Dr. Larycia Hawkins took my breath away when the story broke that she had won a hijab to school to show her compassion for and solidarity with the Islamic community — particularly with Muslim women. For one thing, it was such a perfect, clear, and beautiful act. The sort of thing that makes me think –“Gee, why didn’t we think of that before?” and for another, it shocked me that she lost her job over it. I mean, really, Wheaton College! It was such a clearly compassionate thing to do — the sort of thing that Jesus, if he were here today, would do, since he was all about connecting with those who are marginalized and, even more, about taking risks on behalf of compassion.
I was reminded of it again when this article turned up in my inbox today from the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
There was a story — not quite accurate — but beautiful in spirit — that when the Nazi’s wanted the Danish to give up their Jews — the Danish King asked the people to wear yellow stars and when the Nazis showed up everyone had one.
Dr. Hawkins showed the sort of courage that we could all muster in times like this.
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