A Light in the Darkness

This past weekend my husband Chris and I went to the movies, one of our favorite date night activities. We had narrowed our choices to “Letters” about Mother Theresa’s struggles as she sought to follow God’s call among the poorest of the poor and “Spotlight.” We opted for the latter and spent the evening trying to comprehend the atrocities of the priest sex abuse scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic Church and which continues to have repercussions even today. By the end of the film, Chris was stunned into silence and I wept.

I have been thinking of the sins of my own church these days as people like Donald Trump vilify all Muslims based on the violent and deadly actions of those who commit horrible atrocities in the name of Islam. Surely no major world religion or denomination could claim to have a perfect record. There have been and will likely always be those who misuse sacred writings to achieve their own ends and who justify destructive actions by manipulating religious traditions and teachings. However, to judge and condemn an entire religious body based on the action of a minority of its adherents is reprehensible.

Closer to home, I am still reeling from comments made by Jerry Falwell, Jr. in which he advocated that Liberty University students carry concealed weapons to protect themselves from Muslims. “I’ve always thought that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” he said, the rest of his sentence drowned out by loud applause while he added, “and killed them.”

I have had the honor and privilege of hosting young Muslim men and women in my home. One young teenage girl lived with us for a year and was an inspiring example of faithful devotion and service. She even accompanied a group of us to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to do relief work during Ramadan. She fasted, prayed, and helped to rebuild a Lutheran church in Waveland, Mississippi. A young man lived with us for two years and worked hard to get an education to better his himself and to help support his family.

I am a better Christian for having had the example of my Muslim friends. Their courage, resilience, faithfulness, and devotion have inspired me on many an occasions. I would trust them with my life and I believe they would feel the same about me. They are shocked and disgusted by the actions of militant terrorists in the same way that I am appalled and repulsed by the actions of sexual predator clergy who have destroyed countless lives and damaged the trust and confidence of the faithful.

In this season of winter solstice, Hanukkah, Advent, and Kwanzaa the shared symbol of light piercing the darkness unites us all. May each of us be beacons of light, hope, and peace within our own families and communities of faith. May we reach across divisions and differences and seek to find common bonds that will strengthen our resolve to live together as members of the same human community. Indeed, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with each one of us.

Peace, Anne