Middle East

“May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.” (Psalm 122:6-9)

A few days ago marked the one-year anniversary of the horrors of the October 7th attacks at the hands of Hamas and other militants on the south of Israel. On the day of commemoration, I was in the holy city of Jerusalem. The city of peace. A city that today has no peace. 

This past month, I flew from Atlanta, Georgia to Lilongwe, Malawi. The total travel time from Atlanta to Lilongwe was around 56 hours- my longest flight to date. My flight left Atlanta at 5pm (11pm Malawi) on Friday and I arrived 7am on Monday in Lilongwe (Atlanta- 1am Sunday). The extra-long flight was due to a 12-hour layover… and the fact that I fell asleep at the airport, didn’t realize the different time zone, and missed my flight. There were no other flights to Malawi that day, so I had to spend a night in Nairobi, Kenya. Luckily, I have friends that live there.

Ten years ago this month, the army of the Islamic State (or ISIS) swept through Sinjar and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq. These two regions were the ancestral homelands of two of Iraq’s oldest religious communities – Yazidis and Assyrian Christians, respectively.

“Wait, how many times do I have to refuse an offer of something before I can accept it without causing offense?” This question is one of the first you must learn the answer to while living in the Middle Eastern country in which I have spent my last year and a half (precise location undisclosed for security). In answer, my local friend explains that in a culture like this one, one of the ways in which you show honour is by making offerings of relationship through hospitality not just once, but multiple times.

South Africa has always held a special place in my heart. I have long appreciated Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, which is a cherished book on my shelf. How could one not be moved by the journey of a leader who endured 27 years in prison, ultimately chose not to be violent, and emerged as the liberator of his people? 

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. - Psalm 62:5

He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?   (Micah 6.8)

Prepare our hearts to be vessels of peace and understanding, granting us the wisdom to speak with humility and the courage to listen with empathy. ~ John Habibi 

In the Fall of 2018 I visited Palestine-Israel. Our Palestinian tour guide was also an Israeli citizen. He was one of only 60 officially recognized Palestinian guides. This is in contrast with the 5,000 plus Jewish tour guides. This discrepancy tells you who’s story gets told.