The woman has recorded her days on her blog accompanied by the title “#40daysofhijab”. Jessey is a children’s director for Imago Dei Church in Peoria, Illinois.
“I want to remind myself what it feels like to be an outsider – ‘the other’… So, I’m practising hospitality this Lent by getting into the shoes (or hijab) of my Muslim friends and neighbours.” She was quoted by Christian Today.
She lived in Jordan seven years ago with her husband for 18 months before heading back home.
She said that the people, especially White Christians, who are among the majority needed to identify and embrace the differences of others within the society and engage them.
“Jesus said to love our neighbours, strangers, and enemies. I think this is something that is not often taken seriously by many Christians. We are so influenced by the media, that we allow fear to take over, and forget to love. Fear is the opposite of love.”
She has vowed to wear the hijab for 40 days of her duration of Lent, in an attempt to fight off the hatred in society towards Muslims.
“Jeff and I decided to go out to dinner in a small town of about 1,700 people to a restaurant where our friend Phil works. While we were there I got a nice long stare and a half smile from a guy” she wrote on her latest blog post.
Hateful and angry comments are being posted on her blog, none of which she claims are being blocked by her.
“Don’t get me wrong, I received my fair share of hatred today. You can see it in the comments of my blog, all of which I have approved. I’m assuming people say these types of things on the internet because there seems to be an infinite amount of space between them and the person they are writing to…and not seeing that person as a human being.”
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