by Chinwe Okafor
Jessey Eagan, a married Christian mother of two, decided to wear a hijab for Lent in an attempt to remind herself “what it feels like to be an outsider”.
According to her, “We lived in Amman, Jordan about 7 years ago where we ended up teaching at an Islamic school,” she told BuzzFeed News. “While we were there we met many Muslims and built great personal friendships with them. And living in a culture where I stuck out like a sore thumb, I personally know what it can feel like to be an outsider, and I wanted to remind myself of that, so that I can better love all people, no matter what they look like.”
In her blog, the children’s director at her church in Peoria, Illinois, wrote about a Muslim friend’s response to her idea to wear a hijab, and how it spurred her on: “Before I fully explain my reasoning, let me tell you how I came to the decision. I told my husband my idea and he encouraged me to do it, but I decided that I needed to ask a local Muslim friend her thoughts on it. She wears hijab for many reasons, I’m sure, but one is identification with her Muslim community. I wanted to make sure that I would not be disrespecting or offending the Muslim community, so I asked her opinion. Her response was this;
“You are a very thoughtful person full of great ideas…I don’t see a reason why people get offended by a very thoughtful, nice, and peaceful act. Our role is teach and educate all people and I’m 100% in support of this idea…My hijab drawer is yours come and pick what you like. If u don’t have time I can bring them to u, just let me know what colors.”
She says that her main goal for this project is to encourage other people, especially Christians, to look beyond appearances and remember Christianity’s teachings about love.
Interesting