Today I arose with the impulse to go to the Mosque to pray. The chanting of the verses of the Noble Quran always hypnotizes me. I dont understand a word but the sound of ancient language and the rhythm of chantings soothes my soul. But, I so despise wearing the Hijab that I turn from Islam. In USA, it just feels ridiculous to wear that thing, especially because I am a White Girl... its not normal. So, I stick with the Jews and I dare not say all the other paths I mingle with. Nevertheless, I longed for the special comfort I feel in a Mosque. I dressed and selected a long embroidered head scarf, tossed it over my shoulder and embarked. As I realized I had taken the wrong exit, was stuck in traffic and 40 minutes late, I said to myself that the Divine Providence is in control of all and it seems it was not meant to be for me to go to the Mosque. Maybe it is a sign to stay away. In that case, since I came this far I will continue and just pass by. To my surprise I saw Muslim-men still making their way through the doors of the Mosque at that late hour. Oh, no... caught... I will have to wear wretched head covering. OK, so I missed the speech of the little dark-skinned Imam in his crisp white gallibaya. Shucks. He is spiritual yet so comical especially in his debates with his friend the rabbi who even with his PhD always loses to this little dark-skinned Imam with a heavy accent. Hes a spirited little guy. Wrapped in black I slip off my sandals and enter the room packed with veiled women. One East Indian looks up in my face with a smile and beckons me to sit next to her. I love the coziness of sitting together with other women on the floor. We cup our hands in a gesture of receiving as the lecture ends with a blessing. Then we stand in formation ... very close, touching shoulders. It used to bug me, people touching me like that and every inch I moved away they would move closer... until someone told me we were supposed to touch. And, now I like it because here as we touch shoulders together I feel so close. I am no longer an outsider or a single unit... we are a mass of women worshiping as one multicolored beautiful tapestry woven together in a common Love. I dont know the words, but my hands fly up on either side of my face and back down I whisper to Him... Lead me on the straight path, not the path of those who have gone astray or those who incurred Your wrath. We bend at the waist in unison and I whisper... Those who bow down to You, You will rise up. And as we drop and touch our heads to the floor a great feeling of humble overcomes me and my eyes well up with tears at the Awesomeness of God. Finally seated, Assalum Alikum, to the angels on either side of me and I recall that Judaism also recognizes that we have really do have these angels with us. As soon as we break a Lebanese woman hugs me hard and says, Where have you been? We missed you. As I recount to her my travels, she says I should be a travel agent, like her. She gives me her card and says she will teach me all I need to know and then I can do my own business and get great discounts on travel. OMGosh... I had a dream, I tell her, that I was doing tours into Morocco. She says, Inshallah, Allah brought you here today for that reason. .....Hmmmmmm, I wonder. I feel so calm now. This was good for me. I will come back next Friday also. And, now I must get ready for Shabbat. Walking in many worlds is not confusing to me. It invigorates me and reminds me that God speaks all languages and to all peoples. Shabbat Shalom, Assalum Alikum, Peace.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 23:46:15 +0000
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