CPTnet
25 Many 2005
IRAQ REFLECTION: Throwing open the Book
by Tom Fox
Last month, we had guests from Najaf and Karbala visiting us for dinner on
the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. For grace before the meal, a CPTer
went into the office and opened up the team's English/Arabic Qu'ran and put
his finger down on the following passage,
"One day shalt thou see the believing men and the believing women- how their
Light runs forward before them. And by their right hands their greeting
will be, "Good News for you this Day! Gardens beneath which flow rivers!
To dwell therein for you! This indeed is the highest achievement." Surra LV
"God Most Gracious" section 2, verse 12
We asked one of our guests to recite it in Arabic and then a CPTer would
read the English translation. The guest knew the passage from memory. We
discussed the tradition shared by Muslims, Christians and Jews of throwing
open their holy book and reading the first passage that one's eyes fall
upon. Is this superstition? Is this rational?
Many people have said that CPT has no rational reason to be in Iraq right
now. The level of violence, which subsided after the elections, has risen
each week until now the attacks and kidnappings of Iraqi officials,
civilians and internationals are as bad or worse than the months leading up
to the election. The infrastructure of the country continues to deteriorate.
The people of Iraq appear weary and angry. They placed so much hope in the
election process but now it seems as if the elected officials are pursuing
the politics of factionalism. This week, a member of the Provisional
Assembly was entering the Green Zone to attend a session and he apparently
seemed threatening to U.S. military guards. They subdued him by throwing
him on the ground and putting a boot on his throat. When he did make it
into the Assembly session he was so distraught that he wept in public--a
rare occurrence for Iraqi men. Why is CPT here when the "principalities and
powers" seem to be in total control? What can a few of us do in the face of
such massive physical and structural violence?
We are throwing ourselves open to the possibility of God's grace bringing
some rays of light to the shadowy landscape that is Iraq. We are letting
ourselves be guided by something that is beyond rational, intellectual
analysis. Gardens beneath which flow rivers can again be the dwelling place
for the people of Iraq. Everyone whose government and corporations are
playing a role in this land needs to throw open the book of their heart.
They need to let their Light run before them as they bring redemption to
those in power who are seeking to rule from a place of fear, violence and
shadows.
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