FAMILIES HEAL THROUGH THE BRIDGE OF PEACE
On Sunday, October 16, 2016 the Dallas, Texas Chapter of WFWP celebrated an unprecedented event at the Dallas Family Church. After I offered a short sermon during the regularly scheduled Sunday service, the church congregation joined together in a church-level bridge crossing ceremony. It was an event in the making ever since I attended the national WFWP retreat in July in Tampa, Florida. There we had taken part in a Bridge of Peace ceremony among the participants there, mainly chairwomen from around the United States. From that very day, I couldn't stop dreaming about having a district level bridge ceremony here in Dallas. Many things delayed our event, but finally, together with pastor for the Dallas Family Church, Rev John Jackson, we decided on a date, and we began preparations.
We prepared this event as if we expected dignitaries to participate, so as to prepare for future ceremonies open to VIP's from our Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. In any case, aren’t we more than dignitaries ourselves? We wrote a beautiful invitation letter and sent it to contacts both near and far. Four lovely young ladies helped as ushers, and two WFWP ladies created a really beautiful archway for the stage. One family nearby owns a floral business, and they prepared elaborate, beautiful flower arrangements. Some ladies came in Korean dress, and some in formal western clothing. As this was a special Sunday service and event, each family brought a generous dish, and we set up the potluck buffet before the service began. The church was packed, and everybody felt the excitement in the air.
WFWP bridge ceremonies started in the 1990s as a means to heal the hearts of two people from enemy nations, or those separated by religious or racial divisions. For this event however, our emphasis was a little different. From deep in my heart, I know that there is unspoken loneliness out there in many families. We decided that this event would be a family affair. Even though the bridge was crossed by two ladies, we emphasized that the two ladies represent their families. In our invitational emails and also on the day of the ceremony, we encouraged each participating family to connect with their sister family, to invest a little time and heart-felt care, and to foster an enduring friendship. If a family wished to join, but the wife was not present, then the husband or children crossed as the family representative. Those who could not be there at all requested to be matched with another family that could not be there as well. The response from the community was incredible, truly heart-felt and moving.
Before the ceremony I gave a brief talk on and on “Women in the Providence and the Advent of WFWP,” after which we started the ceremony. We created two lines of sisters, and matched everyone randomly, as we had at the retreat in Florida. Many eyes were teary as people laughed with surprise and delight upon meeting their “new” sister. The older children helped out by giving out roses and by taking photos. After the ceremony, we all joined in the beautiful and delicious buffet lunch. Every family had brought their best food to share. Matched families sat together for lunch and had time to talk and to know a bit about one another.
As I gazed at our lovely gathering, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of Father Moon's vision for peace and true joy among the broad and diverse family of God.
