...and their story is an inspiration to me. Even more so, as I am going through a personal family crisis and their story gives me hope, gives me encouragement that I will make it through - though our contexts are completely different!... and then again, all human situations have some kind of commonality no?
Anyway, so at lunch I watched a documentary called "The Iman and the Pastor" and it comes from the heart of Nigeria where religious tensions are common triggers of conflict and fighting. It is a moving story of how two men - an iman and a pastor - once bitter enemies, came together and started up a dialogue that saw a friendship blossom, and reconciliation begin between them. Through their journey, they set up a center for interreligious mediation which uses the Gospel and the Quran to foster dialogue and eventually reconciliation and trust between the two communities all over Nigeria.
It was fascinating to watch. To see that when you strip away all the theological stuff, there is one basic and common message in both Christian and Muslim religions and that's to love! To love your neighbour as you love yourself. To love the stranger. To love your enemy. To open up with love.
It may seem a bit corny and cheesy, but bloody hell it's true. What would you rather feel? Hatred and anger towards another human being because they differ from you, or love and acceptance of their differences? That's not a hard one for me. It reaffirmed my beliefs, especially as they are being tested right now. And I believe that all I have to do is love love love. Give it my all. Love with my all.
And to never stop looking for signs of hope amidst our crazy, twisted world. The iman and the pastor are a living sign of this hope. Of this love.
Today, I found my sign of hope... have you?
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