Spirituality & Practice

May 15, 2018 was the 70^th anniversary of Yawm an-Nakba, which translates from Arabic as "Day of the Catastrophe." It commemorates the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland when the state of Israel was established during the 1948 Palestine war.

Seventy years later, Yawm an-Nakba has taken on new sorrow and significance after violence at the border fence between Gaza and Israel on Monday left 60 Palestinian protesters dead and doctors struggling to keep up with the tide of Palestinians suffering gunshot wounds. Tensions had been building for many days leading up to the official relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which had a celebratory air in ghastly contrast with deadly events along the border.

Although the U.S. staunchly defended the actions of Israeli troops, international condemnation was strong and swift. UN Secretary-General António Guterres was "profoundly alarmed" by the killings. The International non-profit organization Doctors without Borders stated that the violence was "unacceptable and inhuman," and that "it is unbearable to witness such a massive number of unarmed people being shot in such a short time." Queen Rania of Jordan, a close U.S. ally, tweeted that it was "a dark and sad day in history, marked with more Palestinian sacrifices. When will the world's conscience mobilize to give Palestinians the rights so many of us take for granted? May God have mercy on those who lost their lives defending Jerusalem's proud Arab identity."

On November 8, 2016, the United States presidential election results in a surprising and shocking outcome: Donald Trump won enough states to give him a likely Electoral College victory, although his opponent, Hillary Clinton, received more of the popular vote. Later that week, our community, Pilgrim Place in Claremont, California, hosted its annual Festival, welcoming thousands of happy guests to the campus.

This prayer, adapted from one offered on Sunday, November 13, at Pilgrim Place, references both the Festival and the election. It also acknowledges another major event of the week, the death of singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen at age 82. For decades, Cohen's songs chronicled the challenges of our times with a mix of poetic expression, unusual imagery, astute observations, and spiritual depth. This prayer is a mashup of Cohen song titles (in all caps) and lyrics. (Visit this page to see Cohen's performances of some of these masterpieces.)

July 4 is Independence Day in the United States. Many Americans have mixed feelings about this day. As our friends at the Network of Spiritual Progressives wrote several years ago:

"Faced with July 4th celebrations that are focused on militarism, ultra-nationalism, and 'bombs bursting in air,' many American families who do not share those values turn July 4th into another summer holiday focused on picnics, sports, and fireworks, while doing their best to avoid the dominant rhetoric and bombast.

Dear Evolving God, we are so grateful that you love creativity and are still making masterpieces: the universe is a work in progress. Help us to see and appreciate the diversity, beauty, and transformative powers of all the arts as they lift our spirits and send us on our way rejoicing.

REPORT:

Lover of Beauty, help us to remember the magic moments when we were deeply stirred by a music concert or exhibit. Encourage us to avail ourselves of these soul-building events. Send your creative spirit to assist arts organizations as they try to find new and convincing ways to attract their missing audiences.

Image credit: Hurricane Michael on October 9, 2018, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

As of this writing in October 2018, we're facing into the devastation of the third strongest storm ever to hit the United States: Hurricane Michael, with sustained winds of 155 mph and unusually low central pressure. At least two people are dead, thousands lack power, and we're only beginning to assess the ravages to homes and businesses.

Meanwhile, the Weather Channel reports "Waterlogged Carolinas Brace for Flash Flooding, Possible Widespread Power Outages" as Michael heads north into areas that have not yet begun to recover from September's Hurricane Florence, which brought storm surges and heavy coastal and inland flooding. And the Indonesian island of Sulawesi will be reeling for years after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and tsunami on September 28 left more than 2,000 confirmed dead, with as many as 5,000 more still missing. And a year after Hurricane Maria, we are still asking whether Puerto Rico can recover.

Ya Salaam, O God the Peacemaker. How can we have peace when the world is being flooded with weapons? Arms are being sold throughout the developed and developing world, with the United States as the leading manufacturer. And as the Trump administration prepares to take over in Washington, there is talk of a new arms race in nuclear weapons.

More and more people seem to be totally absorbed in their smartphones. An informal poll at Judson Memorial Church in New York City revealed that one of the greatest fears of elderly members was being knocked down on the street by someone staring at a phone. Distracted walkers have fallen off train platforms, tumbled down stairs, and collided with poles.

Article: The New York Times reports on an Ohio State University Study which discovered that injuries due to distracted walking doubled between 2004 and 2010, resulting in more than 1,500 emergency room visits for broken pelvises, legs and wrists, and injuries to the head and neck. Experts caution the public that this menace may get worse as handheld gadgets become equipped with more extravagant features.

And so we pray this news:
Wise and Faithful Guide, we pray that we may be more thoughtful of others as we take in the latest information from our smartphones and other digital devices. Help us to practice attention and kindness as we interact with others in public places. Help us to learn the pleasures of meditative walking so we can be safe ourselves and not harm others.

News from the Phillipines reports the destruction and deaths caused by two powerful earthquakes on April 22 – 23, 2019. Monday's magnitude 6.1 quake struck Pampanga province, north of Manila, as well as the capital itself; at least five people were killed when a supermarket collapsed. Another 11 people died elsewhere and others are still missing. Tuesday's 6.4 magnitude quake centered on the Eastern Samar province.

News from Mozambique on April 25 reports Tropical Cyclone Kenneth is making a catastrophic, unprecedented strike in northern Mozambique just weeks after Tropical Cyclone Idai's catastrophic storm surge and rainfall flooding swamped parts of central Mozambique.

God has given us the great gift of sharing the planet with heroic and compassionate animals. Some of them are rescue dogs who search for those trapped in the rubble of businesses, houses and offices after earthquakes and other similar disasters.

Article: The Huffington Post in its coverage of the April 16, 2016, earthquake in Ecuador which left at least 650 people dead, reported on the heroic efforts of Dayko, a rescue dog who is credited with saving at least seven people from the rubble. According to the City of Ibarra Fire Department, this friendly four-year-old Labrador was cherished for his "good sense of smell and charisma" and the "beautiful friendship" he had with his handler. After days of searching for quake survivors, Dayko suffered a heat stroke followed by a heart attack. His funeral was attended by firefighters, other rescue workers, and his fellow rescue dogs.

And so we pray this news:

Creator and Loving God, we give you most hearty thanks for heroic animals like Dayko who inspire us with their courage and compassion. They speak to us through their loving actions and they lift our spirits with their self-giving and trust. May we be more thoughtful about the souls of our companion animals who often are some of our most revered spiritual teachers. So be it.

Creator of trees, fire, wind, and warmth, You have given us the capacity to feel deep compassion for places and beings affected by wildfires. In 2012, Colorado suffered from a record-breaking wildfire season with more than 4000 fires. While we were visiting Mary Ann's sister, she drove us through the desolation wrought in the area by the Black Forest Fire northeast of Colorado Springs. It looked like a savaged and desolate war zone with blackened trees and ground. Between 80 and 100 homes were destroyed. We saw burnt out cars and areas where the sandy soil was spreading onto roads, with all the grasses and bushes that had held it in place before now burned out. We will never forget that experience.