Accepting Responsibility

Guilt is no way to motivate learning. Accepting the wholeness of our mind, is. The last few days, I have not had a word to say about our family's loss of life in Orlando, Florida, last Sunday morning. I hate death. It stops me cold. With that said, Words must be spoken. Words of healing. Words of comfort. Words of strength. I am partly to blame for this insane response to an unforgiving mind. In 1979, I attended a Muslim Awareness Seminar in Santa Barbara, California, hosted by a local Christian church. The leaders were 30-year, Christian scholars who have lived among Muslim peoples in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries. I received a 3-ring binder with notes, printouts, and illustrations helpful for understanding the spectrum of faith called "Islam." What did I do with that knowledge? With whom did I share? Over the next 30 years, I, myself, continued to learn, pray and visit Muslims in their faith. Did you know that? I tried, very unsuccessfully, to help motivate the American Christian church to reach out to their Muslim neighbors or even send missionaries among them. I am partly to blame for the attacks in Orlando at the Pulse nightclub this week. What could I have done differently? I don't know. I do remember asking my former friend who had changed his gender preference for support in my work at the time. He scoffed to think I would help his enemies promote his persecution around the world. It is entirely possible that this was true at the time. I had not changed MY mind wholehartedly, myself. Today, that is different. Not only have I reaffirmed my commitment to my spouse, but I can sing with confidence, "I will not forsake you, O my darling/brother..." I know what this means. I know Who stands with me who sang it to me first. I know the insanity of our minds knows no bounds. I know the difference in listening to One Voice! It is partly my fault, to sorrow you are feeling today over the loss of your loved ones. Would you be willing to accept my commitment here and now, as if Carey Grant were singing it to you himself (from the movie, High Noon), "I will not forsake you,...."?