Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.
Rumi
Last Sunday night I had the pleasure in participating in a project and documentary by artist and photographer Ann-Marie Stillion. Ten Muslim and non Muslim women met for the evening at the Islamic Idress Mosque sharing our favorite foods and a night of conversation, questions and enlightenment. It was a time to simply get to know each other and learn from each other.
I sat with a woman from Syria and although she immigrated as a teen, much of her family remains there. As we talked I thought about the worry and grief that must be a part of her daily life. How are there any words to describe what that experience of life must be? We heard of the challenges that these women face in light of the the recent effects of political rhetoric against Muslims. These good, compassionate women carry a daily burden which shows itself as an elbowed bump from a stranger or a racial slur directed towards them.
At the end of the evening I think we all realized that we had all been enriched from our time together. We also recognized our bond as women and voiced our hope and belief in a peaceful planet.