite mother, surrounded by Sunnis, and Christians, offering comfort as she despaired over the death of her son in Iraq. He was murdered 10 days before he was scheduled to resettle in the U.S. He was killed, it appears, by militias who are executing Iraqis who supported American forces.
I heard this story from my Iraqi friend as we sat in one of the offices in our Community Resources Center at East Central Community Center. My heart broke as he shared this tragic story, but one thing emerged that revealed a hope that I cherish in my heart during these war torn, ethnicity and religiously charged days of violence. He said his heart was happy, even though he grieved for the mother. He was happy because in the room of condolences were people representing the parties at war in so many places on this planet but in this room compassion was being shown, irregardless of faith divisions or political ideology.
The dream and vision of peace and goodness is being born out of the nightmare of war and violence. My prayer is that the emerging generation will see the futility of these dead end political policies and extreme sectarian religious bigotries.
Peacemakers are arising who can see suffering for what it is: a chance to bring healing.
As we listen to campaign speeches and talking heads pontificating about endless inconsequential issues, lets not lose sight of the real life repercussions of our country's International foreign policies. Middle East matters are deeply rooted in economics and the quest for answers to our energy and ecological challenges are soaked in blood, that of our sons and daughters, our allies and our enemies.
Let's not be satisfied with peace through war or energy independence through militarism. Lets push our leaders for greater vision and higher values to be at work in these times. May we find leadership that offers more than promises,because the hearts of a world of mothers are desperate for it in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Spokane.
John VanDerWalker | May 23, 2012 | 3:10pm
Eric,
One of the foundational understanding of my faith movement is that Christ is experienced in community. At Jesus birth he was proclaimed to be the Prince of Peace and as you shared this thoughtful story I thought of how the peace of divine presence was incarnated in that gathering of people who shared in the mourning of one of them. This is a powerful example of how community, however fleeting or tenuous, is the answer to our warring ways. Thanks for sharing.
Eric Blauer | May 24, 2012 | 7:37am
You are welcome.
I think suffering is one of the few ways we are going to see Rome see that Jesus is the son of God. Like the centurion who crucified Jesus, sometimes it’s only by seeing the end of our warring ways, do we bow the knee to a higher way.
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