Learning through Conversation

This past week, I was studying outside when I was approached by two members of Campus Crusade for Christ. They asked to speak to me about my faith, and my guard instantly went up because of the preconceived notions I have about these types of interactions. In the past, situations like this have made me feel as though I need to defend my faith. However, I accepted their invitation, and the results of this conversation were a beautiful mutual learning experience.

The two students who approached me were on spring break from a school in Georgia, and were visiting Loyola’s chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ, or “Cru,” as they called it. They had never met anyone Jewish before, and didn’t know much about the faith at all. However, as our conversation progressed, we began to realize how much our spiritual views had in common. When they asked me who I thought Jesus was, they were surprised by my answer that he was a great teacher who brought great good to the world, whether or not I believe he was the son of G-d. While we disagreed on several fundamental points, it never felt like they were trying to convince me that my faith was wrong. They simply wanted the opportunity to hear my views, and then respond in turn with theirs. It was a beautiful exchange that made me feel spiritually refreshed, and so grateful to be on a campus where I have the opportunity to have these kinds of conversations.

-Aly Sandler

Fasting: Food and Fatih

As a Catholic I am currently in the midst of the liturgical season of Lent. As is the Catholic tradition I decided to give up something for Lent. This year I decided to challenge myself and give up meat for the forty days of Lent. I decided to do it to challenge myself, and hoped that it would help me continually return to a reflective state. It has been true that when I go to the grocery store, walk past five guys, or have a craving for chicken I am reminded why I choose not to satisfy that craving. It is about more than just not eating meat it is about creating a reminder for myself. Every time I eat a meal I am reminded that I am in Lent and have chosen to give up meat as a reminder of this season of reflection and prayer. I love that in so many religions fasting is a traditional practice. There is an incredible link between the food that sustains our bodies and our faith that sustains our souls. Fasting for Lent is part of a tradition bigger than my own spirituality or even the Catholic tradition. Fasting is a religious tradition around the world, and I am currently a living part of that tradition. Although it can be challenging it is a rewarding practice that will hopefully continue to call me to reflection throughout Lent.

- Elaina Jo 

RamaLent/Lentadan

breath and the beloved

Last week at our Interfaith Life Community meeting we read a poem called “Only Breath” by Rumi, the Sufi mystic. I decided to bring the poem to the group because it first caught my eye as the poem begins: Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu / Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion / or cultural system.” How perfect for an interfaith reflection community! The poem also spoke to my personal exploration of faith. In the poem Rumi writes: “I belong to the beloved, have seen the two / worlds as one and that one call to and know, / first, last, outer, inner, only that / breath breathing human being.” I absolutely love the idea of belonging to the beloved. Just the title speaks about the great compassion of the One beyond ourselves. For me the beloved is God. After reading and reflection on the poem I had each of the students to write their own spiritual poem. All of the poems were extraordinarily unique and beautiful and I asked them if there were comfortable to share them on this blog. It was a great meeting and I am thankful for the beautiful conversation and poetry we were able to share with each other.

Here is my poem:

Where do I exist

but in my breath

I cannot belong

to one name

I do not come

from a town, a city

a place in time

I come from something unknown

I am unknown

Only truly seen by the beloved

existence lies in the beloved

in that breath, in that silence.

- Elaina Jo 

Contemplation

At the Interfaith Life Community meeting today, we were asked to read through a small poem by the Muslim mystic, Rumi. It was both impactful and eloquent. After, we made our own response poems showing how we perceived the work by Rumi, how we see the world, or how we view spirituality.
Here was my response:

Inhale
The sun
or son
draw on the power of earth
or the all-powerful

Existence isn't futile
no matter who's name you proclaim
to the heavens, nirvana, or your own soul
because the light
life
inside of you doesn't need
affiliations or social acceptance

Justification
is not its food
breath- and that is all
exhale hate
inhale love

You are fed
content
and finally
complete.


-Caitlin Courtney

Giving Yourself - Receiving Love and Grace

Last week interfaith ministry had its first Interfaith Life Community meeting. It has been a dream of mine this year to have interfaith reflection group for students that meets to learn and grow spiritually. I decided to start the program by calling on the namesake of our school St. Ignatius of Loyola. I used his Prayer of Personal Dedication to start our meeting and focus our discussion.

Here is the prayer:

Take, Lord,

And receive all my liberty,


My memory, my understanding,


And my entire will,


All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.


To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours;

Do with it what you will.


Give me only your love and your grace,


That is enough for me.

The prayer proved to be perfect for our first meeting as it lead to a beautiful discussion of personal struggle to both offer God our liberty and accept God’s love and grace. It is hard to fully give yourself to God or the greater sense of purpose you believe in. While each one of us who strives to grow in our spirituality believe in giving ourselves in some way to something greater than ourselves it is overwhelming to conceive of completely surrendering. It is only in welcoming and openly receiving the love and grace of God that we are able to give ourselves completely. Although we may have reservations about giving up all we have there is hope in the great love offered by God. As Saint Ignatius reminds us God does not ask us to go forth alone, but with God’s love ever present in the work we do. 

-Elaina Jo

Celebrating Difference

In one of my courses last week we had an interesting conversation about the flaws on focusing primarily on similarities when studying religion. There is a tendency in modern times to lump everything together and only see how all religions pray and seek the Truth. Although it is true and wonderful that all religions have some basic similarities there is a danger in neglecting the unique difference that make each religion beautiful. As my class discussed, sometimes in today’s society interfaith work means everyone pretending that all faiths are similar enough to get along all the time. This overlooks the important fact that every religion is different and each religion has its own traditions and prejudices. If we neglect to these differences we don’t learn about other religions or begin to understand them we simply tolerate them. I love that at Loyola our interfaith programs celebrate religious difference and bring people together to learn about different faiths. Our programming is about working together but also focused on learning about each other. Looking back on last semester we celebrated our work together through the International Day of Peace and the Better Together Photo Booth event, but we also celebrated our differences in the Tour of Sacred Spaces and Interfaith Trivia. Reflecting on the conversation in my class I am proud of the work Loyola Interfaith has done and continues to do. We are truly working toward understanding and celebrating diverse faiths in wonderful ways.  

-Elaina Jo