Faith in the Rain

The old joke goes:

What’s a calendar look like during uncertain times?

January, February, March, March, March…

November 13 was the latest prayer vigil in a long series of interfaith support for our migrant siblings.  Light rain punctuated an evening of prayer in the plaza outside the federal building in downtown San Diego. "I'm here because there's something important about this many people praying together," shared one of our students from UC San Diego.  Prayers from interfaith leaders, sidewalk observers, and families directly affected by the arrests of our fellow San Diegans by immigration officials.  We stood in solidarity of these siblings, along with hundreds of other believers from across faith traditions; peacefully, tearfully, passionately praying together.

Peaceful support expressed through prayer vigils, marches, and protests plays a vital role in uniting communities around shared values and collective hopes. A prayer vigil, in particular, offers space for reflection, solidarity, and healing. It allows individuals to gather in a spirit of compassion, grounding their intentions in peace while honoring those affected by hardship or injustice. These gatherings help people feel seen, supported, and connected, reminding everyone that empathy and calm resolve can be powerful forces for change.

Peaceful marches and protests further amplify this unity by transforming individual voices into a visible, organized call for justice. When people walk together in peace, they demonstrate the strength of nonviolent action and show that meaningful change can be pursued without harm or hostility. Such movements highlight important issues, encourage dialogue, and inspire others to engage constructively. By standing together peacefully, communities affirm their commitment to progress rooted in respect, dignity, and hope.

The evening culminated in a silent march around the plaza with encouragement from a Rabbi who invited us to march as Joshua did but “bring down the walls of injustice and fear.”