There was a car accident in the southbound lane of Highway 880 near Fremont the other day. Thankfully, no one seemed to be seriously hurt. My site-partner Hafsa and I were headed back to the office after a long day of wrap-up meetings for our Faiths Act work here in the Bay Area. As we drove around the accident site, already clogged with emergency vehicles and police, I drew my right hand slowly to my forehead. After resting there for a moment, I touched the space below my sternum, then surreptitiously brought my hand to my left and then right shoulders. I completed this motion by bringing my hand to my lips and lightly kissing my fingertips as I mouthed the words ‘Protect them’, all the while trying to look like I was simply scratching invisible itches.
Hafsa wasn’t so easily tricked. “Did you just make the sign of the cross?” she asked. I was caught! I’m not sure when the habit arose, but for years I’ve crossed myself when passing traffic accidents or seeing an ambulance with its lights flashing. It’s easy as a Catholic; I cross myself about one thousand times during a regular Mass. I sheepishly replied, “Yeah. I guess you saw that, huh?” I expected her to ask me all sorts of questions about why I would do such a thing, but that didn’t happen.
Instead, she said, “Right as I noticed you crossing yourself, I was saying ‘Bismillah ar rahman ar rahim (in the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)’ under my breath!”
Well how about that? Even though she and I come from different religions, we still share some traditions. Saying a quick prayer for the health and well-being of others is one of them.
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