Hospitality—Welcome to Declare Peace Jerusalem
As you have been reading through our site today, I hope your curiosity and your heart have been stirred to ponder what it means to wage peace. It may seem impossible. After all, none of us represent the movers and shakers of our world. How can we impact the problems of the Middle East?
And yet, if we are people of faith, we know that the Abrahamic traditions -Judaism, Christianity and Islam - encourage us to make a difference in our communities and the world and to be voices of hope and justice who can help build healthy communities.
At this time in history, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each have their own views on the End Times for our world. These views are mainly woven around violence that destroys all enemies and conquers Jerusalem where the faithful will dwell.
The Crusaders of 900 years ago also believed this. They marched to Jerusalem to cleanse it with blood and hoped that this would bring the Second Coming of Christ. Of course, they thought this was best for everyone, as it would bring about God’s rule on earth. We hear the same motivations in the statements of influential forces across the Abrahamic family today.
The Crusades divided the West from the East and left a legacy of enmity between the two. In 1996, the Reconciliation Walk participants left their homes and came in fear and trembling not knowing what the reception would be. In our training days, the participants repented and humbly asked God’s forgiveness for these divisions and fears that do not fulfill God’s command to love others as yourself.
Person to person reconciliation
So, what was our reception in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine? It was an overwhelming welcome!
As one walker in Turkey said: “My lasting impressions of our time in Turkey on the Reconciliation Walk will probably be of the warmth and hospitality of the Turkish people, poor and rich alike, and their acceptance of us and our message.”
From Lebanon, this reflection: After walking the coast of Lebanon with the message, this walker said: “I saw the heart and the beautiful spirit of the Lebanese. It’s a real honor for me as an American to be in your country. The beautiful thing about God and this apology is that it brings two people together. I have experienced wonderful people helping me her in Lebanon.”
Another remembers this: “In talking to Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Christians, and Muslims, I felt God enlarging my heart to not choose sides but to listen to each one with acceptance.”
Every conversation became an opportunity to break down old stereotypes and fears which walkers realized they carried, and to humbly share the apology in a desire to now experience this stranger with less judgment in one’s heart.
Hospitality
So, we were welcomed exuberantly, and we celebrated with meals that reflected the hospitality of this region of the world. Stopping at any little store and sharing the message usually became a time for the shop owner to offer a cup of tea as he read our message.
One reads in any travel guide about the extravagant nature of hospitality in the Middle East and each of us experienced that warm welcome of the stranger who is treated with kindness.
In our first week in Beirut, a small group and I were invited to Abbas and Randa Halabi’s home to meet him and Raed Charafeddine. Mr. Halabi was, and is, a member of the Islamic – Christian National Dialogue Committee, representing the Druze Muslim community. Raed is from the Shia community, a banker and chairman of the Iman Sadr Foundation. These two men and their families would be instrumental in helping us to shape much of our time in Lebanon.
We read the message together and there was a moment of silence as we all reflected on its meaning in a land seeking to heal from the Lebanese Civil War. Mrs. Halabi said that “our actions gave her hope after the years of war.” Both men offered their time and support in helping set up many of our crucial meetings which was invaluable.
A step into the unknown
We began the RW with a deep sense of the need for Western Christians to apologize for the Crusades because the crusaders destroyed the message of the Cross. By taking up the sword in the name of God, we betrayed the message of God’s love for every human being. The Crusaders saw Muslims, Eastern Christians, and Jews as God’s enemies.
And through taking our steps into unknown countries we hoped to make a statement of hope that God’s love can restore relationships across borders and faiths.
We have so much to learn from one another when we seek to welcome one another into a more peaceful and respectful view of the other.
My life has been so enriched by my journey on the Reconciliation Walk and all that has come after. I have not forgotten what I have learned from so many.
My prayers now are for the peace of Jerusalem as a place that flourishes with the promises of a loving God. I pray for the humility to ask God for justice, healing, and hope amid this terrible violence.
Let the voices of our prophet’s be heard as we pray and act for good.