Day 28: God has many houses

Guest bloggers: Dominique and Mike RychlikOur family is profoundly grateful to have found an interfaith community and volunteer work that makes our hearts expand. It is so true that in giving, we receive. And we are so grateful to and for our friend Salma (our 30 Days, 30 Deeds blogger) and her family, for helping us find our calling in this work.We were feeling profoundly discouraged by the tone after 9/11. In 2009, Salma invited us to an interfaith iftar at the beautiful Historic 6th and I Synagogue in DC. It was sponsored by 9/11 Unity Walk. We had never been to an iftar before, let alone one in a synagogue, and it was a profoundly moving experience.  We attended our first Unity Walk that year, and were bowled over by the examples of interfaith hospitality we saw there -- a Muslim call to prayer in a synagogue, a Jewish cantor and gospel choir singing on the mosque steps, the hospitality of the Sikh community who served a delicious meal to all who came, people of all faiths learning about the symbolism of the Orthodox mosaics and paintings.  It was a reality we had never dreamed of and we were hooked!Our family decided that there is no more important work than interfaith work and we have put our volunteer energies there, now co-chairing the 9/11 Unity Walk Steering Committee. We were also moved to hear Eboo Patel speak about his vision for interfaith service -- that service and caring for those in need is at the heart of ALL faith traditions and a natural way to connect and learn about one another. As a result of our experience on the Walk, and hearing Eboo Patel speak, our kids have organized an interfaith youth service group along with Salma’s family and about 15 other families, called Capital Area Interfaith Friends.Those of all faiths involved in this work who we have been privileged to know, are some of the most devoted, faithful, service oriented, loving, gentle people we know. We are so grateful for their presence in our lives. Interfaith work has deepened our own faith, bringing us closer to God. Gratitude almost feels too small a word for that joy. Thank you to the Ali family and to all who have made this journey possible.Day 28; Gratitude 28: Interfaith work and friends