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
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 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.
Contributed by Lois Herr, First Church of Christ, Scientist, McLean
On February 4, 2024, Tysons Interfaith will partner with George Mason University for an Webinar entitled Spirituality and Well-Being: Exploring the Connection. As we prepare for this engaging and interactive event, I wanted to share a recent article from the Christian Science Monitor, that is completely relevant to our upcoming discussion. It is entitled: “The glue of seeing good.”
I hope many people will be interested in joining our February 4 webinar, and/or may be encouraged by the findings of this article:
“The glue of seeing good”
Surveys show a breadth of spirituality binding Americans to each other in connections of empathy and affection.
The Christian Science Monitor: December 21, 2023
Worried that Americans are marching into an election year more divided than ever? Take another look.
In October, a first-ever Connection Index offered a striking counternarrative. Conducted by The Harris Poll, it found that 76% of Americans see the good in those they disagree with and 71% have friends who hold views they don’t share.
Those attitudes may reflect something more than mere personal affection. A new survey of American spirituality reveals a deeper basis of thought binding society together. Published by the Pew Research Center this month, the study asked more than 11,000 Americans how they thought about spirituality. It found a recurring theme of connectedness.
For example, 74% described “being connected with something bigger than myself” as an essential quality of spirituality. Seventy percent said the same about “being connected with God,” while 64% said “being connected with my ‘true self’” and 54% said “being open-minded” were essential to spirituality. Nearly 4 in 10 said spirituality involved “being connected with other people.”
Overall, the survey found, 9 in 10 Americans believe in God or a power higher than themselves, 70% describe themselves as spiritual, and 53% expressed a “deep sense of connection with humanity.” These views were drawn from across multiple demographic and denominational boundaries.
For years, medical practitioners have been gathering evidence that spirituality is a vital factor in health. Some 90% of medical schools in the United States, 59% in Britain, and 52% in German-speaking countries now include spiritual studies in their curricula. As the Pew study notes, society is drawing new distinctions between being spiritual and being religious. Doctors and nurses incorporating spirituality in health care often start with the simple act of listening.
“When I think of spirituality in health care, it’s the connection we make with other people,” Diana Vereni, an associate professor of physical therapy at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, told a public forum in July. Such empathy and compassion promote healing by alleviating fear and affirming a sense of individual worth, medical studies have shown.
They have a similar effect on society as a whole. “Social connectedness influences our minds, bodies, and behaviors – all of which influence our health and life expectancy,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded in a March study. “Inclusive connections in our neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, workplaces, and other settings are associated with … and support the overall well-being, health, safety, and resilience of communities.”
For one respondent in the Pew study, spirituality meant being able to “see the beauty in everything, feel the love of Mother Nature, to know that there is something out there that is greater than me, that loves me, that looks out for me.” That kind of seeing good may be the reason behind the Connection Index finding that Americans don’t need to agree in order to get along.”
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 Yerusalem Work
The following is an excerpt from an article published on Islamic Horizons. To read the article in its entirety, please visit: https://islamichorizons.net/chaplains-can-help-change-lives/.
“We live in a mostly secular world that may have lost its connection to the divine,” said Tahira Wellman, a chaplain at New Jersey’s Hackensack University Medical Center. She’s the only Muslim chaplain in its pastoral care department.
Yahya Hendi, the first full-time Muslim chaplain at an American university, was hired in 1999 by Georgetown University. Due to its small Muslim student population, Hendi, who was chosen to enlighten non-Muslims about Islam, has focused on the interfaith community.
Muslim chaplains work in hospitals, universities, prisons, and many other settings. Mutahhir Sabree (administrator, the Distance Learning Prison Initiative) works to provide free courses in Islamic Studies to inmates nationwide. Interacting with more than 3,000 male and female inmates, he teaches and prays with them, as well as encourages them to identify with the prophets of Islam and the multitude of spiritual stories in the Quran, such as the lives of prophets Yusuf and Ayyub.
Muslim chaplains enter the profession from a variety of routes. Some pursue a seminary degree; others travel to the Middle East and North Africa for a deep dive into Arabic studies and to obtain authentic traditional knowledge of the Quran and Sunna. Some begin as volunteers, while others are trained in pastoral care. Whatever the route, these individuals can play a vital role in the lives of knowledge seekers — both beginners and advanced.
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)’s active chaplaincy program is dedicated to offering services to Muslim chaplains through endorsement, education and training, and leadership development. This program endorses chaplains serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, prisons, hospitals, universities and other institutions. ISNA honors them by qualifying them to offer care, spiritual guidance, support families in times of grief and loss, ensure religious freedom and offer similar services.
One of this profession’s foremost benefits is the privilege of representing Islam in mainstream American society. As an ambassador for Islam and a professional chaplain, you’ll have the opportunity to share and exchange your Islamic life experiences with colleagues from multiple faith or even non-faith backgrounds in a very collegial and non-threatening manner. If you’re interested in becoming a chaplain, complete the application process on ISNA’s website: https://isna.net/chaplaincy-services/.
Yerusalem Work, a creative writer and the membership director of the Congregational Library Association, has a heart for interfaith dialogue and is a passionate community builder. A holder of a master’s degree in library science and prolific author, she regularly blogs and self-publishes her writing. Her short stories and poetry have been published in Muslim Matters and Tysons Interfaith. She considers it an honor and a pleasure to write on Islamic themes.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
I attended a recent holiday choral concert, during which I was introduced to the principles of Kwanzaa (this year, December 26 through January 1, 2024). One of those principles is Nia – purpose. The Northern Virginia Chorale sang a beautiful hymn composed by Glenn Burleigh questioning our purpose as human beings created by God. I found the questions and conclusions of this hymn to be quite moving.
“Why was I born? Why was I born?
Was I born to feed hungry children, or to give shelter to the homeless?
Was I born to be my brother’s keeper, companion to the lonely?
I was born to love the Lord with all my heart, my soul, my mind, and strength.
If I love God I can love all people.
This is my purpose. Nia.
Why was I born? Why was I born?
Was I born to preach the Gospel, or to care for aging parents?
Was I born to help the unwed mothers or council the pris’ner?
I was born to love the Lord with all my heart, my soul, my mind, and strength.
If I love God I can love all people,
If I love all people, I can love God!
This is my purpose.
This is why I sing my song.
Nia, Nia, Nia.”
Preparation for and celebration of the December holidays is an opportunity for personal reflection and contemplation. I am asking “what is my purpose during this holiday time” and the larger question: “what is my purpose in life going forward?” This song suggests that loving God and loving all people is my purpose.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
On Thursday, December 7th at sundown, Jews all over the world will begin the celebration of the eight-day festival of Chanukah with the lighting of the first candle on the menorah. The celebration this year will not be the same, as war rages in Israel and Gaza and its repercussions are felt around the world, including of course in our communities.
What is very important to remember in a time of watching the rise of antisemitism all over the world, with a 388% increase in incidents in the United States since October 7th over the same time period last year, is that this holiday celebrates the victory of religious freedom – a cause, unfortunately, still being fought for by millions of people the world over. We must note that Jews are not alone, there has also been a significant increase in anti-Muslim hate incidents.
We are living in very dark times. Wars and hatred spread across the face of the earth, and many in the name of religion. As we begin this holiday season, with many religions celebrating, let us not forget the world is large; there is room for everyone to worship as they choose and not live in fear.
Perhaps we can use the light of this holiday to ask for the wellbeing and safety of all people, regardless to whom they address their prayers.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
On a beautiful recent Saturday morning, approximately fifty people of different faith traditions — youth and adults — met at the Harris Family Cemetery at Bull Run Regional Park for a fall clean up. Members of Redeemer Lutheran, a Tysons Interfaith partner, were among the participants.
This final resting place of some ninety people, mostly the ancestors of emancipated slaves, was discovered in a wooded glen behind the Atlantis Water Park several years ago.
In addition to spreading mulch on the path leading to the burial area, volunteers raked leaves and cleared debris to uncover the white markers that mark the location of interred individuals. Other volunteers repainted these markers.
It was very uplifting to help maintain this sacred place, and to learn more about the history of this area and its remarkable people. I look forward to returning to this space.
To learn more about the cemetery, please visit https://www.novaparks.com/parks/bull-run-regional-park/things-to-do
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Many people set aside time in their day for prayer, reflection, or meditation. As a Christian Science practitioner, I often find inspiration in daily audio reflections presented by members of our church, called the Daily Lift.
A recent Daily Lift by Janet Clements, a Christian Scientist Practitioner and Teacher from Evanston, Illinois, is entitled An Oasis of Hope and Comfort. Janet shares about her recent encounter with a frightened female Jewish student who was drawn to the light in her office window. Pro-Palestinian protests were occurring outside, and as Janet admitted this young woman into her office, she was reminded of her belief that we are all spiritual children of one God. Like rays of light from the same sun, we are all unique and loved. To Janet, our prayers for peace can be like street light beacons of hope reflecting God’s love for all people.
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.
May this segment bring you peace and encouragement.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
During September and October, Tysons Interfaith was honored to partner with the Tysons Community Alliance and the Fairfax County Police Department to sponsor a food drive at the fabulous Fall Mixed Market held on Wednesday afternoons at the Boro in Tysons.
Because of the generous donations of people who live and work in Tysons, we were able to make several deliveries of needed items to both SHARE of McLean and Second Story.
What a pleasure it was to mingle with people who live and work in the Tysons area, explore the varied vendor stands, enjoy beautiful fall weather and work with our community partners in support of these great non-profits who are doing such important work in our area.
I hope we can do it again next fall.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.