Dear Friends,
We talked with Shane on Sunday after the SOAW rally.
The team
is in good spirits, but of course they are scared. Michelle
asked Shane if the "smart bombs" are really hitting only
their targets. Shane's reply, "That's shit." And you know
how often Shane curses. We are really heartened by the amount
of support and love that people have been pouring out on
our little community. We will try to keep everyone informed
as this goes on. Also, Leah and Jonathan Wilson-Heartgrove
are, it's reported in Baghdad, having arrived there some
time today.
For complete IPT coverage, go to Electronic
Iraq.
For past entries in Shane's journal, go
to the
simple way.
Mike - here are the next updates.
If you get them it is only by the miracle of the Lord. Here's
our best shot. Send everyone my love. It was great to talk
to you. I hope to come home soon.
News
from Shane in Iraq
Here are some
glimpses of life here in Baghdad. Sorry if they seem random or jumbled.
We have very limited access to email and computers. So mostly I am just
able to kick out some of my journals... feel free to circulate these
as you wish. And check out my friend Wade's website for pictures,--
inlet.org/wade/ -- I love you all desperately.
"Dark
Days and Shiny Shoes" by Shaner
I have grown especially
close to one of the "shoeshine boys", a homeless boy (about
10 years old), named Mussef. The first day I met him, he was begging
me for money to eat. When I stubbornly said "no" to his relentless
attempts on my wallet, he turned away and muttered, "Son-of-bitch-mother-fucker".
I whipped my head around in shock, as he took off running. Not the best
first impression. Day after day, we have grown on each other. We go
for walks, turn somersaults, and yell at the airplanes "SALAAM"
(PEACE!!!). Now everyday when I walk outside he runs at full speed,
jumps into my arms, and kisses me on the cheek. And I have the shiniest
shoes in Baghdad.
One day Mussef joined
our group on a walk into the center of town, carrying pictures of Iraqi
children and families suffering from the war and sanctions. Press and
journalists took pictures and talked to us as we stood in one of Baghdad's
busiest intersections, and Mussef begin to internalize what was happening.
His shining face became bleak. Nothing I could do made him smile. As
the group went home, and the cameras left, we continued to sit. He motioned
with his hand the falling of bombs, and made the sound explosions, as
tears welled up in his eyes. Suddenly, he turned, and latched onto my
neck. He began to weep; his body shook as he gasped for each breath
of air. I began to cry. Somehow I was glad all the cameras were gone.
We wept as friends, as brothers, not as a peacemaker and victim. Afterwards
I took him to eat, banquet style (tipping everyone extravagantly so
my guest would be welcome). Every five minutes he would ask me, "Are
you okay?" I would nod, and ask, "Are you okay?" And
he would nod. [Editor's Note: To be honest I think we were both scared
out of our minds but we each wanted to assure that the other did not
start weeping again.]
"God's
Encampment" by Shane Claiborne
Our God dwells in
tents. Certainly it is hard to imagine in a world of million dollar
cathedrals and massive Church building projects. But "God does
not dwell in temples built by hands" (Acts 17). In 2 Samuel 7,
we catch a glimpse of Yahweh's love for camping. King David is living
in a fancy "palace of cedar," and starts to think that maybe
God needs a fancier dwelling place. But God says to David: "Are
you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house
from the day I brought you out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving
from place to place with a tent as my dwelling." Perhaps it should
have come as no surprise how deeply I have felt God among us in our
tent outside the children's hospital. God camped out with the Israelites
in their Exodus journey out of slavery. God was with Rizpah has she
set up camp on the rock next to her children's massacred bodies, collateral
damage of Kings and their wars (2 Samuel 21). Our Jesus, the baby refugee,
is the one who pitched his tent among us ragamuffins, and wandered the
earth "with no place to lay his head". The God of tents and
nomads.
Our Iraq Peace Team
erected a Peace Encampment this week. We located the camp site next
to a children's hospital and a water treatment plant, both of which
have great significance to us. We visit the children in the Al Monzer
Pediatric hospital each day. The Al Wathba water plant provides water
to the people of Baghdad, and is located in a residential neighborhood
(where many of the workers live). Beside our tents, we placed a banner,
that reads: "To bomb this site is a war crime (Geneva Convention
Article 54)". We hung up about six four-foot posters of children
suffering from the war and sanctions. Each night about 10 of us sleep
there, and we spend time with the workers and neighbors. They have brought
us blankets, fresh cookies, let us use their phone... and they stay
up all night with us telling stories. When the bombs begin to drop each
night, we light a candle and sing songs. Each day we go on little walks,
expecting surprises...
Next to
the Peace Encampment is the Lebanon Embassy, where several Embassy families
live. One day they invited us, only to find out we were having tea with
the ambassador! He was very interested in what is being done in the
US to voice opposition to the war. I told him that most of my friends
were in jail in the US as they interrupted the war, and quoted: "In
an age of injustice, the place for a just person is in jail." We
laughed. I am so proud of the outcry happening around the world. Everybody
back at home in Philly is in jail, 107 people were arrested. Over 500
were arrested in San Francisco, and 1000 in Chicago. Our beautiful 3-year-old,
Alexa, held a sign at
the demonstrations reading... "Toddlers for Peace". You all
are so beautiful and feed us hope.
The Mayor of Baghdad
visited our Peace Encampment. With great joy, he said, "Thank you
for being one with the Iraqi people."
One of the Iraqi
reporters came to interview us at the Peace Encampment. Upon noticing
he had a gun on his belt, we asked what kind of "reporter"
he was! He said, I am for the daily newspaper here in Baghdad, but during
these times we have to be prepared for anything. I said, "Well,
I hope we answer all your questions correctly." And we all got
a good giggle.
Immediately after
the first fleet of aircraft flew overhead, I saw a flock of geese in
V-formation, reminding me that Creation is at war. After the first bombs
were dropped, I could hear the desperate howling of dogs in the alley
behind us. As I write this, I can hear the thunder of bombs dropping,
shaking the earth. I can smell the smoke in the air, partly from the
bombed ruins, and partly from the oil fires set by the Iraqi army to
cloud the vision of invading aircrafts. What was a beautiful city has
turned into a dull grey. The sun has disappeared. But the singing of
the birds and the barking of the dogs is constant, relentless... in
fact with every thud from a bomb they only grow louder I can hear the
bombs falling as I write this... I find myself curling up like a little
child a night in a lightning storm. Everytime I see a flash of light,
I begin to count... "One thousand one, one thousand two..."
to see how far away it is. Now when I count I rarely get past the first,
"One thous....". Hold us Jesus. Hold the children of Iraq.
One evening at the
Peace Encampment near the hospital, I was struggling to stay awake during
my "night watch" shift. Then one of the neighbors walked up
to me. He was about my age, and lived around the corner with his family
and children. He began to explain to me that his name was Adal, which
means "Justice." He told me that justice was when things are
balanced and whole. "Like when there is exactly 1 kilo of sugar
for the 1 kilo weight, the scale is even." He went on to tell me
that men and women, black people and white people, made humanity balanced.
Everyone is needed, Muslim and Christian, he said. Then he told me,
there is also a face of justice (Adal) between this world and the afterlife.
God judges us with justice, balance. God looks at how we have lived
on this earth and rewards us accordingly. A child had just given me
a flower. "Like flowers," he said, "If we make flowers
on earth, we will receive flowers in the life to come." And he
pointed to the smoke in the distance from one of the bombs, "And
if we make fire on earth, we will receive fire in the life to come."
Then he smiled insisting that we need to give Bush many flowers... for
Bush only knows fire, and we must not let him burn up the world or himself.
Later, I read the verses of Matthew 18: "I tell you the truth,
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." May we all sow flowers
and smiles, for who wants to spend eternity with fire?Today on the news
we heard that one major denomination called on all soldiers leave this
war in civil disobedience, and for Christians to provide sanctuary for
them. Yes! I think of the communities I know of that are providing a
safe place for soldiers to leave the military, providing hospitality
and legal help. And I am so thankful for the soldiers who have been
Reborn and who lay down their weapons in allegiance to the Prince of
Peace.
"Freedom is the ability to say there is nothing left to lose."
--one of my IPT friends
"Bombs were a very bad idea." --shane Claiborne
