Marion, Middle East peace and church ladies

(Jill Carroll update below)

Marion had almost 80 years in this life. She had three stubborn and wonderful children she loved passionately. All three of them carried on her legacy of love for all of what nature had to offer, for family and friends and for public service.

Her memorial service was a rich celebration of her life. After the service, her fellow church lady friends swarmed around the church kitchen and dining room, making sure that everyone had enough hot dish (a Midwestern US staple), strong coffee in china cups and dessert bars. We were all united by Marion’s love in one way or the other. Meeting more of Marion’s friends reminded me of how multi-faceted and connected we all are to one another.

A large group for peace in the Middle East gathered to pray together a few days ago and I was one of them. After hearing prayers in Arabic, Hebrew and then English, we listened to a Muslim’s interpretation of Salaam, a rabbi’s understanding of Shalom and a Christian’s plea for Peace. We are all united in our love for the one God and by the teachings of Abraham. Abraham is described in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy:

Abraham.

Fidelity; faith in the divine life and in the eternal Principle
of being.
This patriarch illustrated the purpose of Love to create trust in good, and showed the life-preserving power of spiritual understanding.

After the prayer service, an army of church ladies spread out a table of cookies, dessert bars – enough to feed us a few times over. And there was plenty of strong coffee served, of course, in china cups.

When Jesus says, “The meek shall inherit the earth,” I think of church ladies. Quietly, they attend to the memorial of a loved friend and to the burgeoning possibilities for world peace.

They make sure everyone is included, fed and that the stage is set appropriately for happy discourse. The hot dish has crushed corn flakes on it “to make it look pretty” says one church lady, and the program flyer has all the names and Muslim, Jewish and Christian prayers spelled correctly.

The dignity, humility and efficiency of their efforts support all of our efforts, big and small, that highlight our deep love for one another and our aching for peace for all mankind.

Shared greeting of Peace/Shalom/Salaam

Christian
May God bless you and keep you.
May God walk with you and protect you.
May God's face turn to you and grant you a long life in peace and justice.

Jewish
Yivarechecha adonai v’yishmarech.
Ya’air adonai panav evlechaa v’yichunecha.
Yi’sa adonai panav avlecha v’yasaim l’cha shalom.

Muslim
O Allah, You are peace.
Through You flows peace.
May all Your creation in this world live forever and ever in peace and happiness. Amen.

Click here for an update on Jill Carroll from the Christian Science Monitor,

here for the website of one of Jill's friends that includes

English translations of other Arabic news articles when available,

and here for a healing thrust to these current events.

Please add your own comments or email this article to a friend.
For more information, visit kimckorinek.com or contact Kim directly via skype!


Get Skype and call me for free.