  Spiritual
This week: Friends Forever Edited by: Sophy  
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Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Friends Forever
Our spiritual community recently enjoyed a visit from 10 teens (5 Arab, 5 Jewish) and 2 of their teachers from Israel. They were participating in a two-week Friends Forever program, and were just about to return home to Israel. The concept behind Friends Forever is to bring young people from around the world together to build lasting friendships across cultural, religious and political divides as part of an international peace process, and helping those young leaders transform the way they see the world in order to help them realize that they are the very ones who can change the world for the better.
Friends Forever ▼ began in 1986, founded by Rotarian and YMCA director Bob Raiche. Bob believed there was a need for a program like Friends Forever after reading countless newspaper articles covering the conflict in Northern Ireland. The first delegation of youth leaders was made up of five Catholic and five Protestant young men from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, who traveled to Portsmouth, NH in the fall of 1986. Since then, the program has worked with more than 1,300 youth around the world - primarily from Northern Ireland and Israel.
What a worthy endeavor, especially in this day and age. Young people whose paths would otherwise likely never cross back home come together here in the US for two weeks, breaking down the walls between them as they share their stories and build bridges of understanding and peace to replace those walls. They are paired up - 1 Arab with 1 Jew - for the two weeks they are here, and together they make presentations and do community service with various organizations. Then they continue their peacemaking efforts (and friendships) back home, with their new friends.
The Friends Forever group has visited us for the past five years, and each time I have been so inspired by their willingness to be part of the FF program. These teens leave their homes - their friends, families, and comfort zones - to come together with those who are very different from themselves, those who are considered at the least "other" and at the worst "enemy." And they intentionally seek to get to know each other in spite and because of those differences.
While that inspires me still – this year, the Friends Forever teens taught me even more in this time of dividedness within our own country. Perhaps by taking a page from their book, instead of increasing the separations between those with whom we differ, we can, like the Friends Forever teens, reach out to those with whom we differ, share our stories and listen to theirs. Maybe we can take the materials that come from the walls we break down between us to build bridges instead.
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Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review. If you have something you would like me to highlight, please do share it with me, thanks!
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#2129121 by Not Available. |
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An introspective and esoteric look at the path of life.
#2127905 by T.L.Finch  |
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (June 28, 2017)" about healing places:
From innerlight 
Our son recently experienced a miracle and it opened my youngest son's eyes. My husband/their dad was dying; he was semi-conscious some of that 24-hours. My sister-in-law stayed with him the whole time. Our sons came by one day and said their goodbyes. For the first time in Jon's life he said a prayer whilst holding his hand. Friends here on WDC prayed, neighbors prayed, strangers prayed. The next morning he opened his eyes "Why the tears Gracie." I called our sons and they said Thank you God for bringing back Dad."
What wonderful news, thank you for sharing!
      
From Quick-Quill 
I too was born in the PNW. After 30 years in MN I'm back in Oregon. My dream is to go to the Sylvia Beach Hotel where every room is themed around an author. I want to spend a spring, winter or late fall weekend there just writing. Summer is about outside activities and I'd be too tempted to get out to the beach. When its cloudy and drippy, writing and reading are at the forefront.
Sounds like an awesome place!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophy |
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Spiritual: July 26, 2017 Issue [#8410]
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