I was blessed to have had the opportunity to attend the 28th Annual Multicultural Alliance Sharing Our Faith Traditions (SOFT) Retreat at Lake Texoma, Jan. 5-8, 2015, with nearly 40 other seminarians and faculty from eleven Muslim, Jewish, and Christian seminaries…from California, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Texas. We spent our waking hours sharing and listening to each other’s faith stories of struggle, joy, and yes…G-d/Allah/God. Three scholars, a Baptist Pastor, an Imam, and a Rabbi, shared with us parts of their own faith stories. We broke into small discussion groups following each lecture and each worship service – a low liturgical Christian service, a Muslim sermon followed by Muslim prayers in Arabic, and a Jewish service in Hebrew, all led by seminarians from their respective faith traditions.
What did I learn? I learned that there is transcendental beauty in the rituals within each tradition. I learned that love and compassion is at the heart of my Abrahamic cousins’ faith traditions. I discovered the richness of listening with curiosity, respect, and admiration about the way in which Muslims, Jews, and other Christians encounter God.
I sat on the edge of my seat as I listened to the young Rabbi tell his story of beating the odds of never walking again because of his faith in G-d, his own tenacious physical efforts, and his ability to eventually accept this interruption in his life… to stop, wait, watch, and nurture his indoor herb garden…while he waited for his body and soul to heal. I listened to a Muslim woman share with me how instrumental and supportive her husband has been while she pursued her passion for and education in Christian-Muslim Relations…all the while feeling my own deep gratitude for my husband and his support of and devotion to my calling to chaplaincy. I felt a joy-filled sense of oneness with my Muslim sister because our stories intersected through our husbands and their unconditional love and support as we continue to follow the paths each of us believes God has set before us. I could see the adoration in her eyes as she spoke of her husband…and of God. I saw in her eyes what I feel for my husband and for our God. Yes, OUR God.
I have been blessed. I am grateful for having shared those four days with others who acknowledge, worship, and love God in different, but equally sacred ways. I heard inspiring stories of human/divine encounters in the midst of pain, love, struggle, joy, encouragement, and compassion. I heard about the longing for and experiences of sacred and unexpected encounters with God. God shows up…in all of God’s love, grace, and mercy. Once again, the Holy presence of God affirmed the Oneness that is possible amidst like-hearted people in the gloriously imaginative diversity of God’s creation, in all of God’s glory. Praise G-d. Praise Allah. Praise God.
Pam Hallmark is a senior in the Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care program at Seminary of the Southwest.
