Dear Friends,
On Sunday, October 24, 1999, six Friends joined together in front of the Liberty Bell to pray for peace in the world. It was a sunny day, but cold. We were greeted by one of the Park Rangers at the beginning of the vigil. She said she didn't need to see our permit. The Rangers seem to know us well now. We would like to think that the quiet nature of our witness and our presence there even when it rains have touched some of them.
Several people took our literature and asked questions.
"Is everybody praying in silence?" "Yes." "Can we join you in prayer?" "Certainly!" They joined us in our line, facing Market Street. After perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, one of them began to get a little restless and to wander around. The other one then went and stood in front of each of us in turn, looking each of us in the eye for a moment and silently mouthing the words: "Thank you." Their praying with us and this man's heart-felt action touched us.
I (Marcelle) was wearing my new sign, that read: "Let's be guided by God's love. Peace on (picture of the planet)." To the north of us, I noticed with surprise that the horizon seemed wide open. Long thin clouds blushed pink, reflecting a setting sun hidden by office buildings in the west. The trees along the horizon, their leaves brown and orange, looked small against the wide sky. We are standing on the Earth, I remembered. It exists and endures underneath all the cityscape encrusted on top of it. I recalled a recent moment in the community garden in our neighborhood. I had been transplanting some lily bulbs given to me by a friend I'd visited in the country. Overhead, a thin crescent moon shimmered in the darkening evening sky. Little clusters of chattering young people passed on the sidewalks, their heels clicking on cracked pavement. Nobody noticed me, kneeling on the ground with my hands in the dirt. Suddenly I no longer felt that I was in the city; instead, I was swallowed by the purity and beauty of the Earth as surely as if I had been alone in a rural field. I had the a startling recognition: Right now (and every day, and even in the heart of the city) I am living on the Earth. I felt how enduring the Earth was, and how dependent I was on the soil and all of the elements for my life here.
Helene Pollock, from Germantown Monthly Meeting, joined us carrying a sign that read, "Peace in Colombia." She has sent us her testimony, to be shared with you:
It was a blessing to be with the community of Friends who gathered to pray for peace on October 24. That date was a special day, because I had known for a few weeks that peace activists in Colombia had decided to set aside that day for a massive peace march in Colombia, to pressure all sides in the war to seek a negotiated, political solution the civil war, bringing an end to the terrible violence, kidnapping, displacement of refugees, and suffering of so many people. I have had a connection with Colombia since my time there as a college student, when a warm, caring family took me in and shared their love with me.
On Tuesday Jorge and I had met with Rafael Rincón, one of the national leaders of the October 24 march in Colombia. He was passing through Philadelphia to meet with someone at AFSC. In a quiet, unassuming way, he told us about his conviction of the importance of involving the most ordinary people in the peace movement in Colombia. Massively, civil society in Colombia is proclaiming that peace is not created only by governments and insurgents leaders at the negotiating table, but by citizens who make it happen. Rafael said that he is most inspired by the commitment of the humble people, like the man who has only two shirts, and who sells small items on the corner to make his living, and goes home each night to wash his shirt and put on a clean one the next morning, and who is at the front of the peace march. Rafael did not build himself up in any way, nor did he emphasize the tremendous sacrifices that he has made in terms of his own safety and even his ability to live at home (which he can no longer do, because of danger from paramilitaries).
During our vigil on October 24, I felt a profound sense of unity with the people in Colombia who were marching at that same time, even though there were few of us in Philadelphia, and I felt sure there were many, many in Colombia. It felt to me in the depth of my being that it was right to be there, participating in the vigil.
All this was confirmed for me. During the next two days, I read press release after press release, reporting on record numbers of marchers in Colombia. The estimates went from 9 million to 13 million — out of a population of 38 million! Marches took place throughout the country, with marchers wearing white shirts with green sashes, as symbols of peace. Companion marches took place in key cities in the US and Europe.* Today's editorial in the Washington Post says that the march makes it clear that "the entire country wants peace." The editorial also points out that "the war in Colombia, though it has 100 percent Colombian roots, has become Americanized — not by official American aid but by private American demand for Colombia's cocaine and heroin." This drew me back to the PYM Working Group on Drugs, who made a presentation at our last monthly meeting in Germantown about their efforts as peacemakers to challenge the assumptions of the "war on drugs."
So much was in my heart and my prayers as I stood there on Sunday, praying for peace, and reaffirming my commitment to continually be open to God's leading to actively work for peace, in solidarity with people in Colombia and around the world who say "no more violence!" because they have suffered enough.
[*In neighboring Ecuador, there were solidarity marches in the three most populated cities.]
At the end of the vigil, we six gathered in a circle, taking hands. We were silent for a long time, thankful for the peace and the love that was being given to us.
Next Sunday, October 31st, we will start meeting from 4 to 5 PM.
On November 7th, at 3 PM, those who are interested in the development of this witness are invited to meet at Friends Center (15th and Cherry Streets) to worship, hold this witness in the Light, and discern how we are led. Questions? Contact Jorge or Marcelle at cityquake@aol.com.
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