Blogs - Chief of Pray Blog

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

This week marks the first anniversary of a defining time in history. On June 4, 2009, President Barack Obama delivered his famous speech in Cairo. Global citizens everywhere got their first glimpse of a new direction for inter-faith cooperation that day in Egypt, when the leader of the free world talked about religion.

The Holy Koran tells us:  "O mankind!  We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."

The Talmud tells us:  "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."

The Holy Bible tells us:  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

I was at a program, put on by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, commemorating the President’s Speech at Cairo.  It was an awe-inspiring panel of inter-faith experts. The remarks were about religious pluralism and how to build on the newly established political will to understand cultural diversity and to reach out to all faiths.  

Eboo Patel was one of the speakers. He’s a brilliant young leader at the forefront of the inter-faith movement. His organization, Interfaith Youth Core works on college campuses across the globe to get young people doing service learning projects and talking with each other about religion. Dirk Ficca, another panelist, convenes large scale conferences with the Council for a Parliament of World Religions. He brings communities together to solve problems and lay foundations for mutual cooperation among diverse religions. And Afeefa Sayeed, the third presenter, goes out to religious tribal leaders in the Middle East and Asia, representing the US State Department office of USAID and asks them what they do right, to help their people. Three different pieces in the puzzle of peaceful co-existence: Youth, Communities and Religious leaders.

Women are adding to the big picture too. We now have a way to find out about the many faith traditions, with the conversations women bring to Prayables. We’re commenting, posting and writing prayers that share our beliefs with others. We’re praying right alongside our sisters who practice their religion differently, yet, we pray with the exact same words and the exact same intent. This is truly a major step forward, this is a multi-faith movement —going beyond religious tolerance to spiritual compassion.   Pray on it.

Because You Are

Right where I am is where I should be.
In the center of Your will,
the perfect place to rest and dream,
Undisturbed.
When I need to go forth You will tell me.
Your timing flawless, I will respond.
The path is not marked but I don't worry,
soon Your way will be known.

I marvel.
There's no explanation or evidence of Your existence.
I know simply because You are as constant as the sun.
All the glory goes to You.
Sustaining me, shaping me, guarding me.
You, who gives me direction.

Blessed are we who know You.
May our many voices be pleasing to You.
May the many become all and the all become one.

- Heidi Haller


Suggested reading: The Fruits of the Cairo Speech Appear by Eboo Patel

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