The Golden Rule in action in the Middle East

I grew up on a Wisconsin farm, so I'm not sure why I became interested in the Middle East. But by the time I was in college, I was interested enough to want to learn Arabic, to study the region’s intricate cultural, religious, and political history, and to go there to meet people and learn about their lives.

I earned a master’s degree in Middle East studies, worked as an intern in the Cairo bureau of a major US news organization, and later traveled throughout the Middle East as a journalist.

Over the years, I grew to appreciate the complexities of the region. But ironically, it seemed the more I learned about the Middle East situation, the less I understood how peace and prosperity might truly be achieved. The gulf dividing the sides seemed—and still seems—so vast.

Yet the understanding I have gained of God, divine Love, through my study of Christian Science has taught me the ever-presence of good. The question is how to witness and experience this truth amid the complexities and apparent chaos in the Middle East. As I’ve prayed for an answer, I’ve been drawn to the Golden Rule.

The Middle East is the homeland of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and each of these religions has its own version of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, refers to the Golden Rule and its great importance many times in her writings.

To me, this rule underscores the necessity of demonstrating love—love for God and love for our fellow men and women—if we wish to lead progressive, productive lives. It encompasses not only our actions toward others, but the very thoughts we cherish about them.

My experience has taught me that practicing the Golden Rule in our relations with others is key to breaking the hypnotic cycle of turmoil and violence in the Middle East. I’ve come to appreciate that any situation, viewed through the prism of divine Love, is full of hope and the promise of healing. But to perceive that promise requires a shift in consciousness. It’s not easily done, but spiritualizing our perceptions is worth the effort.

How does thought have to shift? Here's an example. It’s easy to think of the Middle East as a place where all Americans are seen as enemies, where it’s difficult to communicate because of language issues, where disorder and often inhumanity reign.

But a spiritual view of our fellow men and women—seeing them as the children of the one God, united in His love—reveals that hate doesn’t have to be the operative element. Although it can be a challenge to accept the thought that divine Love is in control when there appears so much evidence to the contrary, I have glimpsed the truth of Mrs. Eddy’s statement, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.”

When I was still a student, several of my American classmates and I traveled to Damascus, Syria, where very few people speak English. There had been a recent failed coup attempt by a Syrian military faction, and tensions were running high. Gunshots were sometimes heard in the streets as an apparent show of power by the ruling government.

Our group toured the city’s ancient sites without incident, and next wanted to take a bus to the historic northern city of Aleppo to visit a crusader castle. I volunteered to go to the bus station to purchase tickets.

The small, dusty ticket office was packed with boisterous Syrian holiday travelers. But at the unusual sight of a lone American woman, the hubbub fell silent and a path opened for me to walk to the front of the line. Everyone curiously watched and listened as I used my limited Arabic to buy the tickets.

The patient, kindly ticket seller made a great effort to explain to me exactly where and when we would find our bus in the crowded depot. I thanked him, met up with my friends, and we all went to the station.

As we made our way to the bus, I spotted the ticket seller standing beside it, watching for me. A big smile broke over his face. He had wanted to make sure we got on the correct bus, and he personally put us on board. He wished us a good trip and disappeared into the crowd.

I was deeply touched by the ticket seller’s Christly care and concern. His small act of kindness expressed to me the powerful presence of Love, which knows no boundaries, no labels, no nationalities, no limitations. Divine Love is as present in Damascus, Syria, as anywhere else in the world.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. I've experienced many instances of good as I've worked in the Middle East and humbly prayed to see God in action. From this prayer, I feel I’ve been given a glimpse into the universe that God creates—one where Love, not hatred, reigns.

My time in the Middle East has shown me that all of God's children have a tremendous yearning to be respected, honored, valued. I’ve come to appreciate that no governmental policy can succeed truly in bringing peace and prosperity to the region unless this need is recognized. Using the Golden Rule as our guide, it’s possible to fulfill this need.

Our prayers can support peace in the Middle East as we think about all those who live there in the way we’d like them to think about us—as children of God, protected, respected and valued, under the rule of Love.

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