Today I had the privilege of attending a meeting at St Aidan's Episcopal Church, Clarkston, where I heard an inspiring account of the life and work of Daoud Nassar, Director of Tent for Nations. I don't have the space to tell his full story so, if you watch the video, I will leave that to Daoud and his colleagues....
Speaking to Daoud after the meeting, I was struck by his insistence upon the fact that political solutions, whilst clearly important, are not particularly relevant for him. What is of far greater significance is the seemingly insignificant gesture of Refusing to be Enemies ( a statement written in numerous languages on the huge boulders which mark the entrance of Tent of Nations). Daoud seems to be engaged in what can only be described as an attempt to end the politics of estrangement. The only way he can do that is to refuse to be the fall guy, i.e. to refuse to play the part of the enemy, and refuse to see the Jewish settlers, who are seeking to take his land by whatever means, as enemies themselves.
Daoud's approach reminds me of the image of the kingdom that Jesus offers us where he talks about the yeast that leavens the bread. It's an innocent sounding metaphor, but there is something quietly, spiritually, subversive about it. Gandhi must have had people like Daoud in mind when he said: Be the change you want to see in the world.
Pray for the life and ministry of Daoud and Tent of Nations, that they may continue to quietly leaven the loaf.
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