An Interfaith Gathering

So much of what we see in the news today is negative.  It seems that this nation and our world are more divided than ever.  The cause of much of this strife is religion, especially religion of the fundamentalist variety.  Many people simple cannot accept anyone whose beliefs are different from their own.  At the extreme, the “non-believers” become “they” and are demonized.

Tonight I attended an interfaith event for prayer and reflection on peace.  Nine different faith communities shared.  The evening began with a reading and a song led by the Unitarian Universalist pastor followed by a contemporary song led by a rabbi on a guitar.  The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was offered by my pastor, and then the Ilowan’s Children shared their Metta prayer.  We all sang together:

“May all beings have fresh, clean water; may all beings have food to eat.

May all beings share love with someone; may all beings have a home.

May all beings know their true purpose, be well and happy and free from strife.

May all beings be free from suffering, to this cause I give my life.”

This was simple and sweet, reflecting universal desires—sung by 100+ people of different faiths.  The next participant was from the Muslim community; he shared an ancient writing about “your mission of peace,” meaningful and apropos for our times.

After each piece we sat in silence then a bell was rung and the next participant(s) rose.  During the first times we sat in silence, I noticed a restlessness among the crowd, perhaps people uncomfortable with the long period of quiet.  However, by the time we got to the meditation, I noticed a distinct difference.  A woman from the Eckankar community led us in the Hu song, sort of a long hum—I found it centered me.  The silence that followed was easy, peaceful.  A Sufi master led us in a guided meditation, again very introspective, yet connecting us to the earth and all life.

We sang together “Faith Is Being Open,” a song written by a member of the Metropolitan Community Church, a congregation that specifically welcomes GLBT people.  Our evening concluded with a meaningful world religions candle lighting and beautiful music.

This was a special evening for those present, one I wish I could have shared with more people.  There were open hearts, acceptance.  In the quiet I could feel the Spirit moving among us.  In truth we worship the same God; we just experience God in different ways.  Tonight we came together and shared.  There was no “they,” only “we.”  Love reigned.  We will do this again.