Interfaith

Kaddish Symphony, or Why We Can’t Wait

It’s the smell of cigarettes, gin and sweat

acrid smoke from incinerating bodies

salt of blood and sweet perfume turned sour

The sound of a tree branch

creaking from the weight of the body inside the noose

Percussion whistle of a fire hose

spraying down children, families, grandmothers

Terror and dread when you hear those footsteps approaching

Subtle clutch of a handbag against the ribcage

sweep of a glance that renders you a criminal, a freak, a security threat

Wrong place, wrong time, wrong neighborhood, wrong body, wrong country, wrong bathroom, wrong clothes

Missed my stop, my medication, my ride

Even if your loved ones school you on survival strategies

Even if you have a PhD, a sugar daddy, health insurance, a good job, a nose job, a Grammy, a lawyer

Straighten your hair, your tie, your skirt

Shave your beard, shave your legs, take your meds

Change your name, change location, change clothes

I can’t wait for Yizkor

I’ve already started calling out the names

Trayvon Martin

Sakia Gunn

Emmett Till

Matthew Shepard

Gwen Araujo

Lawrence King

Tyler Clementi

Keep going

Tomorrow it might be you, your child, your lover, your teacher, your neighbor, your grandmother

Today we can write,

sing

cry

talk

listen

rage

pray

pay

hug

heal

touch

laugh

vote

feed

read

drum

chant

circle

walk

stand

speak

We don’t have to do this alone

I don’t care if you call it God, Buddha, Allah, Jesus, Yahweh, HaShem, Mystery, Nature, Higher Power, Justice, Truth, Peace

Stand for Love

Start right now

 

March 25, 2012

© Karen L. Erlichman

Posted in Courage, Dealing with Obstacles, Grief and Loss, Healing, Interfaith, Resilience, Social Justice, Truth and Lies

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Learning to Listen From the Heart

I just returned from co-leading a training for a group of almost 70 students, supervisors and program staff for a new Hillel campus leadership program called Ask Big Questions. It was one of the most inspiring weeks of my life. 

Students sharing their stories with one another, learning to listen from the heart, to ask open and honest questions, exploring polarities and paradox, entering the delicate territory of conversations about diversity. And finally, practicing leading conversations with one another.

IMG_2447 They challenged us, welcomed us, tested us and trusted us.  There were many exquisite moments; on the first day, we read from "Letter to a Young Activist" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and hearing their voices read those lines brought tears to my eyes. They stood up and showed their souls.  

 Over the three days we were with the ABQ group, grace was in the room with us. Magic was in the room with us. Love was in the room with us. I am forever changed.

"One of the most important steps you can take to help calm the storm is to not allow yourself to be taken in a flurry of overwrought emotion or despair — thereby accidentally contributing to the swale and the swirl.

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach… 

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times."

–excerpt from "Letter to a Young Activist"


 

 

Posted in Courage, Interfaith

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Wandering and Wondering

"Every person processes and embodies their tradition in an original and organic way that is complex and embedded in the person's experience of joy and suffering; loss and loves. When talking about religion we are always treading on delicate and intensely personal ground and an authentic religious conversation involves listening more than speaking in order to fully understand and appreciate another person's religious background."

–Paul Rauschenbush, today on Huffington Post

When I read this quote this morning, I was reminded of how quickly and recklessly people often make assumptions about one another's beliefs, behaviors and identities. Each person uniquely processes not only their religious experience, but also their individual family, identity and culture as well.

I work hard at letting go of the delusion of assuming I can possibly know what someone's lived experience has been. Rather, I continually learn how to inquire and listen with compassion, openness and patience. I am grateful for those who trust me with the sacredness of their stories.

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Posted in Gender, Culture and Diversity, Interfaith

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Blogging for Elul and Ramadan

Next week marks the beginning of Elul and Ramadan, two of the holiest months in the year for Jews and Muslims respectively. 

Elul is the month leading up to Rosh haShanah and the High Holy Days, and Ramadan is a time of fasting, reflection and prayer. Both are times of meditation, deeply focused spiritual practice and purification. 

For the last few years I have created an intentional practice for Elul that incorporates both traditional and innovative elements; for example, journaling, art, meditation, chanting, group reflection and study of sacred texts such as Psalm 27, which is traditionally read daily during Elul. 

Last year my Elul practice was daily blogging on a variety of spiritual topics. I've got a few days left to come up with a plan for this year. Stay tuned.

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photo courtesy of JLR

 

Posted in Elul, Interfaith, Spirituality

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