Pilgrimage and Faith: Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam

On January's final weekend I'm giving a talk at the University of Richmond's Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art.

The exhibition, Pilgrimage and Faith: Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, has been in the works for several years. I got started on it long before the Fulbright at the invitation of Professor Virginia Raguin of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. In contrast to the many interfaith conjoinings of Islam with Christianity and Judaism, this program expands beyond theology to participation, hence the exploration of a practice: pilgrimage. What sets this collection apart from other, "high art" amassings of religious art work and iconography, is the inclusion of very personal items -- souvenirs, memorabilia, maps, treasures that remind a person of her extraordinary journey. A wristband. A canteen. A few stones gathered en route. Scraps of writings. Connecting these pieces across time are canteens 1000 years old and centuries-old boxes for carrying trinkets home. You'll also see some books and glorious calligraphy as are now on display at the New York Public Library's well-received Three Faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

It's interesting to me how religion, faith, spirituality and seeking are perhaps less pariah subjects than even a decade ago. We are learning to look with respect and curiosity at other people's ways. I am all for the multi-lateralism of society. Appreciation breeds far less destruction than disdain.

Year End 2010

Well my friends. It's the end of 2010. I've been home for just about six months and I see I've not filled in for you what it's been like being back. It's hard to describe re-entry. At first all seemed utterly easy: hearth and home were as if I'd not left (except that Peter had redone our bedroom ceiling and walls - that was a treat!), the neighborhood looked the same,everyone speaksks English. It was the Fourth of July weekend when we landed and so we were ushered into a celebration of America, guests, fireworks, parades. I hurried off to Esalen for a board meeting. I flew to Chicago with mymom and sisters to celebrate birthdays and shop. I took the hedge back from months of overgrowth. And we went to our cabin in Maine for relaxation, kayaking and music-making.

Then I began to notice a gap, a vacuum, a space. From time to time I forgot where things were here -- streets, friends' homes, grocery stores. I watched the sidewalks for huge cracks and the curbs for deep dropoffs like our streets in Amman. Bread costs too much and there's nothing coming piping hot out of an oven, steaming, flat smothered in oil and zaatar. Cucumbers are large and bland. Stuffed rolled grape leaves are expensive.

Hommos here thinks it's Israeli.

I find that understanding all the words around me can be disturbingly banal.

Half and half in my coffee is padding out the lean I'd acquired in Jordan. No access to Petra jars my soul. No views of the great Hercules atop Amman's Citadel saddens my eyes. There is no Hashem restaurant a cab ride away for fabulous falafel and onions, clamor and tea. Beirut, Damascus, Bethlehem and Cairo aren't just a few hours away. I miss last year's world.

Most of the great lessons I learned last year were about living. Too many deadlines deaden. Drink sweet tea seated. Watch the sunset. Talk with friends using both ears. Time is shorter. And longer. And there's nothing you can do about it anyway.

So I've not rushed back into the fray. My last speaking event in Amman was the world premiere of my 1989 film shot in Jordan for NJN, "Classical Caravan," at the home of US Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence Mandel. Beginning September here I spoke in the fall at Illinois College, Colorado State, the Air Force Academy, Colorado College, Maplewood and South Orange Middle Schools. Representing my family I presented the 2010 M.T. Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award to Helen Thomas. But there's been no big project consuming my time. No overlapping deadlines to fret about. I am able to attempt long form writing and produce shorter pieces for air or Op-Ed pages.

I've been a busy board member at Esalen, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and Masar Ibrahim el Khalil, promoting, raising money, encouraging people to participate in seminars, come see the plays, and walk. Maestro Istvan Jaray returned me to the principal flute chair in the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and there's great music for me to perfect. Muffins are becoming my specialty bake item -- especially made with leftover cranberry relishes from Thanksgiving Dinner. I just finished reading Isabel Allende's Island Beneath the Sea and I expect I'll go ahead and read everything else she's written. And do, in some way, what she does. This is a process of reinvention: what's my next phase?

Sit, drink tea, and figure it out.

I love watching Janna mature at Wellesley College. She's an activist in environmental affairs and justice. Passionate and logical in her arguments. Katie's marching band season was successful. She was named best "high woodwind" for her flute-playing. And she lucky duck, is going to Jordan for Christmas and the New Year. She's charged with bringing back zaatar and Ajloun olive oil.

Marriage is working out fine lo! these 25 years later with ten months apart. I didn't know how comfortably I'd fall back into sharing authority with the other adult or how I'd readjust to balancing independence with partnership. It's better than I could have imagined. We're both eager to dust the physical contours of our home, clear out stuff, rearrange, polish. We listen to records. I'm watching (American) football -- we are Patriots fans -- and enjoying it for the first time in my life. I'm not feeling pent up even if the view is not Herculean. I look out the window of my office on the third floor of our home and remember watching my daughters walk up that street when they were eight, nine, ten ... now seventeen years old. And there's only a year and a half left for me as a mom with a child at home. After that there's plenty of time, insha Allah, to roll out the next phase.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. May joy and success be abundant in 2011.

Disagreeing in Colorado October 6-7

Michael Lame and I got rave reviews for our presentation at Illinois College in Jacksonville. Karen Dean, head of the Habtoor Leadership Center, was especially inspired by our exhortations to the students to think as an active, time-intensive exercise.

On our way to the campus we stopped to see Abraham Lincoln's tomb in Springfield. I was deeply moved to be there. Why? We know Mr. Lincoln is not there. But the symbolism is. His life, courage, trials all there on the walls. I didn't know one of his sons died while he was in the White House. I didn't know his favorite literary references were the King James Bible and Shakespeare. He should become mine. Lincoln reminded me of the profound privilege it is to be an American. A privilege we must protect from intolerance and warmongers.

This Wednesday we're at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Then on Thursday I address the Air Force Academy and Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood!

Speaking at Illinois College: Khalaf Al Habtoor Lecture Series

On September 29 my colleague Michael Lame and I will be debating "Attaining Peace in the Middle East" at Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL.

Scroll down to see the announcement.

On October 6 we'll be at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

On the 7th I'll address the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Check out Wolfman Productions or contact me directly if you're interested in arranging an event.

Stories about Quran Burning Reveal Shortcomings of U.S. Media's Coverage of Islam

On September 14 Poynter on Line pegged my NPR piece as follows:

"One refreshing take that did address tough questions came from essayist Anisa Mehdi on NPR. Mehdi reminds those who would support burning the Quran that it contains verses that acknowledge and praise Jesus and Mary. Likewise, she reminds Muslims overseas who might commit acts of violence as a result of the act that they, too, should review Muslim principles that favor self-discipline and Quranic verses that warn against lawlessness."

Thanks to Cate Malek, Development Coordinator of the Masar Ibrahim el Khalil/Abraham's Path (www.abrahampath.org) for bringing this shout out to my attention.

Before Burning Quran, Know What's In It!

September 9, 2010

Read my essay on NPR.org:

"Before Burning Quran, Know What's In It"

And on Facebook

Please comment and "recommend"

"A Christian response to the Islamic community center near Ground Zero

Hi, friends, I'm back from vacation in Maine and will be writing you a "letter" soon. In the meantime here's a sensible and heartfelt essay reprinted from the Common Ground News Service, www.commongroundnews.org.

A Christian response to the Islamic community centre near Ground Zero Julie Clawson

Austin, Texas - Last week New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg stood with representatives of local faith groups and declared that "there is no neighbourhood in this city that is off-limits to God's love and mercy." Personally, as a Christian who fully supports the proposed Muslim community centre near Ground Zero, Park51 (previously known as Cordoba House), his words echoed my heartfelt sentiments. Yet there are many Christian Americans who have spoken out against this centre, claiming that it is inappropriate and offensive, and that its proximity to Ground Zero would allow Muslims to mock the events of 9/11. Since speaking out in support of the centre, I've even had other Christians accuse me of supporting the work of Satan and turning my back not only on my faith, but on everything the United States stands for. I'll be the first to admit that, like people of all faiths, Christians sometimes fail to follow the path of love and mercy Jesus modelled for us. We substitute our political leanings or our cultural fears in place of the command to love our neighbour. It can be difficult to remember that the God we claim to worship is much bigger than ourselves. We do not hold a monopoly on God's love and there are no places where we should not be at the forefront of extending it, working for reconciliation and healing. Yet, in the continued confusion and misunderstandings sparked by the events of 9/11, I all too often encounter a culture of fear and revenge. Some Christians unfortunately say that the terrorists' actions represent the heart of Islam. They project their fear and hatred onto all Muslims, blaming them for those events and asserting that they desire the destruction of Christianity and America's freedoms. Ironically, many of these same people are the first to argue when so-called Christians commit heinous acts that they do not act on behalf of all Christians. They go so far as to say they aren't actually Christians, much less representative of the religion, as we saw recently when members of Michigan's Hutaree Militia were arrested for planning to slaughter law enforcement workers. But this same distinction is rarely extended to our Muslim brothers and sisters. I wish I could offer an apology on behalf of those who hold such misinformed beliefs - for those Christians that fail to follow in the way of Jesus and who instead oppose the rights of Muslims to worship freely in our country. But I don't speak for them. I can only live my life and use my voice to represent a different side of Christianity, one that truly believes God's love and mercy extends everywhere. And I can hope with Bloomberg that the building of this community centre will achieve its goal of working for reconciliation and "help repudiate the false and repugnant idea that the attacks of 9/11 are in any way consistent with Islam." When people of diverse faiths come together as they did last week in New York in support of the community centre, we can start dismantling such false assumptions and collectively take a stand for the truth. To that end I am grateful for the families of those that lost loved ones on 9/11 who are speaking out on behalf of Muslims and in support of Park51. These include the September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, who promote dialogue, non-violence and international cooperation, and have specifically spoken out in support of the centre. Out of their own tremendous grief they desire to protect Muslims from the kind of grief that comes from being condemned and ostracised. Instead of fearing some manufactured threat to freedom, they extend that precious freedom willingly to all. That is Christian love in action. Sadly, some Christians have not collectively responded well to this community centre or to Muslims since 9/11. I don't want to hide that fact, even as I lament its reality. Some of us have strayed from the core of our faith that is rooted in love and freedom. I pray we can take to heart Bloomberg's recent words: "Muslims are as much a part of our city and our country as the people of any faith. And they are as welcome to worship in lower Manhattan as any other group." We should transform our collective response into one that demonstrates those very values by supporting religious liberty for all. ### * Julie Clawson is the author of Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews). Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 10 August 2010, www.commongroundnews.org Copyright permission is granted for publication.