I decided to come out of the closet. The closet I’m referring to is my secret love affair with Islam. It isn’t easy loving Islam publicly. Heck, it isn’t easy loving God publicly at all sometimes. Whether we love God or not seems to be one of those “don’t ask; don’t tell” subjects nowadays.
I used to wonder why some people hated Jesus (PBUH*) enough to crucify him. It didn’t make sense at all. Wasn’t he the most peaceful loving being they had ever met? Werent’ all his days spent spreading the love of God? What’s wrong with that?
Now that I find myself embarking on a very beautiful loving journey with Islam, I think I see the way anger and religion can make a deadly combination. We are so often unaware how our perceptions are polluted by fear and ignorance. In fact, we often blind ourselves to our own intolerance towards others. For example, Christianity and Islam have more in common than not yet many Christians fear Muslims. This is sad because the ideas are all based on ignorance and misunderstandings.
I confess I am guilty of this. Some of my family and friends are also guilty of this. After 9/11, an epidemic of prejudice toward Muslims started. Just about everyone I know is guilty of it.
This is partly why I choose to come out. My life is so much better and easier since I embraced Islam. It’s like I’m about to burst with good news I can’t wait to tell. I can’t wait anymore; God is calling me. Islam needs courageous peacemakers. With God’s help, I hope to be one of the peacemakers, someone who builds bridges that help hearts connect. And that’s why I’m coming out to share my story in this weblog.
*PBUH – In Islam, one says Peace Be Upon Him after speaking of the prophet Muhammed. Jesus is also considered a prophet in Islam so it is common to ask Allah to bless Jesus in the same way.
