Imagine the good that could come out of dialogues --- real peace talks --- that focused on loving our neighbors.
What could we all learn?
How would we change?
I received a report from the the Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA)* about a recent dialogue held at the Swedish Theological Institute with the theme our neighbors. "We began the meeting by inviting each of us to think about the theme of the meeting and what it means to each of us. Some wonderful insights and thoughts on “Our Neighbors” were shared:
IEA logo expresses this inter-relationship to the other with tenderness.
- Love your neighbor.
- Justice and co-existence.
- Not to suspect the other. Your neighbor is closer than your brother who lives far away.
- In order to love a neighbor, I have to love myself.
- The Prophet Muhammad recommended to care not just for your closest neighbor, but also as far away as your 7th neighbor.
- The key to happiness is loving one's neighbor.
- Unconditional love.
- The Hebrew word for neighbor is "Shakhen" - the Divine spirit call "Shekhina" -- therefore if you are together with your neighbor, the Shekina ---the Divine Spirit --- dwells among you.
- From Leviticus 19:18 --- Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do to you.
- Sharing sorrow and happiness.
- If you are cooking something good, share it with your neighbor.
- Love even the "evil" in your neighbor (and that "evil" will eventually disappear.)"
As people across the world gather, it is clear from just this one example, how powerful the knowledge, wisdom and care within a small group of people can be in transcending the problems that the greatest governments and leaders of the world can not seem to understand. We all seem to know what is needed to love our neighbors.
May all of us join together to bring peace upon the world where we live and work. What difference will you make?
Debbe Kennedy
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* Excerpt from the report of the Interfaith Encounter Association Reut/Sadaqa, Jerusalem.
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