Lenten Retreat

We spent a wonderful day and a half at a monastery outside the city. We read in the library, prayed with the monks, walked the labyrinth, played with the dog and cat that live there, and talked and talked.

Tom Fox - Why are We Here?

Written by Tom Fox the day before his abduction in Iraq.

I have read that the word in the Greek Bible that is translated as "love" is the word "agape." Again, I have read that this word is best expressed as a profound respect for all human beings simply for the fact that they are all God's children. I would state that idea in a somewhat different way, as "never thinking or doing anything that would dehumanize one of my fellow human beings."

It seems as if the first step down the road to violence is taken when I dehumanize a person. That violence might stay within my thoughts or find its way into the outer world and become expressed verbally, psychologically, structurally or physically. As soon as I rob a fellow human being of his or her humanity by sticking a dehumanizing label on them, I begin the process that can have, as an end result, torture, injury and death.

"Why are we here?" We are here to root out all aspects of dehumanization that exist within us. We are here to stand with those being dehumanized by oppressors and stand firm against that dehumanization. We are here to stop people, including ourselves, from dehumanizing any of God's children, no matter how much they dehumanize their own souls.

What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war?

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Go Global

I recently found a great sit for global blogging. It's full of international writers.

Global Voices Online

From there comes my belated contribution for International Women's Day:

¡Feliz Día de la Mujer!

You certainly don’t need to speak Spanish to feel the raised hairs on your neck as you watch this moving video, edited by Argentine blogger Malearg, which recounts the progress and achievements made by women across the globe.

PEACE

Blogging against Sexim Day

We've got a long way to go.

Phoebe Griswold's address at UNCSW forum-

"..... the Anglican Communion has four instruments of unity: that is the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the 38 primates, the 700 plus bishops and the ACC members. That adds up to over 800 people who sit at the decision-making tables of the Anglican Communion. Of those 800 people, 30 are women."

For some interesting stories from international women see blog: http://happening-here.blogspot.com/

When a cup of water becomes a crime

This week I have been attending side events which are part of the 50th Session of the UNCSW. It has been an educational and challenging experience. The Anglican Consultative Council has sponsored over 100 women from the US and around the world as delegates. I've listened to women from Africa talk about the trafficking of women and girls in Los Angeles, watched a documentary about women from Iran who are forced into prostitution due to poverty and then punished for their illegal "job", listened to panelists discuss the role of women in decision making processes and peace making missions, and met women from many countries. I'm privileged to live in NY and have the opportunity to attend an event like this.

Unrelated to the UNCSW, but in the same building was a meeting sponsored by Episcopal Migration Ministries. The director of Annunciation House spoke about the work they are doing on the US-Mexican boarder. He told powerful stories of immigrants who risk life and limb to cross the boarder. We often hear from popular sources that the boarder is a "national safety" concern with drug dealers and terrorists using it as a highway for criminal activity. What we don't hear about are the hard-working families who cannot survive on the extremely low wages they earn in Mexico and so attempt the life-threatening track into the US in hopes of starting a new life. Or the story of Shanti and Daniel, two volunteers with NO MORE DEATHS were arrested and prosecuted for helping migrants they found badly dehydrated in the Arizona desert.

In the US, it is a crime to help someone in need?!!!

As a faith community we have moral obligation to help those who in need. Make your voice heard if you are concerned with the plight of immigrants and the moral decline of our society if we continue to oppress the poor of God's world. Urge the U.S. Senate to Support Bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform