Contributed by Rev. Dr. Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living
There are two people at the top of my list of heroes, Mohandus Gandhi, the Mahatma, and Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. I instantly became a “Gandhian” as a child, the first time I read about him and how he looked at the world differently from almost everyone and yet his way aligned with the depth of my being. What Gandhi stood for made sense to me at a soul level. When I discovered that Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, embraced Gandhi’s approach – that he recognized nonviolence as the right way (the only truly sustainable way) to confront the atrocities being perpetrated against blacks, I knew – again at the soul level – that I needed to take a stand and do whatever I could to support and further Dr. King’s work.
Recently, I was researching the relationship between King and Gandhi. I discovered that Dr King, eager to learn all he could about nonviolent resistance, had sought out Gandhi and his teachings. Dr King deeply connected with Gandhi’s approach and put it to work. Dr. King was the embodiment of nonviolent action.
My research revealed an article that was new to me in form, yet familiar to me in content. Dr King wrote the article, “My Trip to the Land of Gandhi,” four weeks after his return from a tour of India. It was published in Ebony in July 1959. Although Dr King’s trip to India took place 3 years after the great day of bus integration, December 21, 1956, he spoke often of how “India’s Gandhi” had been the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change while the Montgomery boycott was going on.
Dr King began his article … “… Even as a child the entire Orient held a strange fascination for me—the elephants, the tigers, the temples, the snake charmers and all the other storybook characters.” Dr King was a man of insatiable curiosity and wonder.
He shared that the trip had a great impact upon him personally. It had been humbling to be in Gandhi’s land, to talk with his son, his grandsons, his cousin and other relatives; to share the reminiscences of his close comrades; to visit his ashrama, to see the countless memorials for him and finally to lay a wreath on his entombed ashes at Rajghat. Dr King left India more convinced than ever before that nonviolent resistance was the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom. It was a marvelous thing for him to see the amazing results of a nonviolent campaign.
He was astounded that the usual aftermath of hatred and bitterness following a violent campaign were nowhere to be found. Instead, he discovered mutual friendship based on complete equality between the Indian and British people within the commonwealth.
Kingian Wisdom: The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But the way of nonviolence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.
Some assert that nonviolent resistance can only work in a situation where the resisters have a potential ally in the conscience of the opponent. Dr King disagreed and asserted that that perspective was completely wrong and arose from confusing passive resistance with nonresistance.
Kingian Wisdom: True nonviolent resistance is not unrealistic submission to evil power. It is rather a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love, in the faith that it is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflictor of it, since the latter only multiplies the existence of violence and bitterness in the universe, while the former may develop a sense of shame in the opponent, and thereby bring about a transformation and change of heart.
Nonviolent resistance does call for love, but it is not a sentimental love. It is a very stern love that would organize itself into collective action to right a wrong by taking on itself suffering.
Gandhi modeled how to live one’s beliefs by taking “untouchables” – those he renamed “Harijans” (“children of God”) – by the hand and leading them into the temples from which they had been excluded.
Seeing India through Dr King’s eyes expanded my sense of how deeply he embraced Gandhian teaching. I sensed his frustration that amid the poverty and overcrowding of India they had made more progress in dealing with the caste system than the US had with racial injustice. The difference he identified was that the foundation of their approach rested on moral ground – something lacking from the US approach.
Dr King walked with people in pursuit of freedom and equality. He called us out for having not made more progress and admonished us to heed the Indian example and resolve our blatant racial discrimination.
The article was written in 1959 – 65 years ago. How have we progressed? What grades would Dr. King put on our report card?
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 Rev. Dr. Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living Metro.
2025 is going to be an awesome year! You know how I know that it is and will be, is because we are going to make it so! As Divine Beings expressing as human, we are powerful beyond measure. We have spiritual practices at our disposal – they are there for us to use. We know that we control how we react/respond to circumstances – we are constantly at choice. I choose (and recommend that you do as well) to remain conscious of my thoughts so that I am not swept away by awfulizing and fearmongering.
Every Sunday, we declare:
There is a Power for Good in the Universe that is greater than I am,
and I am using It now!
I am using It to do my part to create a world that works for all.
Together, we inspire individuals to awaken to their own Divinity.
We are here to make a huge difference!
I invite everyone to make this a daily (perhaps multiple times per day) habit to remind ourselves that we are the change-makers. As we sing in Karen Drucker’s song, “I am the heart, I am the hands, I am the voice of Spirit on earth.” We are called to be a stand for the amazing possibilities of 2025!
2025 IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING IT SO – STARTING RIGHT NOW!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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
Like many Americans, I was very invested in the Presidential election. I felt that the stakes were very high. People in my family and some life-long friends did not support the candidate I did. I struggled to wrap my head around this. How could these good people, with whom I knew I shared values, come to such a starkly different conclusion about the direction our country should take? And I’m sure they must have wondered the same thing about me!
Is it possible to even talk to these people I love about any of this? And how do I find my footing when I feel like the earth beneath my feet is shifting?
A couple of things are helping me process all of this: talking with trusted friends and family; staying informed and active in my community; turning to faith and prayer. It is the third point that I wish to highlight.
Many people of all faith traditions– even people who do not necessarily consider themselves “religious” or spiritual — start their days with a moment of prayer or meditation. An App that I use is called d365. Primarily geared for students, it features commentary on scriptures that I will hear in church the coming Sunday as part of the Common Lectionary.
I am a Christian and a member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean. It is at church in the weeks since the election that I have been inspired and challenged by our Pastor, Sandy Kessinger, who bases her sermons on the scripture passages of the week. Here are a few excerpted/paraphrased nuggets from these sermons, obviously given from the Christian perspective, but which may be of encouragement to people of all faith traditions:
October 27: God is Our Refuge and Strength
What is the meaning of life? It should come as no surprise that my answer is God. At the end of the day, God is the one who gives our lives meaning. We can certainly live our lives apart from God, but it is a much more difficult path to follow.
We live in a world of uncertainty, where troubles seem to surround us from every direction. Psalm 46 offers comfort, encouragement, and a reminder that God is always with us.
If I had to choose my confirmation verse today it would be Psalm 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God!” When I have my doubts about the meaning of life and my purpose in this world, it is this verse that brings me back to God. It gives me the deep security I need that an all-powerful God is with me (and for me) no matter what happens in this world or in our lives.
November 10: Her Whole Life
God sees and God cares.
It is good news indeed that God sees our struggles, recognizes our challenges, and cares about us deeply. But even more, God is inviting us to look around and see each other (those in our community and those we do not know). And I mean to really see each other – the pain of those who are discriminated against, the desolation of those who cannot find work, the despair of those who lost hope.
God is inviting us to see them, to care for them, and to advocate for a system that does not leave anybody behind. God cares and God invites us to care as well. God believes that we have something to contribute, that we can make a difference, that our words and actions can help bring more fully into fruition the kingdom of God.
November 17: Do Not Be Led Astray
Time and time again we read in the Bible the words: “Do not be afraid for I am with you.”
Our lessons remind us that we are not alone in our fearful response to what we perceive as frightening and world-altering events in our own time. But then we hear the words of Jesus: “Do not be alarmed. Do not be afraid for I am with you.”
We keep our eyes on Jesus. We stay alert and remain watchful. We are not to let the widows, orphans, and others on the margins suffer. We are not to go off and wring our hands in despair, reacting to every post that crosses our screen. We are to be the people of God and be about the business of God in this world – right here and right now.
Now more than ever we need people to hear the good news and need to help people find communities of faith where they are welcome, where they can come just as they are. Now more than ever we need to sing songs of joy and hope and to act with courage and conviction.
November 24: What is Truth?
What is truth? It is a serious question. Many loud voices are calling us to heed to their “truth” which makes seeking the truth increasingly difficult these days. We try to look to those who are considered to be experts in their field but even then we are apt to receive conflicting results.
We, as Christians, hold certain things to be true and we are not to bend from these truths when challenged. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth and meant it to all be good. We believe that God created us in his image and made us stewards over his creation. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again to save and redeem us. We believe we are saved by grace through faith and not by the works of the law.
And because we believe these things, it helps us then to make good and right moral decisions: We must love our neighbors.
….Jesus said that he came into this world to witness to the truth, the truth that God is love. So how, then can we reflect that truth to others?
For those who want more than theory today, I offer a practical list:
We are called to value all people. Grounded in God’s love we start by valuing ourselves and seeing ourselves through the lens of God.
We are called to hang out with people who may not sound like us and who may not agree with us. Jesus has a saying that our faith is not characterized by how deeply we love our friends. Our faith is characterized by how deeply we love our enemies.
We are called to remember that truth and love are bound together in hope. We are called to remember to be the church – keep confessing. Stay accountable. Take responsibility. Stop blaming. Keep hoping. Listen, and above all, keep loving. We (and everyone around us) will benefit.
By turning to God, I am beginning to find my footing again after the election. I want to be in relationship with people who voted differently than me, and to have a say in the future direction of our country. I will endeavor in all my interactions to speak truth as I see it in love. I won’t always get it right, but I am grateful for my faith, my church community, and for my extended family of believers at Tysons Interfaith – who inspire me and help me navigate every day.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
The following is a synopsis of “A Time To Heal,” an article prepared for Pathways Magazine by Rev. Dr. Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living Metro.
It’s time to be gentle with ourselves and others. We have demonstrated resilience coming through the pandemic and the election year. We barely recovered from one cataclysmic siege before being thrust into the into the next iteration. Grief at times like this is natural. Feelings need to be acknowledged, and yet we each have within us greater strength, resilience, flexibility, flow and tenacity than we may have ever imagined.
Knowing that people hold views diametrically opposed to our own may have caused us to question why their views are so different. Very often, because of the fear of volatility, instead of asking and seeking connection, we withdraw and hide from conversations about such topics. It’s time for us to be the initiators of reconciliation conversations.
Simply because someone embraces a different view does not warrant discarding them. There is a lot to learn about why someone holds a view. By sharing, by conversing, we can learn the basis for those opinions. We can meet in a middle ground that includes agreeing to disagree – embracing the healing power of Love. When we are willing to open our hearts and deeply listen, we may find commonalities. When we release our pre-judgments about others and their opinions, we are granted the opportunity to learn. When we learn we expand our capacity to love. We embrace loving kindness so that when we engage in so called difficult conversations, we do so in ways that invite people into conversations.
This may not feel easy. Many things in life that are of the utmost value aren’t easy. They require commitment and trust. They require the commitment of the participants to remember that relationships are far more valuable than opinions. Opinions may or may not change. Ultimate values such as connection far exceed any opinion every embraced.
Now is our time to heal. Now is our time of reconciliation. Now is our time to learn new ways of communicating. Now is our time to build up – to exhibit compassion. This is the time to recognize Oneness.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to become clear about what really matters to you.
- Do you value your relationships or your opinions more?
- Are you okay if no one else shares your opinion?
- Are you okay allowing others to have their own opinions?
- Are you willing to hold your opinion loosely so that you can hear and feel the opinions of others?
- Do you want to be a catalyst – a healing presence in the world?
- Are you willing to listen to others to learn why they think what they think?
- Are you willing to share without trying to convince others?
If your responses to these questions reinforce your priority of relationships over opinions and you are willing to join with others as transformative presences in the world, then begin today. This approach is not for the faint of heart. The attributes of those who are willing include: being “heart centered;” embracing Oneness; being courageous; mediating – being a reconciler.
So, where are you with all of this? Are you committed to doing your part to change the world for good, mending relationships and causing a tsunami of healing ripples across the world? If so, I invite you to come change the world with 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 Andra Baylus, Regional Director of the Meher Baba Spiritual Community
A PRAYER FOR THE WORLD
Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.
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
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, called the Daily Lift, and presented by members of our church.
A recent timely Daily Lift by Nhung McLeland from Newton, Massachusetts, is entitled, “Free of Mental Turmoil at Election Time.” In this segment, Nhung shares about her anxiety during election years, comparing what she is was experiencing to an item being tossed about in her washing machine in dirty water! A realization that she can entrust all to God provided her relief and peace.
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.
Contributed by Yerusalem Work
May your children be the coolness of your eyes! This Arabic expression qurrata a’yun (قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ) conveys a message of love and joy. It refers to tears that flow from a sense of comfort after having achieved refuge.
Quran 25:74 includes a prayer that Allah makes our spouses and children the coolness of our eyes. May Allah (swt) bless our families. The home is a sacred space. It is where we offer fervent prayer. It is where we ought to feel peace.
When we hear the Adhan (the Call to Prayer), we come across the saying, “Hasten to prayer. Hasten to success.” This wakes us up on the inside. It helps us to ponder our true responsibility in life: to worship Allah (swt).
Our families prepare us for life in the outside world. We cherish our families because they shape our lives. Truly, Allah (swt) guides and provides, but we must remember to be grateful for the safety and stability of our inner sanctum, our home. We can cultivate knowledge and wisdom, but without practical application, we are at a loss. Let us learn how to hold space for each other in our hearts, graciously showing hospitality through generosity. We can hold space for each other by sharing a kind word or filling up an empty cup. We can meet a pressing need.
Our parents raise us and most often intend the best for us. We can show our appreciation by caring for them and ourselves and the world around us. Is it a perfect world? No, but that makes it no less deserving of our attention. Keep your eyes on those you love. Watch them sing and dance. Watch them change over the course of life—ideally for the better. We are very devoted to famous people, but are we watchful of those in our inner circles? What about the distance between us and the hearts nearest to us? We must bridge the gap and eliminate the divide between us and those genuinely deserving of our trust. A warm smile or a simple hug can melt hearts, heal wounds, or demonstrate compassion.
So, remember the small screen does not deserve all our time. Bond with those worthy of your care and concern. Time is precious. Utilize it wisely. There is an African proverb that states, “If you cut your chains, you free yourself. If you cut your roots, you die.” Nurture your roots and you will grow strong. Plant seeds of good deeds and meditation. You can rise above anything with love and hope. Stay inspired! Hold onto who and what matter most. Never forget that you deserve to be treasured.
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 writing has been published in Muslim Matters, Islamic Horizons, 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.
Contributed by Rev. Dr. Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living, Metro
As the daily news bombards us with images of war and natural disasters, and anxiety attendant to the upcoming Presidential election swirls around us, I invite you to take a moment to consider the following blessing that I shared at a recent interfaith gathering. I believe this benediction lifts up the values so many of us share, and I hope brings you a renewed sense of purpose and peace.
Gathered as our varied faiths, we share our deepest hope to be of service to a transforming world and our common dream of:
- Homes and schools where children thrive,
- Neighborhoods that are safe and clean,
- Cities rich in colors and cultures,
- An economy where no one is expendable,
- A beloved community where all people have the
opportunity for a dignified and productive life; and - A community in which all churches, mosques, synagogues, spiritual centers and temples are respected essential members
We give thanks for the blessings of the world community and turn our thoughts toward peace and inclusiveness as we dedicate our hearts and hands to unconditional love and commit to creating and sustaining thriving inclusive and peaceful communities, now.
Salaam, Shalom, Namasté, Ashanti, Amen and So it is.
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
As much as some might disparage public broadcasting, the BBC provides a wonderful service allowing members of the British faith community to share their thoughts.
I was reminded of this over the weekend when the BBC “Thought For the Day” covered the latest developments in what some call empathy education. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/
In fact, when I looked online, I noticed that the word empathy appears quite frequently in BBC podcasts from religious leaders of all backgrounds.
In this particular podcast, the presenter (the Reverend Dr. Rob Marshall) made the point that empathy has a spiritual as well as a physical and mental dimension. While his point was directed at developments in elementary education, it also has a broader application. Too many of us find it very difficult to empathize with people who have starkly different points of view.
As we head into an election season in a very polarized society it is especially important for us to think about how best we can empathize with people who hold vastly different points of view from ours. Please join us at Tyson’s Interfaith on October 6th when we talk about these issues with professor Al Fuertes of George Mason University, who will discuss how spirituality can help us overcome our differences and be more empathetic toward people holding different points of views.
To learn more about and to register for the Tysons Interfaith/George Mason University October 6 event, please visit: LINK.
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
“Be Imitators of God” was the title of our Pastor’s recent sermon. My thought was, “Well, that’s a pretty tall order – exactly how are we to do that?” Pastor Sandy Kessinger’s sermon was based on Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2. What are these instructions and how do they apply to the here and now when many of us are overwhelmed by current events and simply cannot understand the political views of some of our friends, neighbors and family members?
Is feeling anger ever appropriate? Yes! Pastor Kessinger’s take is that, “It is the emotion that kicks in when we fight injustice or unfairness, when we need to defend our rights or the rights of others.” She goes on to say that it is what we do with our anger that makes it either destructive or instructive. According to Paul, we are to, “speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.” (Ephesians 4: 25-27). Our challenge, according to Pastor Kessinger, is to “express our needs in such a way that we show respect to others and ourselves.” “We are not to tell lies but always speak the truth in love. It is okay to be angry but we are not to let our anger linger or turn into sin.”
And if that is not challenge enough, Pastor Kessinger went on to say:
“On the heels of dealing with anger in good and healthy ways, we hear the call to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving. I believe it is that element of forgiveness that helps to distinguish us from others. We are to forgive each other as God forgives us. We are to love each other as God loves us. We are to lead selfless, God-pleasing lives. It is in these ways that we stand in union with the grace-filled activity of God. It is in these ways that we are imitators of God. We are all created to be like God so let that light shine for the world to see.”
All of Ephesians Chapter 4, Pastor Kessinger surmises, is Paul making the point that who we are is reflected in what we do. “Simply put, Paul says, we are to be imitators of God.”
On October 6, Tysons Interfaith will partner with Dr. Al Fuertes of George Mason to present a webinar discussion about how our spiritual side or our religious traditions can help us bridge emotional divisions. I hope many will join us for this timely and important conversation. In the meantime, Pastor Kessinger’s commentary on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is an example of one Christian community’s take on how to handle today’s difficult conversations. For me, this message is a great source of instruction, inspiration and hope for the future. I hope it is for you as well.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.