Out of unhappiness, Light

Those of you in/from/familiar with Athens, Ohio are also familiar in some way with the persons and work of Art and Peggy Gish, Christian peace activists who yearly spend time in Iraq (Peggy) and Palestine (Art) with the Christian Peacemaker Teams.

After I moved to Indiana, I began reading Art's books; I'd had an older title of his, "Beyond the Rat Race," for a couple of years, but it was never the right time to read it. I finally did. It was like a little (nonviolent) revolution within my soul. It spoke to questions I was asking, about the direction of my life and of modern American life in general, and about what really brings happiness.

Most recently, I picked up a copy of "At-Tuwani Journal," a follow-up to "Hebron Journal," from Art himself at the Farmer's Market last time I was in Athens. This book is about his experiences living in the Palestinian village of At-Tuwani, south of Hebron, as a Christian Peacemaker Team member. While it does go into much detail about the sufferings of these Palestinians under the Israeli Occupation, Art also discusses his own internal struggles to love the Israeli settlers and the military, and to face his own fears in response to the leading of God in what are often dangerous situations.

Though his Christian faith is primary, Art embraces the Jewish and Muslim faiths as well; we are all three spiritually children of Abraham, and we worship the very same God, despite our doctrinal differences. While this is a difficult or impossible concept for many practicing Jews, Christians and Muslims to truly accept, I've come to a very similar understanding of the interconnectedness of our faiths. Indeed, one of the truths that drew me strongly into Islam is that God sent a prophet to every - EVERY - people on Earth, not only to the Jews, and not only the prophets whose identity we know from scriptures. The outward forms of the Message differed, but the Message itself - basically. the Oneness of God, and God's Mercy and Love toward humanity - were affirmed by every prophet. As Muslims, one of the primary tenets of faith is that we acknowledge and believe in all the prophets that preceded Muhammad (peace), and in the unity of their Message, though it seems to me that there is little practical application of this truth.

I know that this unitarian view of religion is uncommon for modern Muslims to have, and I know that I'm putting myself out on a limb, socially speaking, by saying so. But no, I don't believe that one must be a Muslim to gain access to Heaven; my understanding of God is much broader than that. I'm not saying "anything goes." Each person is responsible for the question of faith in their own hearts, and is responsible to follow obediently and wholeheartedly that which God calls them to. Sincerity and openness to God are key. As is actually LIVING what one is called to.

I've also recognized that I am, mostly, a pacifist. Long before I was Muslim, the words of the Dalai Lama about nonviolence and peace opened a door in my heart to another way of living. What I have learned during my time in Indiana, from Art Gish's words as well as the words of many others, has escorted me through that door. I say that I am 'mostly' a pacifist, though, because I'm not honestly sure how I would choose to respond in a situation that immediately threatened my life or the life of someone nearby; perhaps violent response is so ingrained in me by my culture that I don't have another answer at this point. And don't ask me about World War 2 - I believe that a pro-active response from the nations of the world would have stopped the evil that was to come, and would have headed off war, but as this pro-active stance was largely absent from the progression of events that led up to war, I do not know what else could have been done. However, this is an exceptional case in the history of human warfare and violence, and does not contradict my conviction that war brings far more suffering than any good it does.

This time in Indiana - with all of its difficulty and depression and isolation - has been superb for my inward personal development. I'm still not happy about it all, but I recognize that God did have, and does have, a purpose for me being here. My experiences here have not been by chance, nor is it coincidental that I am working for a Christian organization.

To bring this post full circle, what I have been learning from God through Art's unique experiences and struggles is not only how close we all are spiritually. His obedience to the leadings of God, his stubbornness to actively stand up for what is right and just in the face of a powerful oppressor (and to try to love the oppressors at the same time), and his commitment to active interfaith dialogue (as opposed to the flat, nonproductive type of 'interfaith dialogue' that we so often see) - all of these examples of lived, engaged Christianity are teaching me to be a better Muslim. I am also seeing that authentic Islam can likewise be active, loving, courageous, nonviolent, welcoming, even ecumenical, without losing that which makes Islam distinct. Engaging with those of different faiths can make me more wholly Muslim, not weaker in my faith, even though that engagement requires me to do the difficult work of loving, of accepting, and of enlarging my understanding of God.