Coffee with Sufis in Beirut (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
Whirling round (Photo: Emily O
When I was whirling with Sufis today in Beirut, there were less Sufis whirling than usual–since many people here are still hiding out. To escape danger and death, daily routines are being re-written: some are changing coffee habits, and others are avoiding the mall…
Today, two of my friends–both of whom lived through the civil war–broke down in tears and despair. One–a gentle old Sufi woman who always sports a sincere, sweet smile–and the other, a muscle-bound, macho guy from the gym. “Why do we keep on killing each other,” he said, “why not go instead to the gym and to the beach, and make peace no matter the color of your skin or your religious beliefs.”
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you’re perfectly free…
— Rumi
