It's amazing how the little things in life we do turn into great big things. Smiling at a neighbor as we cross paths along the street, paying that little extra for the person in front of us at the grocery store because they forgot to bring enough cash, or helping a perfect stranger carry their Ecology model across campus while they struggle to lug their backpack in the 100 degree summer heat.

Everyone lives life, breathes life and yes everyone stresses in life too. We've all got tests and trials that we have to face. We all live very different lives. But in the end, we're all human beings. Sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. And we all share the need for compassion and acceptance. Not just tolerance, but understanding and love. We all need that platform to be heard. To really be listened to and appreciated for who we are.

Attending United Muslim Foundation's June Interfaith month gave me the interfaith fuzzies. This warm, overwhelming sense of community and love poured forth from the congregation at the United Church of Christ as they welcomed UMF for a month of Fridays and Sundays of food, fun and sharing. There were so many Muslim speakers who offered to give their time at the Sunday discussions. There was something special about this event in that it bought Muslim organizations together for the first time to speak on various hot topics about Islam in an environment of acceptance and understanding. Muslims and Christians spoke frankly about faith, family and life and shared in good humor as they discussed misconceptions and media bias as well as studied history and reviewed facts about the Muslim World.

The people I met and the lives that touched me at this interfaith event are etched in my heart and will be part of me for a lifetime. We all left with more than knowledge from this moth of sharing. We left with fond memories, new friendships and a firm commitment to work together to build bridges of compassion between people of different faiths and to strive to make the world a more peaceful place to live. United Muslim Foundation would like to specially thank Rev. Fulwilder, Rev. Miguel and Rev. Sherie for all they did to make the event possible and to the entire UCC Congregation for being so welcoming and hospitable and for the lovely gifts and memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. United Muslim Foundation has embarked upon a journey of compassion and understanding with our friends at the United Church of Christ and we have many interfaith events in the works like feeding the homeless together, a visit to a mosque and sharing love of poetry and song with them, gathering youths and adults alike to the spirit of unity which we have together kindled.