hostility . . . hospitality . . . hope

from hostility . . . to hospitality . . . to hope

central valley fruits and vegetables are displayed in the picture below;

lovely baskets full of produce that became a love token of peace last wednesday as the central valley curcuit leaders joined our district superintendent mariellen yoshino to livingston to visit and pray with leaders from two gurdwaras (sikh temples).

such gentle offerings; humble from the fruit of our vines from the bakersfield area up through the foothills and all the way to galt and over to the stockton delta area.

we were received with humble thanksgiving, as we offered these tokens and prayers for an ending of all hostility, racism, religious persecution, as well as renewed understanding and education.

you may recall that on sunday, august 5th, the gurdwara in oak creek wisconsin came under gunfire, killing 6, plus the gunman; leaving one in a coma, and countless others traumatized.  throughout the world, people wondered how this could happen.

the sikh faithful stand for justice; there is an estimate of 500,000 sikhs in north america.  hate crimes have been on the rise since 911 -- americans often confusing the turban head coverings worn by the men to be followers of osama bin laden.

in reality the sikhism began in india in 1469, unrelated to hinduism or islam, teaching that there is one god with many paths to the divine; each of the 10 founding gurus  (doers of the master), wore turbans as a sign of respect for the divine.  the sikh faith began as a rebellion against india's caste system, and a profession for the equality of people.  as you enter their holy place, you cover your head as a sign of humility, and take off your shoes. 

no one is an enemy, and no one is a stranger.  and so to show support for our sikh sisters and brothers, the circuit leaders went to be in prayer and solidarity with the sikh leaders, sharing our collective presence of united methodism in the valley, and uniting with them against all hostility and praying for hope for our future.

we were offered such hospitality!  we prayed together in our prospective languages, men and women together, which is unusual in this faith culture, but also a sign of the oneness of god.

and perhaps the most amazing similarity was, following our time of prayer and conversation, we were escorted over to the fellowship hall where we were invited into a time of refreshment!  isn't it comforting to know that spiritual refreshment is part of the world's religious traditions?!

i do not know enough about this faithful tradition, but i invite you to join with me in study and prayer as we seek to move from all religious persecution and hostility into open dialogue, offering one another hospitality and the hope that one day, soon, we will live with 'no fear'.