Feeling safe in Cairo
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
Note: this article was written following the April 7, 2005 terrorist bombing in the Khan al-Khalili district of Cairo, in which four people died.
My husband and I are American and have lived in Cairo, Egypt, for the past year. This has been a kind of homecoming for me, returning to the country where I spent four happy years of childhood. But there have been changes. Today there are armed guards on every street corner. When I take visitors sightseeing to the Pyramids, I'm aware of the danger from insurgents who recently bombed the marketplace.
So I pray to know—not just hope—that we are all safe. And I do feel safe. Why? Because I lean on divine Love, on God, in every situation. This helps me deal with the stress of daily living. And as a parent and a host to visitors, it is the responsible thing for me to do.
When I pray about safety, I like to start with the spiritual fact that God is All, and therefore not limited to a certain place, or available only at certain times. In acknowledging God’s presence in Cairo, I understand that Love is omnipresent.
Years ago I heard a story about a little boy who was asked if he thought God would be present if he were the only one on a deserted island. He answered, “Of course,” explaining, “if I’m there, God wouldhave to be there, too.” In simple terms, he was describing the spiritual fact that divine Love is present everywhere and that as God’s child, he could never be separated from Love. That childlike response continues to bring me comfort in times of fear or doubt.
Do I sometimes feel like a child on a lonely island as I ride the crowded Cairo metro, standing out as one of the few foreigners? Absolutely. But here is what I know is true: We are all embraced in Love, no matter how different we appear in religion, language, nationality, clothing style, skin color or gender. If any of us is here, God has to be here too, loving each of us equally as His children.
One of the hymns in the Christian Science Hymnal refers to a seamless gratitude for God that we weave as “a silent, healing prayer.” The hymn describes this gratitude as having “shining threads of ceaseless joy; / For man is God’s great heir.” I am inspired to weave such a silent prayer by noting for myself all I can see of God’s love in Egypt.
And there is so much to be grateful for. The Egyptian people are warm and welcoming. Often, as our family walks through the streets of Cairo, we hear the word welcome called out to us. If we need help of any kind—such as the time we locked ourselves out of our apartment—our problem is their problem. Egyptians will generally stay with you until a solution is reached, long past what would be required by mere politeness. Isn’t it because divine Love is expressed universally?
Is violence natural to the Egyptian people? Absolutely not. Violence isn’t natural to anyone, because all are the children of divine Love. Would it be loving for me to look at each person I pass on the street with suspicion and fear? No. It’s important to be wise and alert about what we’re doing and where we’re going, but being fearful and suspicious is never helpful.
We are all children of the one God, the one Love. We inherit and express only what He gives us. And since God truly is Love, peace and harmony are natural to us in our relations with others, whether around the block or around the globe.
We received many loving email messages from friends after the bombing in the bazaar, wishing us safety and well-being. Many are from fellow Church members in the US, reminding me of my responsibility to pray for the “garden” where I now find myself planted.
Perhaps that's the real reason I feel safe in Egypt today. I know God is already meeting my need for safety through His omnipresent—and omnipotent—love for all, not just some. Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.” Wherever there is a need for prayer, we can trust there is already a God-given spiritual truth to ensure safety and peace.
Safe in God's loving care:
Science and Health
494:10-11
581:8-14
520:3-5 The (to .)
King James Bible
I John 4:18
Luke 21:9