April 11, 2009

A door to another culture opens

Today, my husband and I get to meet new young acquaintances, Amir, Amad, and Mosan, all Moslems
from Iran. They are dentistry students from University of the East who are staying in one of the
condominiums in Cubao. My husband was so glad to have found drinking buddies out of these young
men. Well, knowing my hubby, no culture or race stands in between him and his best friend Miguel
(the beer).

Looking back our brief interaction today, it’s amazing how little we know about our Muslim brothers and
their culture. Talking to them was indeed educational. It’s like peeking into a tiny hole and slowly a new
and different world unfold before your eyes. As people of different faith and orientation, instead of
extending a hand of friendship, we sometimes shy away or hold back whenever we meet people of
dissimilar religious practice. We are blinded by our knowledge and indifference of the other culture.
Amir was right when he said today that we are all created to know the difference between good and bad
because we are all blessed with the gift of discernment. We all stand equal in the eyes of God, whether
we know him as Allah , Jesus Christ or by whatever faith.