It’s been quite a couple weeks we’ve just been through. Mass shootings, ugly politics, the poor and desperate hoping they can get their needs met.
But today, I have hope. Not of a blind optimism that reeks of spiritual bypassing or cluelessness. No, I have hope informed by my excellent week at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The Parliament was attended by 10,000 people from 70+ countries from over 200 faith traditions. There were Plenaries by well-known folks representing 6 continents and many faiths. There were workshops by people of many faiths about topics relating to their tradition, and educating about topics that effect many.
You might think in a group as huge and diverse there could be discord, but what we experienced was harmony. There was a deep desire to understand, to connect, to learn, to share, to advocate, to make a difference.
Presenters spoke with clarity about the social, economic, environmental, and moral issues we face as a global community. But they did not just speak of what wasn’t working. They spoke of the work that they were doing. They powerfully invoked our thoughts and hearts.
And so I have hope. Because I know that I’m not alone. I know that there are thousands of folks around the world who care about preserving the sacred places on the earth and the environment such as the indigenous people who fight in court, culture, and science for the land. I know there are thousands of folks out there who are standing up and stepping in to help the marginalized such as the LGBTQ advocates and educators who are also faith leaders. I know there are thousands of folks who are welcoming the desperate such as the over 500 churches in the US and Canada offering sanctuary to refugees. It goes on and on and on.
By one of the escalators, there was a display of many ribbons. On each ribbon, someone had written something they don’t want to lose because of climate change. After adding your ribbon, you then selected a ribbon to take with you as a prayer. As I tied my ribbon, I closed my eyes and turned my body, who would I be called to pick up? When I opened my eyes, it was right there, “Polar Bears” it read. It brought a tear to my eye, many of you reading this know how I feel about polar bears (and all bears).
And so I have hope, because I know that there are people out there who not only care about the things that hurt my heart to the edge of tears, but are doing something about it. We are not alone in the work that calls us and there are models for change!
Where to start? I am reminded of the song by Jana Stanfield, “I cannot do, all the things, that the world needs, but the world, needs all the things, that I can do.”
I am probably not going to have the chance to face down a powerful landowner and convince him to not take a child bride as one of the keynotes shared. But I have lots of other chances. I can co-create a welcoming environment to LGBTQ young people in our community. I can help efforts to alleviate systematic oppression in our community. I can encourage and support folks in their spiritual growth. I can make mindful choices about how I spend my money and time.
Finally, I come back to what Alaska Native Larry Murculieff said :“The only place you can get the answer to what to do is to go to the heart.” He also said that the most important thing we can do to solve all the world’s problems is to heal our own heart and focus on what we want to see.
And so I have hope, because as discouraging we may find the news, I know that there are so many more wonderful, passionate, faith-filled folks out there making a difference in our world. Even if they’re not making the news.