minority

I live my life as such the majority that it comes as a complete shock sometimes when I am not. I look basically like everyone else around me... you know, minus the ridiculously handsome beard... No one really pays me a second glance. And I am used to that. I remember a long time ago when my family was on vacation somewhere.... I actually don't remember where, but somewhere when I was in my teens and I had big long hair. ( see the pic to the right just to help the mental image. I am the one on the far right) and we stopped somewhere for lunch. People were looking at me like had just got naked and was waving a bloody flag around. Literally parents were shooing their kids away from me as I walked down the sidewalk. It felt a bit powerful.. and I remember laughing. But it also felt wrong. I was a pretty decent guy. I didn't kill people for a living, and these guys had no right assuming anything like that about me.

I was a minority again today. I went to my friend Asima's daughter's wedding. They are Indian and Muslim and I am neither of those things. We have been friends a long time and feel no awkwardness at all regarding our differences. In fact, I love them. I love going over their house for food... trust me, the food is very very good. And I love going over their for birthdays and the like. There are rules there that I don't have, big rules, and I really do find it interesting to see them played out. So this was my first Indian wedding. I think we were the only non-Indian, non-Muslims there. We were the only ones that I saw anyway. I didn't know what I was going to think of it. It is so rare that I am thrown into a place that has such a different set of rules and culture. It was beautiful. One thing that I love about Indian culture is the color. Beautiful silks and gold flashing everywhere. I also love the singing of the Quran. I have been to a couple different things where the holy book is sung. Judaism for sure, and Islam... and in some places, Christianity. I wonder where Christianity veered from the singing of the Bible. In many Orthodox churches it is still sung. Most protestant churches it isn't. It is a beautiful thing to hear those words sung out.

In most other ways the service was very similar to any other religious event that I have been to. The Imam (I believe that's the right name) gave a message that could have been spoken in any church that I have been a part of. Love, for everyone, is central to God's desire. Yes, completely agree. People gave speeches in regard of the married couple. There was food and people mingled. It wasn't completely common day, I had to ask if it was OK to take pictures, and it was. But I wasn't sure. They prayed. I have seen Muslim prayer a few times before, and it beautiful to watch. I especially love the hand position that some people take, open hands facing their face. Some motion, what looks to me like a washing hand motion over their face after prayer. The symbolism in this, from my observation at least, was beautiful.

It was a nice night. I am happy to have been out of my comfort zone and safely in the hands of another culture.

db