Five Friends gathered for our Prayer Vigil for Peace on July 23, 2000. It was a beautiful afternoon, with sunshine and clouds bright and gray on the sky to the North. Many people walked around, several of them stopping to look at our literature and inquire about us.
I, Jorge, felt blessed with much peace. It had surprised me, when I chose a sign to hold thru the vigil, the sense of harmony, rightness and ease with which I received into my hands that quoting Psalm 34, which Renata had held two or three weeks ago — Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. My first prayer was that I would be true to that message, that it would fill my heart, and that I would uphold it with my own life ... And I felt grounded in its spirit, as if it was the message that was upholding me, sustaining me ...
I was delighted observing the friendly interactions of some of our fellow vigilers with inquirers. Knowing that next Sunday we would be surrounded by many people trying to express different political interests and ideologies, I prayed for peace to be with us then.
Praying for demonstrators and conventioneers, I felt my sympathy for the voices of protest that will be expressed in the next days, and my compassion for the protesters. And the story of Jonah came to me. The story of Jonah, the prophet who did not want to see the salvation of the people he was sent to warn.
I have been a protester and, in some ways, I am still a protester. As a protester, I have felt justified in my alienation from those against whose positions I protested, and in my bitterness towards them. I thus confined myself into the very darkness I thought I was combating.
One of the fruits that this weekly spiritual exercise, our prayer vigils, has brought forth in me has been the accelerated washing away of my own unlovingness and resentment towards the Ninevehs of our times. This afternoon I prayed that all of us who might be protesting in the coming days will come to know the freedom and power of love, of God's love, that enables us to embrace all, including those who seem to maintain interests opposite to ours.
Towards the end of our vigil, three young men on skating boards approached us. They seemed overtaken by our presence, sharing how they feel abused by the police and thanking us for our witness. Then, when the five of us present held hands in silent circle of prayerful fellowship, three adolescent girls who had passed by a little earlier, approached us also. They also seemed deeply touched by the message of prayer and peace that we had shared.
May the seeds of peace thrive in our hearts and the world.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
Independence Mall Vigil for PeacePlease join us at our weekly prayer vigils for peace in the world, held in front of the Liberty Bell on Market St. between 5th and 6th, every Sunday from 4 to 5 PM. For more information, contact cityquake@aol.com.
In our reports, participants share their experiences of the prayer vigils and explore beliefs related to their participation. Reports reflect the experience of each author and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or practice of all vigil participants. We welcome your responses, which are forwarded to the individual authors (when possible). We sometimes include part of a response in a future report, unless you ask us not to.
It is meaningful to us that you share in the vigils by reading these reports and in other ways, such as joining us in prayer.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM