Dear Friends:
Eight people met for our weekly Prayer Vigil at Independence Mall last Sunday, July 11. As I write this note, I feel again the sacredness of the hour, the intensified sense of inner communion with God, with our fellow pray-ers, visitors and passers-by, and those beyond sight.
Several people approached us asking questions about who we are and what we are doing or "protesting against." One group of young people said they were "a peace organization, too." I handed out a few pamphlets on Quakerism that I usually carry in my backpack, having left at home bundles of them, that I had recently purchased to distribute at the prayer vigils.
The theme of being awake (to keep watch, to keep vigil) has been very much in my mind all this time. Researching information for a flyer to explain our prayer vigils to people, I have felt shaken by the magnitude of violence in our world and the depth of our sleep. In a dream I had one night a woman woke up with a heavy sense of danger in the house. She took her child and got out. In my mind the words resonated: "Save the children." As I woke up myself, I heard the voice of a woman persistently calling her child's name in the street. It was past 3 AM, and I went out to see what happened. The woman was trying to get her child to open the door for her. A night of party and drugs being over, she wanted to sleep.
Party, drugs and sleep. I think of the ongoing party of privilege, the lulling of notions and comforts, the sleep of business as usual. In the last two weeks one person has died, 27 have been wounded, 536 have been jailed in my little country of origin, Ecuador, in a popular uprising against another raise in the price of fuel. The price of fuel was increased to collect funds for the payment of the international debt.
God, have mercy on us. Open our hearts to the Light! Wake us up, open our eyes, show us the way.
Thank you, Friends, for your comments, expressions of support and criticisms. Your engagement helps us keep going and be watchful.
God willing , we will meet again next Sunday, July 18, from 5 to 6 PM, on Market Street, between 5th and 6th Streets.
With love,
Jorge (Marcelle will hopefully join us next Sunday.)
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