Change is difficult for all people. Sometimes what is 'new' seems more like a threat than a promise. People struggle to retain their inherited identify, but recognize the need to meet new situations.

Both Christians and Moslems share a sense of the righteousness and majesty of God. But for Moslems the Word of God is the Qu'ran, while for Christians the Word of God is the event of Jesus Christ coming to earth as a human, the incarnation.

British Christians may feel complete incomprehension when confronted with a page of Arabic script from the Qu'ran. What must British Muslims feel when faced with images from the life of Jesus? We need to begin by trying to understand one another.

For a brief introduction to beautiful Arabic calligraphy, including the process of writing the script, try www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/islamic_medical/calligraphy/calligraphy.html

For a sample of some marvelous, but perhaps less known images from the life of Jesus, why not visit a page devoted to the paintings of Geertgen tot Sint Jans at http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/g/geertgen
(Take a look at the Nativity Night from the National Gallery in London!)