Please see the special note below.
I have suffered loss in life. You have too. We all have. My pain may pale in comparison to what you’ve endured.
Is there any acute agony as severe as losing a child? Is there chronic pain that compares to fear of loss and loss of hope?
I wonder how much of each of these Abraham and Sarah felt as dad and son, but no animal for sacrifice, set off into the wilderness.
Somehow they held on. Abraham became the father of all who believe what God says. Sarah became the poster child for people who are honest with God, even when it means laughing at how crazy something seems, yet still get his promised gift.
As you read this, Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid Al Adha, a feast commemorating Abraham’s obedience to offer his son and God’s provision of the ram. This Eid lasts through the weekend and includes special prayers for forgiveness, family visits and feasting.
Under COVID constrictions many Muslims will celebrate at home. I assume if you don’t have to make small talk with scary Aunt Fatima, you might have more time to think; to wonder at the current challenges facing the planet; to seek deeper meaning in your life and faith.
Viktor E. Frankl, doctor, Holocaust survivor and author observed, “In times of crisis, people reach for meaning. Meaning is strength. Our survival may depend on our seeking and finding it.”
Would you join me in two things this Eid?
1. Ask God to give Muslims searching hearts. Pray that many would take the unusual time afforded by this strange Eid to think, pray, wonder and seek.
2. The graphic at the top of this email is designed to be copied and pasted onto your Facebook page. You are welcome to join me in doing so. Right-click (Or Control-click if you’re in the tribe!), then paste as your status. I had to put a couple spaces in before pasting for it to work!
This is the last week I’ll ask you to consider donating to keep Muslim Connect flowing and growing. Thank you to those who’ve done so. If you’d still love to give, I’d be terribly grateful. Do so here. If you’d like to, but COVID’s all over your funds, I get that. Maybe you could simply forward this email to a friend and recommend they sign up. That would be helpful as well. Thank you.