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Who Is A Good Refugee?

There  are  several  news stories coming  out  of Ukraine that confirm, once again, that  often  refugees have to face the racism and discrimination based on their race, color, and origins!  Humans are humans,  their  need for  treatment  with dignity, food, water and shelter  remains the same! And once they receive the safe shelter, studies tells us, most refugees contribute in the host society in a meaningful way. This poem calls for compassion for all refugees no matter how they look or where they come from! Photo credit: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/03/fleeing-war-facing-racism-refugees-from-ukraine-meet-challenges-at-europes-borders So who is a good refugee, The one who looks like me? Who is a good refugee, With whom I have the most similarity? Refugees shouldn’t be defined  by how they look. It’s about their fear and suffering  that made them seek refuge!  Don’t look at the color of their skin, Look at the scars from their journey,
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Where is Love?

Yesterday the preacher, Richard H Kottemann, in our church inspired this poem! Let's keep fighting for love in our own ways, please! No time to lose focus!    Where is love when we need it the most? Where is love when so many lives are being lost?   Listen, love is alive, But living in parts! Pieces of love are hiding in separate hearts! Photo credit: https://psiloveyou.xyz/for-the-love-of-humanity-300d882ded8d   We, the soldiers of love, need to bring our hearts together! And join the ‘me worlds’ and broken pieces of love we gather!   Love will show the way through this dark tunnel! All the care and support  we channel through the love funnel!   Search your hearts my dear friends,  each one of us possess the various love strands! Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Bothy-Threads-Heart-Cross-Stitch/dp/B00CL975PG   Let's make a tapestry of love, To cover those suffering in the cold, Let’s send a message with the humanitarian dove, Love is peaceful and yet bold!   The oppressor
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Standing Up for Love!

Greetings readers! With changing times, I am adopting newer ways of expression. Trying to make videos and reels to reach out to those who are not into reading but want to learn more about inner, interpersonal and global peace. As I continue to learn how to be more peaceful and loving, I reproduce my learning in simple ways for my brothers and sisters who are also on their path of love and peace. Here's one such video! Trying mix the mediums here, hoping the readers of this blog will accept watching the videos too! 
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An open letter to the Taliban Leaders

  Dear Taliban leaders, I greet you in peace! Congratulations on the newfound power and I believe you will do everything to sustain and maintain it in a responsible manner with Allah’s, the most merciful,  help! Brothers, I reach out to you today to urge you for peace, peace in your own hearts and peace for your own people regardless of their gender and political opinions.   I urge you to let Allah take control! I urge you to seek His wisdom and guidance as you pray . Please remember that forgiveness is more valuable than punishment. I urge each one of you to take time to read the Holy Quran. Please remember as the ruler, you have much greater responsibility than as a fighter. I urge you to adhere to what Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said including about taking care of women and children.    I urge you to convince and compel your regional and grassroots leaders to follow your instructions of maintaining peace and non-violence. If you want the people of Afghanistan to follow your guidance, y
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Not all is lost in Afghanistan!

I feel sick to my stomach, like thousands of other people, as we see the visuals on television and internet coming from Afghanistan. It’s hard to even imagine the fear amongst the people in Afghanistan, both local and expats, who are living through the transition in power in the country.  Needless to say, I am afraid for the safety and well-being of those who are not seen as Taliban supporters especially the women and girls who are empowered to share their educated voice in the dialogue related to decisions about their lives and the fate of their beloved nation.  My family members have deployed to Afghanistan multiple times and I have had opportunities to learn about their experience as foreign soldiers in Afghanistan. I also have had conversations with friends who were born and raised in Afghanistan and have family members living in different parts of the country. I remember helping US Institute of Peace as they were finalizing a course on Engaging with Religious Leaders Overseas,
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The Right Path and the Right Gait?

What is the right path? And who knows it? Even if you find it, How do you walk righteously on it?  What is the right pace?  Who knows the best gait for it? Is it the fastest sprinter, Or the most thoughtful wins it?  Is it an individual quest, Or we collectively walk on it? Can anyone critique the walk, Or the Creator only has the right?  Do all the walkers on the path look the same, Or different people walk on it? And the flowers and the weeds, Do they grow together on it?  Is it a mistake Or the Creator so designed it?  Does everyone has the view of the stars, Or only a few have the advantage for it? Is the focus on the destination absolute, Or can you care for the weak on it?  Is walking the most important, Or is it okay to rest on it?  What is the right path? And who knows it? Even if you find it, How do you walk righteously on it?
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Ready to Wake Up?

God reinforced his greatness in a powerful way through the conversations with my dear brother Amjad Saleem, the works of Karen Armstrong, Isabel Wilkerson and mediations on the Bible as I was preparing for the last couple of sermons. While this poem was brewing in my heart for weeks, it was penned down in just few minutes... The bottom line is that God is greater than whatever we imagine God is! The one they call omnipresent, They try to captivate in religious cages, The one who is more fluid than the sunlight, They struggle to control through their holy pages! Sure, specific gatherings are pleasing, When they glorify the unseen One, But, all diverse cries raised up, Are also received with love in heaven!  What wise fools they are, They forget who is the master! They recreate and reconstruct, The original creator! The so-called leaders of people, Divide and part their followers, By separating themselves from their kin, The simple just follow the orders!  Time to embrace each other, Reg
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