05/14/2024 Tuesday Afternoon
Ms. Julie Lillie Topic: Peace + Justice
An online peer learning community to deepen our individual & collective healing, growth and impact as we weave for peace and justice.
Avi/Cafe Twin Fx VA Hub Geo (P+J Feedback 01): "Peace + Justice" is a very old inspiration for many here in USA, and globally. In particular, here in USA, Church, Temple, and other Spiritual Organizations, features "Peace & Justice" on a regular and periodic basis, usually on "Sunday events" for Churches, and Saturday spirtual events for Synagogues.
(01) I am pursuing this topic over the past several years, in my N.VA Fairfax Geo of 2 Million+ residents, first via an "Inter-Faith Culture & Spirituality" on a community level. I live in an "intensly multi-culture, multi-faith urban hub/Rural support geo of 2 million+ residents.
(02) Several years ago, after incurring life threatening medical issue in my family of 3, I felt the needs to seek out spirituality deep dives of spiritual cultures, my own, yes, from Historic India, and also other cultures, in particular, 3 Christian Churches in my neighborhood for their Sunday Moring Service Alernately, and 1 Synagogue, Saturday Morning Service. All located within short distance of my residence at S.Arlington, at the border of Fairfax County, VA. I did this "personal and neighborhood" based for about 2 years past, and was able to establish meaningful communications via church congregation members, working on such church undertakings as
(0101) Choir Singing Group (Amazed at the singing talents on each of these 3 churches, somewhat different focus on each but singing together is a common characteristic, and sing along of congregation present at the service as a pathway to express spirituality and connectivity.
(0102) Church "Food Collection" including "Church located Community Garden" supplemental to food support for needy in our geo. This is also a characteristic of all 3 churches , each executed somewhat different. I supported this activity for each church, when I was present, and enjoyed the connectivity, trust , and helping out at the Catholic Church community garden, as a support person for the Garden activity with a stated goal of providing healthy vegies,such as Squash, Okra, beans, and few more, to church member take home, and rest added to "food collection" for the needy.
(0103) Pursuing "Peace + Justice" in a variety of ways, depending on the Church, and Synagogue. In my case, the Synagogue is a "Reform Synagogue" and not "Orthodox", I have borrowed a copy of their regular Saturday Service prayer and spiritual singing, that I continue to learn, as same via the Catholic Church prayer book, which I have returned at the end of 2 years back to them. Catholic Church network is pretty strong, as is their Charitable Foundation work. They have several "food distribution" ways for the needy, including people who are homeless can come for a free prepared meal in the evening. At Old Town Alexandria, when I am their for my regular errand, I see a long line of homeless , waiting for their free evening meal, at the Catholic Church Food Distribution Center. Trully amazing and impressive , created centuries ago, based on philosophy of Jesus, put to practice via Catholic Charities Foundation.
So, this is my own pathway preparation to "Peace+Justice". Now there is a 2nd pathway for me taken from my own spiritual heritage from historic India, which has a historic link, still present in the culture of modern South Asian nations of Bangla Desh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and also Afghanisthan. All linked to "Arab" culture after Islamic Arab Armies succeeded by war, across the Hindu Kush mountains into the plains of historic India, starting about a century after the Prophet of Islam existence in 8th Century AD.
So relating to this topic, I like to focus on the Holy Land, birth place of Judio-Christian-Islamic western religions. I will leave out Russia/Ukrain War for now. Economic power of women in Russia , and to lesser extent, in Ukraine , is very very weak, unlike in modern day India, in my roots. Or in the 3 small Baltic nations, one of which is Estonia, where women political leaders exist as well as women leaders have succeeded unlike in Russia, in the 20th and 21st Century.
My Google Photo Album Title:
Motivate-"Seek Common Grounds" --Prepare for Israel & Palestine . Why? How? (2025+)
