brian shivers

We must not pray    unless our feet    are willing to walk. We must not pray    unless our legs     are willing to take a stand. We must not pray    unless our hands     are willing to do the work. We must not pray    unless our hearts     are willing to be broken. We must not pray    unless our minds     are willing to be open. We must not pray    unless our souls     are willing to forgive. We must not pray    unless our selves     are willing to be transformed. - bshivers

This past weekend, there was an act of terror, an act of hate, an act of anti-Semitism spray painted on the walls of a storage shed at a local synagogue - Congregation Shaarey Tefilla.  This act was no simple act of vandalism. No, this act was designed to intimidate and spark panic in the community and fear in the hearts of the good people of this congregation. Those who spray painted hate on those walls knew exactly what they were doing. This was no juvenile prank. Whatever the hopes of the perpetrators, they were dashed when over 1,000 concerned citizens, community leaders, and congregation members packed the worship space at Shaarey Tefilla two days later. It was literally standing room only.  And we stood - together.  We stood in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.  We stood in strength of our commitment to one another.  We stood in promise that we will be there for one another.  We stood, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Hindus, Sikhs, People who aren’t part