Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Not Alone

As September quickly approaches I am plotting a course for the Haven Interfaith Parent group which I lead. This is the second interfaith group which I have led. The first group met once a month for three years. This second group has met once a month for one year. We are on the start of our second year. As I’m planning the first meeting I wonder if the other members feel what I feel. Maybe I shouldn’t admit this, since I am the leader, but before each meeting I feel apprehension. Before each meeting I wonder, is this going to work? Throughout the years I have found many amazing people around the world who are striving to make peace through multi-faith or interfaith dialogue but when I started this journey I was aware of only a few. When I began this journey I was not using a tried and true tested ‘model’ of interfaith dialogue; I was on my own.  I knew what I was asking of the HIP members was not easy and it made me apprehensive. It still does.

Peacemaking is not an easy task. In fact, it is quite difficult. Finding common ground is essential in peacemaking endeavors. And there is much common ground to find. Finding common ground let’s us relax in our friendships and realize we are a community. That is the fun part. But peacemaking cannot stop there. It is when discussing those areas where we disagree that is the difficult task. And as I have said before that is where true peacemaking occurs. Both HIP groups have bravely ventured into this arena with me.

At each interfaith meeting I have some sort of ‘activity’. This ‘activity’ typically causes much laughter but we also learn more about each other.  In the second year of meeting with the first group I planned a different sort of activity. On a piece of paper each person was to finish this sentence: When I’m at HIP I fear…? Once the response was written on the paper, the paper was folded and put in a bowl. After all the responses were in the bowl we each took out one of the responses to read. This way we were not reading our own responses.  What we discovered through this activity created a deeper bond among us. You see, we were all apprehensive and fearful. Here are the responses:
When I’m at HIP I fear…
  •  saying the wrong thing and offending someone
  •  a wall may be built instead of a bridge
  • I may hurt other people’s feelings, since a lot of my beliefs are so very different
  •  not knowing what to say
  • expressing a very contrarian idea or viewpoint
  • others will think less of me for my beliefs
  • loss of my family
  • not knowing my faith enough to be a good representation and thus not educate the group in the importance of our religion

Even though I am starting my fifth year of interfaith dialogue, I am apprehensive as I’m planning the next meeting. I’m still asking, is this going to work? I'm still asking that question even though after every meeting I have felt a feeling of exhilaration. After each meeting I have realized that we did do the hard work of making peace. And it was amazing. Thank you to my dear friends in HIP for teaching me so much. I am not alone.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Depending on God

Once again this year I was invited by my Muslim friends to the Taste of Ramadan. The Taste of Ramadan is an 'iftar', a community meal to break the fast during Ramadan in which the Muslim community in Fort Wayne hosts people like me, a non Muslim. The Taste of Ramadan organizers invite Muslim and non-Muslim speakers to speak on various topics before the fast is broken. We broke our fast at 8:53 pm. Fasting is not easy and as much as I was trying not to watch the time, I was completely aware of the time. The organizers had a wonderful meal prepared with food from around the world. As a community we broke our fast together.


Once again this year I decided to fast for one day. Ramadan lasts for thirty days so my fasting for one day is quite insignificant. As a Christian I have to admit that I have never fasted as a spiritual discipline. Many Christians do, but I have not. That is not something I am proud to admit. As I fasted again this year I realized that there is something powerful about coming  together as a community, as in the Muslim faith, that says we are doing this together. This being my second year of fasting for one day (and it truly is insignificant) I begin to sense the power and life changing force of the spiritual discipline of fasting. Quite honestly, the first year I fasted, my mind was on survival. I remember opening and closing the refrigerator and pantry doors what seemed like a zillion times. I remember counting down the hours. But since I had done it once, this year I knew I would survive. I knew it was not a good idea to stay around my home so I kept my mind and body occupied. And when I did get hungry (at 2:30) I prayed. I prayed that my life would depend on God as much as I depend on food to maintain my life. During my one day of fasting I did not wonder if I would survive, but instead I begin to contemplate my dependence on God. My insignificant one day of fasting made me admire my Muslim friends for their discipline, but I also became, maybe somewhat envious, because I experienced how fasting deepens a person's spiritual life. As a follower of Jesus I am thankful for what my Muslim friends are teaching me. Maybe next year I'll fast for more than one day.


I'm wondering if there are spiritual disciplines that you do or have partaken in that have deepened your faith? If so, please post a comment and let me and fellow readers know about your discipline and how it impacted your faith.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

An Interfaith Event: When I Die

Shalom! My summer has been filled with growth and God's grace. The academic calendar is such a wonderful thing because it typically gives me the opportunity to become refreshed with new ideas. This summer, though, was different. There has been much sadness and pain experienced with those I care about. And there has been much celebration and joy with those who I care about.  Isn't that the how life works? Even amongst our pain we celebrate, and when we celebrate we often have pain. My own growth comes out of much sadness and much joy. I'm reminded that God is a God of completeness and wholeness.  I am often asked why I even bother with this endeavor of Interfaith Dialogue, because it seems so hopeless to many. These verses from Psalms 25:4-5 are my prayer. "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Amidst the sadness and the joy, my hope is in God for He desires us to live in peace.
I am just now getting the last Interfaith Event, "When I Die" up on YouTube. I apologize for the delay for many of you have asked about it. Here is the link to the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrAsedoVqv0&feature=related
I am anticipating a great year filled with God's hope of living in peace.