Acceptance and Love

Benton County Sits in Unique Place, Time of Diversity

The modern mystic Cynthia Bourgeault in her book "The Wisdom Way of Knowing" writes serious engagement in the spiritual practices handed down to us from the ancient monastic traditions -- prayer, meditation, chanting, awareness of the present moment -- can enhance the spiritual seeker's powers of "creative perception," heightening an ability to sense when a convergence of events is occurring. I do not count myself among those "sensitive interpreters of patterns," but I have learned to pay attention to coincidence and to look for spiritual meaning in the patterns that seem to emerge while going about the business of everyday life.

One such pattern, pointing to the increasingly evident presence in Benton County of a marvelously diverse religious and cultural community, unfolded before my eyes on a single day this past week. At midmorning, I was looking over a questionnaire sent to me by the organizers of a Walmart-sponsored panel discussion in which I had been asked to participate called "Interfaith and the Workplace." As I understand it, the event is meant to address the issues that arise when a powerful international corporation -- such as Walmart -- whose continued prosperity is dependent on the free exchange of creative energy, ideas and resources with a multitude of cultures around the globe makes its home in a small town in Arkansas -- a place where, only a few short years ago, religious diversity meant choosing between a Methodist, a Baptist or a Pentecostal congregation. Today, I suspect Bentonville is the smallest town in the United States to include a Jewish synagogue, a Hindu temple and an Islamic center. All of these houses of worship are nestled -- not entirely comfortably -- in the midst of hundreds of Christian churches largely convinced they alone trod the one true path to God.

That same day, I found myself in the dining hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, sharing lunch with the "Rabbi of Bentonville," Jack Zanerhaft, discussing how our two congregations might engage in a cooperative endeavor. After lunch, returning to my silenced cellphone, I found an email from a young pastor charged with the responsibility of determining which representatives from various religious groups would be invited to pray before meetings of governmental bodies.

Then, at the end of the day, looking over my calendar for the next week, I remembered I was scheduled to have a conversation with Rich Harwood, president of an organization designed to help communities create meaningful change. Scanning his website, I discovered his next book will deal with the topic of "innovation readiness." Harwood writes, "My own experience is that 'innovation readiness' takes a certain mindset and set of practices." I was left wondering what alterations to the mindset of our community -- and to our current set of practices -- will enable us to let go of fear and, instead, appreciate the opportunity for spiritual growth presented by the increased presence of religious diversity.

This rather remarkable alignment of events was preceded by a Sunday morning coffee-hour conversation with the spouses of two members of our congregation -- one a Jew and the other a Muslim. Seeing us together, our youthful music director, feigning the fears of Dorothy of Oz, exclaimed, "Muslims, Christians and Jews. Oh my!"

This series of coincidences, while not earth-shattering in their significance, do point to a much larger convergence of forces that surround us here in Northwest Arkansas. We occupy a unique place in an exceptional time in history. We are quick to recognize the economic and lifestyle benefits that accrue in a community when profitable companies are located here. Are we as ready to embrace the spiritual benefits that can flow when we encounter other faith traditions? Can we set aside a tendency toward religious chauvinism and simply listen and learn from our new neighbors?

As part of a society that places great value on the autonomy of the individual, Christians in the United States are often quick to overlook the Biblical history of God calling -- not just individuals, but a people. Contemporary Christians often tend to emphasize their "personal relationship" with God while ignoring our calling as a collective force to seek justice and righteousness for everyone. We citizens of Northwest Arkansas occupy a place of great privilege and of equally great responsibility. Seldom has a small town in America been in a position to have such a significant impact on the larger world.

Martin Luther King Jr. often spoke of the formation of a "beloved community." King imagined the beloved community as a society based on justice, equal opportunity and love for our fellow human beings. A pattern of confluence -- too obvious to be dismissed as mere coincidence -- is pointing our community toward a future that requires not just tolerance for religious differences, but acceptance and love.

NAN Religion on 04/12/2014

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