I am listening to the papal mass from Bethlehem via streaming on BSkyB. I was in Bethlehem in January/February and have been interested in the state of things there since then. Difficult as it is, I think it wonderful that three religious faiths exist in this small strip of land. Tough as the issues are, the Holy Land is holy to three monotheistic faiths, with rich traditions and differences within their own memberships. But this makes religious belief and life so very rich, so very interesting. If we can maintain religious tolerance and acceptance for the differences, what a richer world this would be.
My father died this past month. It has been hard to realise I will never speak to him again. I picked up the phone the other day to ring him as I used to do. It was automatic and I had to remember that he is no longer amongst us. But thanks be for memories, because in those thoughts, he is alive and well every day. We had some wonderful talks and walks in my adult life. I appreciate those moments now more than ever. My father was a man of great faith. He is one of the few people in the world whom I noticed 'living as he believed' in thought, word and deed. Yes, he was human with faults. But he acknowledged these and tried to live in peace and love. He is a great example to me, to so many.
I won't belabour the point. I am still mourning. But as I work toward the completion of my goal in counselling psychology, these two things--religious tolerance & my father's passing--remind me of the work to be done and the finiteness of time. As my father rests in peace, so I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Colombo, Kabul, Islamabad and the world.
In peace. LankaBlue2.
