TIME TO GET AWAY
It's summer in most of our region (which is all north of the equator except for Australia). For many people summer also means they have some vacation time from school or work and this may provide an opportunity to travel.
In addition to visiting relatives, national parks, and places of leisure like the beach or mountains, consider visiting a religious shrine or a different church.
Certainly our own faith and Marianist approach to Christianity offers a profound spirituality and the path we have chosen to follow to know God. Others seek the same God but sometimes use different names for God and have grown up in different religious traditions.
It may seem contradictory, but I have found that I often learn a lot about my own faith by exploring how other people seek the Divine. I usually see some basic similarities and also interesting differences. The differences help me appreciate my own faith better and the similarities help me see how we are all united in a universal quest for meaning and goodness.
If you travel this summer consider visiting a different parish, Christian denomination, or even a different faith (Jewish, Islam, Bahai, Quaker, Buddhist, etc.) Even if you don't visit a synagogue, temple, mosque, you can always make a "virtual visit."
For example, did you know that our Muslim brothers & sisters are currently in their holy season of Ramadan which is a month of fasting - similar to Lent. It will end on
July 6 with the feast of Eid al Fitre which has similarities to Easter.
Religious ignorance is not good for our society. It leads to misunderstandings, false stereotypes, and violence. Be a knowledgeable Lay Marianist by becoming informed about how other people worship and how God speaks to each of us through different ways.
Fondly,
Susan Vogt, Regional Rep for N. America and Asia
LET US PRAY
