September 29: Seeing Hope in All Faith Traditions

Be an Example of Hope, Week One

Seeing Hope in All Faith Traditions
As a Christian minister and parent, my wife and I have decided to raise our children in the Christian faith. They have both been dedicated as infants in worship. They have begun to participate in Children, Worship and Wonder and sing with other children in choir. We hope they will both be baptized one day as a continued expression of their faith that will continue into adulthood. As they journey, I often wonder how they will encounter people of other faith traditions. Before our first child was born, I wrote the following for a local newspaper article:

“I hope our child will see other faith traditions as conversation partners instead of religious

http://www.coloringpages101.com/religions-coloring-pages

adversaries. Should our child embrace Islam, I hope it will teach me about the five pillars. If our child embraces Judaism, I hope it will open the Hebrew Scriptures to me in a new way. If our child follows a Buddhist path, I hope it will lead me in the pathways of meditation and contemplation. If our child walks away from God and religion completely, I hope it will still respect and support the ministerial calling to which I have made vows.”

How will you explore religious diversity and interfaith dialogue with your children? (See resources below.)

Prayer:
God of all people, open our eyes to the beauty of diversity. Open our hearts to the many expressions of your love. Open our ears to the stories and experiences of another. Hear our prayer. Amen.

John 6:9-11
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.

(Read the weekly scripture each day. Find a phrase or word that speaks to you. Share your reflections with others over dinner, social media, and in prayer. Share the scripture with a child you know in the car, through a text, or in a children's Bible.)

Resources and Links

Rev. Snow has found two books helpful in exploring diversity and interfaith conversations with children:
The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper (illustrated by Gabs Swiatkowska)
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox (illustrated by Leslie Staub)

Others: http://gifts.katinkahesselink.net/children-books-spiritual.html 

The Interfaith Observer: http://www.theinterfaithobserver.org/themes/ 
Interfaith Coloring Book for Kids: http://www.jesusjazzbuddhism.org/interfaith-coloring-book.html 

Rev. Kevin Snow, Ministry Team, Lee’s Summit Christian Church, MO

*The view represented in these devotions come from a variety of diverse perspectives. We do not seek to agree but seek to welcome all to the conversation and the table.