I am a Christian. At many times in my life I have been blessed by Muslims and by Islam. I would likeĀ to share that blessing. The full series of reflections may be foundĀ here.
The first blessing, and in many ways the most important, is friendship.
I once shared an apartment with three men for a year, all of us of different ethnicities and religious commitments: an orthodox Muslim of Pakistani descent, a progressive Jew of European ancestry, a black Evangelical Christian, and I, a white mainline Protestant. We came from all different regions of the United States, and we are all US citizens.
It was a good year.
My Muslim roommate was the peacemaker among us, often counseling us individually and together when conflicts arose.
His mother came to cook for us. The apartment never smelled so good as when she was there. Trust me.
He and I stood in his room watching on TV, solemnly and with great dread, for a long time, the US Shock & Awe campaign launched in Baghdad. We did not sit down.
Each day, throughout the day at appointed times, he would discreetly close his door to pray. Every day.
He taught us Arabic and Urdu phrases.
We watched him stoically progress through the Ramadan fast, and celebrate the breaking of the fast.
He listened to me talk about Jesus.
He laughed with me.
A year later, he traveled a great distance to be in my wedding. Despite religious and cultural norms that would discourage his participation in a Christian wedding, he fully participated.
Today he is a lawyer who upholds the US Constitution, advocates for justice under our nation’s laws, and lives a devout, orthodox life in submission to God.
He is my friend. His spirit and our life together made it so.
There is a branch of Islam, Sufism, that speaks of God as the Friend.
My roommate is not a Sufi. But when I think of my friend, who believes in the revelation of God differently than I do and yet as I also do, I think: I see that Friend in him.
And I give thanks.
So beautifully said Scott! You brought tears to my eyes! At a time when so many are afraid to love and are eager to condemn, you have brought us a ray of light! Thank you!
Debbie Keiser
Really touched my heart. Amazing the paths Jesus leads us on if we will just let him lead. You were put in a situation for a reason. What better person to have been selected.
I love this.
Scott, you are a kind and gentle soul. I am a better person for knowing you and your family. Thank you.
I am very touched by Scott’s experience. People are people. There are the good, and then there are those who are the bad ones. Generalization is a manifestation of abject ignorance. Thank you Scott, it is people like this lawyer and yourself, who make the world a better place. God bless you all.
So very timely, in this very LOUD time. Thanks, Scott.
Thank you, Scott. Glad to know where to go to hear your wisdom.
This is a blessing for all who read it. Thank you for sharing this, Scott!
yay! lovely! ily, ym