I hear a hope I see a vision I feel a move
from dead dogmas
into the daring faith
from arrogant individualism into honest interaction from protected rights
into shared responsibilities

The time has arrived When we recognise
the divine in one another and we create a space
where prejudices are not hidden but mutually faced
anger is not forbidden but deeply discussed
openness is not forced but gently cultivated

The time has arrived When we welcome
the faith in one another and we create a space
where your story is heard
your foundation is accepted your inspiration is honoured

and all this is weaving into those of mine
surprisingly similar
revealingly different

My ignorance turns
into the cordial curiosity
and the categorized labels
are replaced by the names of human beings

The time has arrived When we realize
that someone different
is not less than the one like us and we confess
that not only my people deserve fairness, dignity and a decent meal

The time has arrived
When we no more talk about those over there but with their past and their future we create a space
where hospitality replaces the creed and care overcomes my fear

Then our security is no more based
on lies, labels nor locks

The wind of the Divine Spirit Transforms us And converts
our fears into vulnerability
our superiority into solidarity
our exclusive answers into mutual questions our fixed concepts into vital dialogue our serious statements into
smiles and laughing surprises

Has this time arrived?
Will it come through us?

Rev. Irja Askola, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland and former member of the Conference of European Churches, was a speaker at the "Ecumenical Conversations".

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