Allau Akbar with the Presbyterians

RantWoman has discovered an easy way to delight RantMom: go with her to events at her church. RantMom's church has gotten some kind of grant to do special events in support of worship.

The first such event was about music and starred the former choir director who is originally from South Africa. The event prompted RantWoman finally to read Bishop Desmond Tutu's account of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. RantWoman has been reading that,--URK-- for bedtime reading recently. RantWoman is not sure it is good to be able to fall asleep to such reading but more than enough comes back to RantWoman in tired moments toward the end of the day. Luckily, what comes back is not only the various hideous deaths spelled out by different parties' requests for amnesty. RantWoman was also struck by the intrusiveness of the pass laws and the contentious first year of the members of the commission knitting their diversity together in support of the common project.

Also on RantWoman's mind:

--the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, not only the part about great theological openings but also the part about people finding whole new sets of reasons to kill each other.

--the uncelebrated 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, yet more mass murder now on the dustbin of history while plutocrats, kleptocrats, and garden-variety oligarchs define Russia today.

Such was RantWoman's state of mind as she settled in to the next event in the series. The event involved:

Taking a seat at a table supplied with a piece of black paper of highly individual shape

introductions including some delightful ones from the numerous Burundi children whose families are connected with the church

some kind of musical tape and an invitation to draw whatever the music called to mind.

Please note it was black paper. The supplies of brightly colored crayons were less than colored pencils RantWoman could not see. Plus, there was NO WAY  RantWoman was going to try to draw all the bloodletting on her mind.

But RantWoman had to draw SOMETHING.

Finally what came to RantWoman was words, Prayer in the three languages RantWoman has officially studied.

Prayer

Oracion.

Молитва

There still remained space on the paper and a bit of an argument with God arose. RantWoman thoroughly enjoyed an NPR story about a Muslim poet and practicing Muslims reclaiming the phrase Allau Akbar from its terrorist associations. RantWoman is amused by the idea of saying Allau Akbar when one's team scores. RantWoman is also amused by the mispronunciation that sounds to Arabic-speaking ears like "Potatoes are great."

After the music was over RantWoman listened as several present spoke of what the music called to mind. RantWoman just listened.

Later, after dinner, all the idiosyncratically shaped pieces of black paper were pasted into their places on circle mosaics and people were again invited to reflect. This time, the nudge to speak came...and came...and came..

Finally RantWoman rose and recounted the points here with the further comment that RantWoman values deeply held faith even if it is different from RantWoman's.

RantWoman sat down with her post-ministry shakes. RantMom squeezed RantWoman's hand. And after worship, another woman spoke of hearing the same story and of working as a public health nurse with many interpreters. At least some of the Presbyterians could handle Allau Akbar.

Anyway, RantWoman's argument with God was about whether or not Allau Akbar would be too much for RantMom's church. Okay, okay, Faithful to one's Light is a persistent theme for RantWoman right now.



Wherein the RantWomen do our part for Interfaith dialogue at the next in a series of exploration of worship events at Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church.

RantWomen

Alloo Akbar (sp?) Potatoes are great indeed.