CNN: Kyra Phillips and Kia Scherr Transcript Interview

CNN's Kyra Phillips revisits with Kia scherr one year later.

November 25, 2009 – CNN Interview with Kia Scherr and Kyra Phillips

 

PHILLIPS: Well, for three days and three nights, we watched Mumbai go up in flames as terrorists took over India's financial capital. Today, seven men arrested in connection with those attacks finally charged in Pakistan.

The suspects are accused of helping plan and fund the assault which killed at least 160 people. The only surviving Mumbai gunman on trial right now in India.

Two people lost in that tragedy, Alan and Naomi Scherr, an American dad and daughter who were in India for a meditation retreat. The woman they left behind, wife and mom Kia Scherr, kind of stunned us all with the message she had right after this happened and right in the midst of her mourning.

Take a listen to her a year ago:

”We must send them our love, forgiveness and compassion. As Jesus Christ said long ago, they know not what they do. They are in ignorance, and they are completely shrouded and clouded by fear. And we must show that love is possible and love overpowers fear.”

PHILLIPS: Well, it's been a year later, and we're checking in with Kia Scherr.

You know, Kia, I remember, we all remember, we were all talking about it today, when you came up live during that news conference and said that just after you lost your husband and your daughter. And we were just all so taken aback. And again, a year later still talking about it.

Where did that strength come from, just being able to be so strong and have that forgiveness for those who took your loved ones' lives?

SCHERR: St. Catherine of Siena wrote that forgiveness is the foundation of God's being. And my meditation practice over all of my adult life has led me to that experience. So I really can't do otherwise.

PHILLIPS: And I know you think of them every single day since last year.

SCHERR: Yes.

PHILLIPS: You know, how have you taken in the memories, their memory, their spirit a year later? Has it become any easier to live with? Because I know you never get over it.

It drives me crazy when people say, oh, time heals, you get over it. You never do. You just learn how to live with it.

How do you think about them and love them a year later after losing them so tragically?

SCHERR: I have very sweet memories of them, but also, the greatest honor that I could show them is to dedicate my life to sharing a message about honoring the sacredness and oneness of all of life. And that's why we have started an organization to create a context to inspire that conversation.

PHILLIPS: And it's called One Life Alliance. Tell me about it.

SCHERR: That's right. The One Life Alliance, to encourage and inspire that conversation so that we can begin to live that message for ourselves, to honor the sacredness of life first in ourselves, and then in each other. Because when we live with that perspective, it changes the way that we are and the way that we interact with each other. It changes our experience and it transforms us and our world.

That's been my experience over this past year.

PHILLIPS: You know, there was a very unique woman, Linda Ragsdale, who was underneath that table with your daughter during these attacks, and telling her to remain calm and that she was go to help show her and teach her how to draw the peace dragon the next day. She's an illustrator.

Tell me about her and your relationship with her. She spent the last moments with your daughter.

SCHERR: Yes. It was Linda's creative inspiration that arose from us having this conversation over the past year to create the Peace Dragon Art Project for Children. She was going to teach Naomi to draw a dragon the next day, and was not able to fulfill on that promise.

And so, she's now dedicating herself to teaching children all over the world to draw what she's calling peace dragons. And together, with One Life Alliance, we plan to collaborate and travel to as many countries as we can, and create art exchanges between children in different countries, and create an online global gallery so that everybody can view the peace dragon drawings.

PHILLIPS: You know, out of death, so many times we see life. And you have definitely created a totally different life for yourself and attitude, and even an organization that keeps the lives of your husband and your daughter very much vibrant for everybody.

What keeps you going from day to day? Is it the peace of knowing they're still with you? Is it those you interact with? Is it the organization?

SCHERR: I would have to say, first of all, it's my meditation practice. I also happen to have the great joy and privilege of living at a modern meditation sanctuary, the Synchronicity Foundation. So, there's holistic lifestyle that's part of my whole daily routine that gives me the strength and balance within a very challenging and painful situation.

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you one thing, we all need to meditate more after listening to your story and what you've dealt with.

SCHERR: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Amen.

Kia Scherr, great to see you again a year later, and to see you so happy and so strong. Really appreciate your time today.

SCHERR: Thank you. 

 

Write a comment

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comment: *

Help prevent spam - enter security code above: