Abiding Resilience

This Week's Quotation:

Bamboo is flexible, bending with the wind but never breaking, capable of adapting to any circumstance. It suggests resilience, meaning that we have the ability to bounce back even from the most difficult times.

~ Ping Fu

Abiding Resilience

Rev. Berry Behr, Interfaith Minister

Have you ever read about a successful person who never faced a challenge in their life? Me neither. We’ve all experienced something of the hero’s journey in our own lives, and many of us are in recovery from personal traumas.

The human race is facing a traumatic crisis right now with increased threats from natural disasters, political power play, and devastating wars. With separatism at its peak, our challenge is to reunite. Collective resilience can only be achieved through unity.

And what unifies us?

Muslim and Baha’i communities have begun their annual fast and the Christian period of Lent—40 days before Easter—started this week. The beautiful Hindu Holi Festival, celebrating the victory of good over evil, takes place in mid-March. April will bring Eid to Muslims, Passover (Pesach) to Jewish observers, and Easter to Christians.

This is a time of deep prayer and heartfelt supplication to the Divine. It’s a time when one may imagine the Heavens opening to receive the prayers of our hearts. Christian teaching tells us that when two or more are gathered in agreement, the power of the prayer is increased. Prayer—communion with God—is one of the five pillars of Islam, and plays an anchoring role for all faiths, however differently it is expressed. People of all faiths are praying for peace, healing, wholeness, and the grace of resilience in the face of challenge.

Prayer is a foundational building block of abiding resilience. Abiding means sustainable, or eternal. Imagine if every time you pray with pure intent, or immerse yourself fully in the true essence of your spiritual practice, you are building a resilient, spiritual core that contributes to the collective resilience of humanity and counteracts the decay that seems central to the world.

May our true light permeate all our thoughts, actions, and words and radiate courageous, loving strength and resilience to our world and each other. Because now, more than ever, we truly do need to remember that the core purpose of interfaith engagement is to unite, not divide. We are all different, and still, stronger together. One human family sharing one sacred planet.

About Open Windows

We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world’s sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.

We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.