It was 1949 and I was all of five years old. I came inside from playing with some friends and repeated a word I had heard, "N-----." My mother was shocked. She asked me if I knew what I was saying. I didn't. She explained how I had said a very bad thing about other people just because they had different skin color. Then she said, "Do you know that that word talks badly about your adopted grandma Abbie?" Now it was my turn to be shocked. I was horrified that I had said a hurtful thing about this woman who had become my grandmother and whom I loved. I never forgot this moment. The "N" word was a hateful stereotype but Abbie was my face-to-face grandma.

I was walking home after school from the bus stop in Tokyo Japan, 1952, and as I rounded the corner a block from home, some Japanese boys across the street, about 75 feet away, began yelling at me and throwing rocks. I was scared but not for long as some of other Japanese boys I had played 'basuballru' with came to my rescue. They surrounded me and spoke strongly to the other boys throwing the rocks who then disappeared. The difference between the boys who hated Americans and the boys who had become my baseball buddies was face-to-face contact.

Fast-forward to 2010 when I heard on the news that pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida was threatening to burn a Koran, the Muslim holy book. I was horrified not only at the political ramifications, but also at the hateful angry words that spewed forth from his mouth. I couldn't understand his belief that all Muslims are to be hated. I decided to try and do something about it and, as Senior Pastor of United Protestant Church in Grayslake, I proposed that we have a dialogue between our church and a Muslim mosque in Zion, IL. In 2011 we had a wonderful series of conversations and educational sessions between our two peoples. It opened the eyes and the hearts of many of us from both faiths. To this day some of the members of the mosque volunteer regularly at the church's PADS site for the homeless. The women's groups of both faiths continue to interact and share projects. Face-to-face contacts made a world of difference.

Today our world is still troubled by distrust, fear and hatred that, in part, comes from the lack of face-to-face contact between people who are different from one another. Our Little Home Church Council and I have decided to offer a Christian-Muslim dialogue to our church with the mosque in Glen Ellyn. On Saturday, September 26, we are invited to an evening of education, observing their worship service and eating together. On Sunday, October 25 we are inviting members of their mosque to come to our worship service, join us in discussion and share a meal.

Face-to-face opportunities to engage in dialogue and understanding can help make our world a better place, one where God's peace may thrive.

October 2 & 3 - A Men's Retreat at Tower Hill in beautiful Sawyer, Michigan that includes dinner at a brewery/restaurant on Lake Michigan on Friday night, sleepover in their new facility and a program that will be led by Paul Metres, a strong Christian layman, psychologist and Viet Nam Veteran. We have at least 8 members attending and we have room for more! It will be a time of discussion, fellowship, spiritual time along with planning of additional Men of LHC events. See Pastor David to sign up!

Let's gather again in the LHC garden for fellowship and inspiration. Bring a friend...and a favorite prayer, book, poem, or just a good gardening tip to share. For those who are willing and able, we will then tend the garden.

 

Mission project: We are making plans to help 'Tammy's Trace'--the new house in Wheaton, IL for women veterans established by Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. More to come on this...!

Questions/ideas: