Contributed by: Susan Posey, Redeemer Lutheran, McLean
Many people set aside time in their day for prayer, reflection, or meditation, and there are so many wonderful resources for this type of daily grounding. One such resource is the Daily Lift, a daily audio reflection provided on-line by the Christian Science Church.
This week, I was blessed to hear a Daily Lift offered by Lois Herr, who is a local Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher, an active member of Tysons Interfaith, and my dear friend. In this segment entitled No such thing as “all by myself,” Lois shares an experience from her own life that illustrates her belief that by consistently turning to God for guidance, one can come to the spiritual reality that God’s care is always ready to appear in ways that we can understand.
The Daily Lift is comprised of audio presentations contributed by Christian Science church members worldwide – with the majority coming from the U.S. This particular “Lift” will remain on the website for thirty days before being retired.
As my friend Lois would say, “may this segment bring you peace and encouragement.” It did so for me.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
I’ve just been introduced to al-Ghazali, a perceptive medieval Islamic scholar, who among other things looks at the old adage that patience is a virtue. His exploration of the subject is featured in an on-line article authored by Northeastern Professor Liz Bucar on the website The Conversation. It is entitled: “3 things to learn about patience and impatience — from al-Ghazali, a medieval Islamic scholar.”
I know I am impatient. I want justice now, not later. But there is virtue in waiting patiently for the right moment, for the other person to finish their thought, something Jesus of Nazareth fully understood. So, I will pray for discernment as to whether patience – or impatience – is the better course to advance love, healing and justice in a given situation. And I will breathe and try to allow a little space for the Holy Spirit to work its graceful magic in my personal life and in this world.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by: Dr Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living, Metro
Photo: SEWA International Volunteers Working in McLean Hamlet Park on April 6
Isn’t “inextricability” (incapable of being disentangled), a great word? Simply, we cannot get away from one another. The effects any of us have on the environment – on everyone and everything – affect us all directly and indirectly. What we do turns back on all of us. In the Judeo-Christian Bible, Cane asks, Am I my brother’s keeper? The answer is “Yes!” We are our brothers’ keepers and our sisters’ and mothers’ and fathers’ keepers. Everything each of us does impacts everyone, just some more than others.
The solution I am proposing is simple yet I do not claim it will be easy, although it could be. Since we are inextricably entangled in everyone else, the solution is a massive shift of consciousness. A shift at the systemic level that declares in words and more importantly in actions, that we care. We care about the environment. We care about one another. We care about the world we are leaving to our offspring. Simply, WE CARE! Some who declare that this approach is not simple, may even claim it is impossible. Believing that all things are possible, I don’t accept that perspective. I am confident that it not only is possible, it is sustainable! And attainment of sustainability requires the commitment and follow through of each person who cares!
There are millions of people and myriad programs that are doing great work and so long as their commitment and energy hold out, they are sustainable. Fortunately, new recruits come along that are dedicated and step in when those in the trenches fatigue. They are valiant, amazing people. I laud them and applaud them. So long as the supply of new people does not wane, those programs will continue.
Some, perhaps many, avowed environmentalists spend more energy focused on what other people are doing or not doing that damages the planet, than on doing something about the environment. Because of the crises cropping up on so many different fronts, this is critical work. Again, it is only sustainable so long as new crops of dedicated people continue to show up. Truly, we all need to take a stand against the violators, big and small.
I am inviting people to address the crisis at the systemic level. We need to dig deep and address the consciousness that is not only allowing the contamination of our environment, it is fostering and nurturing it. We live in a “throw away society,” that condones a disposable mentality. The ordinary, day-to-day insults to our environment result from a consciousness that stopped washing dishes. Instead, whether plastic or paper, throw it away and someone (bless the disposal facility personnel) will clean up after the general malaise and laziness. Alas, there are millions of people who simply drop their trash wherever they are. A few rationalize that what they are dropping in the streets and parks is biodegradable. Some don’t care at all. They apparently assume that the clean-up fairy will come along behind them and fix it. Some don’t even care whether it is cleaned up.
The big violators must be called out! We know we must be a clear stand for stopping the harm they are perpetrating yet feel that stopping those entities is so huge that all our feelings of inadequacy arise. Rather than remaining in a state of paralysis, I choose to turn to what I/we can do. By releasing the sense of overwhelm on the huge scale, we have more energy to devote to what we can do … and there is always something that each one of us can do to change the world and help heal the planet.
We can conserve energy by stopping finger pointing and blaming on the local level, join with others and pick up after the thought-less members of society before we drown in others’ waste. Tysons Interfaith and many other organizations do park and highway cleanups applying critically needed Band-Aids that are not ongoing remedies. They are short term and again, so long as new volunteers show up to replace burned out ones we can maintain. But maintaining is not sustaining.
A shift of consciousness is required for us to switch to a truly sustainable solution. There are valiant souls who are already taking this approach, and there are those who complain but do not act. To be sustainable, it is critical for us to embrace a “both/and” approach. There are those who educate about the fragility of our environment. Often, they and their students are the ones picking up after the contaminators. It requires a shift in consciousness from “why should I pick up after someone else,” to “it pleases me to have a pleasant environment, so I’ll pick it up.” It calls us to commit to events like river and park clean ups and even closer to home … perhaps the trash in front of the neighbor’s house.
This is where “inextricability” comes in. We cannot be separated from one another … our beings cannot be disentangled.
The indigenous peoples around the world have always known and taught their offspring that we are inseparable from our environment and from one another. Traditionally, they honor Oneness … they honor Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants. We are our brothers’, sisters’, mothers’, fathers’ and strangers’ keepers.
Whether we like it or not, we are responsible for one another. Let’s remind ourselves that we are all spiritual beings. Brene Brown defines spirituality as, “…recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.”
When we immerse ourselves in the awareness of Oneness taking care of our planet and its inhabitants is no longer a burdensome responsibility. It becomes a celebration of interconnectedness and an opportunity to uplift the awareness of others. It is our opportunity until others learn and embrace their responsibility. The big question then becomes, “how are we to shift the consciousness of the world?” When I phrase it that way, it does feel immense and overwhelming. Let’s “chunk it down to bite size pieces.”
As Jana Stanfield declares in her song, “All the Good” … “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.” We each must ask ourselves, “what small thing can I do?” and then do it consistently so that it grows. One of the easiest things is to embrace the concept of being an “exemplar” – a person serving as a typical example or excellent model. People learn by observation. When we are each an observable example of how we value and care for Mother Nature we are teaching others how they, too, can change the world for the better. Whether they like it or not, we have then influenced that behavior and their choices. They are different simply by being exposed to us. The ultimate result is a shift of their consciousness.
So ask yourself, “If not me, who? If not now, when? Embrace Margaret Mead’s admonition: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Let’s change the world starting right now!
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
Sometimes, when I have trouble sleeping, I listen to the BBC. A recent segment entitled Mary’s Pain, a Lenten Talk offered by Dr. Selina Stone, touched me deeply.
Dr. Stone uses the period of Lent to come to terms with grief and loss she experienced in the untimely death of her mother to cancer. She shares Mary’s story as encouragement to all who mourn or struggle with the large problems facing our world.
This particular offering was first broadcast on March 11 and will be available for twenty-seven days.
As Christians prepare to enter holy week, may it offer anyone who cares to listen, peace.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
“The mind is involved in religion, but in more subtle ways. Christian traditions have many objects, rituals, and gorgeous buildings that create a spiritual atmosphere that helps the heart along. Judaism is perhaps the most embodied religion of all, requiring hundreds of specified obligations and actions governing dress and food, marital relations and business dealings, even the structure and society of prayer. In the Jewish tradition these are not separate from but an expression of a covenantal relationship with the creator of the universe.”
As we move further into Ramadan and Lent, I was struck by this message that came into my inbox. The author (Johnathan Silver, the author of Mosaic Magazine) takes issue with those who “have a very abstracted view of what religion is and the role it plays in human life,” and seem to believe: “The key to religious devotion is the acceptance of a tenet of faith.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
To read the article in full, please visit:
https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal
I received this beautiful message from NPR highlighting their listeners prayers this Ramadan, which begins today or tomorrow, depending on the sighting of the new moon in Saudi Arabia. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/10/1237049818/ramadan-prayers-2024-eid-muslims-peace-gaza-empathy. This is a powerful reminder to non-Muslims everywhere of the humanity and spiritual depth of Islam as practiced in our great nation today, and I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect on what our Muslim neighbors are saying.
My son was born in Riyadh, where I worked in the U.S. embassy, so I have very fond remembrances of the kingdom. As a non-Muslim, I could not visit Mecca and Medina, but I could share in the daily call of the muezzins and the deep spirituality of this most sacred season.
I hope you will join us in celebrating this most holy month of fasting, prayer, and fellowship,
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Vicki Nelson, Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church; Susan Posey, Redeemer Lutheran, McLean
Spring 2024 is marked by religious observations for people of many different faith traditions. We are a nation founded on the principle of religious freedom and we celebrate that the First Amendment to the US Constitution ensures that everyone has the right to practice their own religion – or no religion at all.
But this spring, we also mourn for all who are so horribly impacted by war and violence – in the Middle East, Sudan, Ukraine. And we witness with concern deep divisions and distrust even in our local communities.
So, as we observe the sacred days of our various faith traditions, may we be joined in a prayer for peace. May we acknowledge the sacred value of each life and the rights of all people to safety and well-being. And when we feel powerless and overwhelmed by events in the world and here at home, may we redouble our efforts to love our neighbors and treat one another with the dignity, compassion, and respect we all deserve.
The following is a summary of some of the rich and varied holy days being observed in the coming months. We hope you will read each brief piece, knowing that education is the road to understanding.
Spring 2024 Religious Observations:
Lent (Christian). February 13:
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is the forty weekdays leading up to Easter. It is a time dedicated to repentance, reflection, and deepening of one’s relationship with God in preparation for Easter.
Ramadan (Islam). Begins March 10:
Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It lasts twenty-nine or thirty days, depending on when the new crescent moon is visible. This period of fasting and spiritual growth is one of the five Pillars of Islam. It is the prevailing belief among Muslims that it was in the last nights of Ramadan that the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. In addition to daily fasting, Muslims participate in daily prayer, reflection, study of the Quran, and community.
Naw-Ruz (Baha’i). March 19-20:
Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i New Year, coincides with the spring equinox and is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the “new day.” For Baha’is it marks the end of the annual nineteen-day fast and is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended.
Purim (Jewish). March 23-24:
Purim is a joyous Jewish holiday, celebrated in costume with noisemakers and merriment. The full story can be found in the Book of Esther, the 24th and final book in the Hebrew Scriptures. The story, which is purely fantastical and not based on any historical event, is about a king ruling in Persia. The king is fooled by his royal vizier, who wants to take revenge on a Jew who refuses to bow down to him. The king signs an order that all the Jews in the kingdom are to be killed. The heroine, Queen Esther the king’s wife, learns of the plot, uses her position to turn the tables and the villain is killed and the Jews are spared. Jews use this occasion to exchange gifts of food and drink, give charity to the poor, eat a celebratory meal, and participate in a public reading of the Book of Esther.
Holi (Hindu). March 25:
This Hindu holiday occurs on the full moon of the month of Phalguna on the Hindu calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Love, Spring and Colors. It is a celebration of the divine love of the deities Radha and Krishna, and good over evil. The evening and day celebration is known for its bonfires and for the joyous throwing of colored powder and powder solutions by Hindus and non-Hindus, alike. The arrival of spring is celebrated, and people have the opportunity to repair broken relationships.
Easter (Christian). March 31 (Note — Eastern Orthodox Easter is May 5):
On the Christian Liturgical calendar, this day is “The Resurrection of our Lord.” It is one of the central holy days of Christianity. Christians believe that on this day, Jesus Christ, who was crucified on “Good Friday” was resurrected from the dead, thus conquering death and sin. It is the joyful conclusion to the Lenten season of prayer, fasting and reflection.
Eid al-Fitr (Islam). April 9-10:
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting season of Ramadan. It is typically celebrated by a large community-wide prayer service, at which charitable donations are collected, followed by meals and conversation with family and friends.
Baisakhi (Sikh). April 13:
Baisakhi is the highest celebration for Sikhs. It is a time of rededication and renewal of faith. Many people take part in a special baptism to become Khalsa (or pure ones) at this blessed time of year.
Festival of Ridvan (Baha’i). April 21 – May 3:
This annual Baha’i festival commemorates the twelve days when Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age. The first day, the ninth day, and the twelfth day are celebrated as holy days when work is suspended.
Passover (Jewish). April 22-30:
Passover is a major Jewish holiday that occurs in the spring and is one of three pilgrimage holidays. Celebrated for seven or eight days depending on which denomination of Judaism you participate in; it marks the Israelites’ escape from Egypt and their slavery under Pharoah. This is another Jewish holiday dealing with the theme of freedom. The story, told around the Seder table on the first two nights of the holiday, comes from the Book of Exodus. The celebration is marked by the commandment in Exodus 12:15 that you shall eat unleavened bread, which we know as matzah, for the duration of the holiday.
Vesak (Buddhist). May 23:
The biggest and most important holiday celebrated by all Buddhist schools is called Vesak (Vesakha), or Enlightenment Day. All Buddhist schools agree it’s the Buddha’s birthday. On Vesak Day Buddhist temples are decorated with flags and flowers, and devotees assemble in temples for ceremonial rituals. To honor the day, Buddhists aspire to practice love, peace and harmony by participating in volunteer and civic activities that benefit all humanity.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
One reason I belong to St. Thomas Episcopal Church is because our patron saint – known popularly as “Doubting Thomas” – reflects the broad theology of the Anglican Communion, particularly its American counterpart. Our conceit is that we uniquely straddle reformed and non-reformed Christian traditions, which is probably an unfair exaggeration, but I was reminded of this during the kickoff of a new, bi-weekly McLean tradition: “Pints with Doubting Thomas.”
The subject was “theodicy” or the problem of evil” — perhaps the biggest stumbling block to religion for many non-believers. How can a God whom we describe as supremely loving and good allow suffering and evil to exist? Or as Rabbi Harold Kusher asked in a best-selling book from 1981: what do we do “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”? https://a.co/d/hUGaInQ
Our Assistant Rector and Parish Administrator gave four answers to this dilemma, which I must admit would not perplex an atheist. First, is the idea of a “perfect plan,” which stems from the Calvinist doctrine that everything, including suffering, is part of God’s plan. Second, is the doctrine of “free will,” the dominant non-reformed view that a world of free choice is better than a world of slavish devotion and that we must have the capacity to make good or bad choices, some of which lead to suffering, etc. Third, is the idea of “spiritual warfare” between Satan – the cause of all evil and suffering – and God, who will win in the end with the help of his recruits. Finally, there is “soul-making,” the idea that although God knew free will would lead to suffering, God intends us to become better and more complete as we grow out of this purposeful and instructive suffering.
Rabbi Kushner, struggling with the loss of his own son to a horrible, debilitating disease, gravitates toward the soul-making view. “I would say that God may not prevent the calamity, but He [sic] gives us the strength and perseverance to overcome it.”
Whatever your perspective, I invite you to join us next Wednesday, March 13, to continue the discussion. This time we will consider less traditional theodicies, including anti-theodicy (the idea that we should not attempt to defend God in the face of evil). If all this sounds a bit esoteric, it goes down much better with good company and a pint of ale.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
More than anything else, spirituality is a quest to find one’s authentic self, to review and interpret life events and develop a sense of personal integrity; and it should not be confused with religion, which remains nevertheless an important path for many.
That was the consensus of a February 4 webinar presented by the Rev. Dr. Al Fuertes of George Mason University’s School of Integrative Studies, which joined Tysons Interfaith to explore the connection between spirituality and well-being. Most heartening was Dr. Fuertes’s report that his students and nearly two-thirds of college students polled nationwide long to discuss things that matter to them on the personal level, things that are meaningful and purposeful and in which they can find beauty and meaning.
People who successfully perform this kind of soul-searching and synthesis develop the best potential to perceive and enjoy a good quality of life. Such meaning-making involves being mindful about our emotions, thoughts, and surroundings, a kind of mindfulness that many researchers and practitioners also recommend for achieving good health outcomes, like stress reduction.
Although well-being is not just the absence of disease or illness but a complex combination of a physical, mental, emotional, and social factors, once we are able to find our authentic vocation, our true self, or what some call our “sacred face,” we can achieve a sense of purpose that has been linked to a lower risk of mortality. Other studies have found out that prayer or healing ceremonies can have positive outcomes on alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life. And, arguably, achieving this kind of personal well-being can help bring peace to the broader community.
We hope to explore more of these applied approaches to spirituality in future Oneness of Humanity programs. Please join us.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Susan Posey, Redeemer Lutheran, McLean
I recently had the opportunity to spend a few hours volunteering at the Food for Others food distribution warehouse located in Merrifield. What an eye-opening and rewarding experience!
Here is a short history of Food for Others from their website:
For the past 28 years, Food for Others has established itself as an essential part of Northern Virginia’s safety net. In our first year of operation, we served about 105 families per month. All these years later, we’re serving roughly 3,000 families per week and 3,900 students each week via the Power Pack Program (P3).
The day I was there, I joined with other Tysons Teammates volunteers to assemble P3 (Power Pack Program) food packets. These food packets are sent home with Fairfax County elementary school students on Fridays during the school year to supplement their food for the weekend. It was mind blowing to learn that almost 4,000 of these packets are distributed each week.
It is also mind-blowing and heartening to know that over 40% of the work done by Food for Others is performed by volunteers. They are so grateful for any help, whether it is in the form of donations or manpower.
To learn of the ways to get involved at Food for Others, please visit their website at: foodforothers.org/.
PS: I learned about this service opportunity through Tysons Teammates. If you are interested in helping to build “the fabric of the Tysons community” you can check them out, too.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.