Public Faith

We arrived at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan yesterday afternoon shortly before the Moslim time of prayer. There is a modest mosque next door to the church that has become an overwhelmingly popular mid-day prayer destination. The mosque was filled and the overflow of hundreds of men, young and old lined the sidewalk on 29th street to observe the time of prayer, removing their shoes and sharing their prayer rugs with one another as they stood, kneeled and bowed. It was quite arresting to see hundreds of men bowing on the ground on the sidewalks of New York-- a startling demonstration of public faith and solidarity. We joined many of these men in the crowded line at the Pakistani restaurant next to the mosque after the prayer service concluded- and enjoyed a nice curry lunch.