One is an old lover who has been a good friend for many years. We are like brother and sister - we can get on each others' nerves, but there is an underlying love and respect.
The other man and I were classmates through part of junior high and all of high school. Even with spending day after day in the same building for all of those years, we never met until a couple of weeks ago.
The three of us are starting up an interfaith dialog group - kind of like, but not really like, The Three Amigos.
We are a Jew, a Jewish/Buddhist, and a Whatever-I-Am.
I am a follower of the Sufi Way, a student of the Open Path.
Yesterday we practiced the structure that we want to use in the near future when we have a flourishing group of people from all walks of life coming together. We want to get the bugs out before we bring together people of many faiths. The topic that we each talked about yesterday was "Holidays". Through our time together, I learned new things about the Jewish holidays and I heard of holidays I'd never known existed, but mostly I learned about things dear to the hearts of these two friends. It was beautiful. Intimate. Heart-opening.
I saw the thread of commonality that weaves its way among our very diverse holiday observances - or in my case, a lack of observances. The common place isn't found in appearances, holy books, or practices. It seems to be woven from the common human need for connection to something bigger and the innate draw to natural rhythms. Holidays are also times for exercising our spiritual muscles, to help us "remember" as we go about our lives.
I truly believe that the way to peace in the world is through deep listening and understanding - seeing how we are all so much alike, even though our outerwear comes in many colors and sizes. I hope that this project that the three of us have started will be one little way that we can contribute to peace in the world.
My Jewish ex-lover/friend/brother and I have had some hard moments when discussing the Israeli-Palestinian problems. At this point, we don't really go there, even though he completely supported me in my now-aborted trip to Gaza. Who knows the amount of healing that may take place here!
Followed your Sufi link and noticed from it that there are retreats in Bath, England!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sufiway.org/local_circles.php
You can stay here en-route ... we're only 8 miles away!
This is so exciting! I wish you peace and gentle explorations together. And also, may you tick each other off, because that is how you'll know you're getting to the real stuff. I hope you will keep reporting in on your progress.
ReplyDeleteDancing,
ReplyDeleteThat's great! If I ever decide to participate in any of the stuff that takes place in Bath, I WILL see you! I am lucky to live so close to my teacher, though, so I haven't had any reason to travel overseas for activities yet. We'll see... I would definitely enjoy seeing you and the U.K.!
Hey Liz,
ReplyDeleteIt IS exciting, isn't it? Thanks for your good wishes. I will be amazed if a little ticked-offedness doesn't happen. ;-) It's what we do with it that matters, right?
Stay tuned...
Wow, Carol! This sounds so exciting. I knew a grand project would come along after the Gaza trip was aborted. This sounds like it. My blessings and best wishes to all three of you amigos.
ReplyDeleteNick,
ReplyDeleteI sometimes feel like a project magnet. I think that I now have a little more energy for the ones that present themselves to me than I would have had if I had gone to Gaza. Thanks for your good wishes!
I am interested in this new journey of yours and will look forward to any updates you provide. I am always interested in what and how people explore. Good luck with this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Goodnight.
ReplyDeleteI hope that it works out - that we can maintain a strong focus and that we can find people who are interested in joining us.