This previous Wednesday, I and a group of my friends had the privilege to attend a World Religions Conference hosted by a local Christian University. There, I was inspired by the joint effort to be in relationship with each other, but also saddened by the realization of how far away I and others have drifted away from Jesus’ promise of mercy for others.
The event featured presentations from the Baha’i, Christian, Hindu, Islam, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh perspectives, as well as a keynote speaker discussing the topic of joint charity efforts. As I’d listened to each, the overlapping messages became abundant.
Many of these religions share the notion of taking care of God’s creation, and honouring the Father – ours and everyone’s Father. I heard a cry of love in prayerful songs, greeting me before some presenters shared their faith story. Many of the religions shared the value of healthy competition, vying with each other – a verse from the Quran. I heard over and over the joy of seeing your friend (or acquaintance) raising funds or volunteering in the name of caring for the world that was gifted to them. I heard them say how empowering it is for them to see, and to then try to do better – competing in goodness instead of selfishness.
Works is complicated in the Christian faith because of how twisted things have gotten in the past. However, my understanding is that we do good works to honour God with our life, and to not acquire salvation. It’s great. But the honouring God part sometimes gets forgotten by me. Maybe a lot these days.
Something that is missing in Christianity, but present in other religions (especially the Hindu perspective) was openness to other faiths. The Golden temple located in Amritsar, Punjab, India is the most important pilgrimage site for Sikhs. This building has open doors on each wall, facing each direction. These doors represent the openness to others’ faiths. The Hindu speaker shared his joy of others finding God in their religion, rather than viewing his religion as the only way to be in relationship with God. The Baha’i speaker spoke of how each religion acts as a window, as a chapter in the story of God’s greatness, giving us different glimpses of His character.
I sat in a room of people who, despite their religious differences, chose to be in relationship with each other for the sake of honouring God’s earth or His character, and I wondered why I couldn’t be in my church anymore. Why I can’t be at my job anymore. And I realized:
At the heart of this world religions gathering, people were focussed on how they could agree, and were honest and gentle with their differences – not hiding them, but not speaking down, either. They didn’t use their differences to attack the rights or wrongs of the other religions, they just knew that on this, working to care for the world, they could agree.
I know that in my church and The Church it’s always going to be a lot different. Sometimes we’re good at accepting our differences and working things out. However, we often choose to solely work for the Christians of the world, instead of God’s children – all of His children. On the flip side, Christians have also torn each other down. This has been especially hard for me, and has made me wonder at times that if this is how Christians treat themselves, how are they really treating the people who don’t know Jesus? And if this is how Christians want to treat people who don’t know Jesus, then what’s the point in being a Christian?
I’ve heard Christians shame and slur other Christians “in the name of love” – using the accusation of disobedience to beat down one’s spirit, using God’s sovereignty to compel Christians into a corner. For me, I’ve come to a place where I’m embarrassed of Christians – not Jesus.
So, where do I go now and what do I do?
My heart is heavy. It’s felt pulled and stretched to the point where it can’t snap back into shape. It’s just too tired.
And yet, I believe in a world where people are doing the best they can. Sometimes they fail. Sometimes they don’t. I don’t think I’ll ever convince someone to follow Jesus, fullstop. But if I did, it wouldn’t be because I told them the only way to heaven was to believe in Jesus, even if I think it’s true. It would probably be because of my attempt to embody Jesus, and that’s the best I can do, fullstop.
Climbing
My name is Sarah Symons, but does the world really need another blog? What will be on this blog? Why should anyone at all care? Maybe you shouldn’t. This blog will be a creative outlet for myself and a way to make mistakes on a personal online platform so that I don’t make bigger mistakes…
Judgement (& Love)
There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it the most. | (Hebrews 4:16 NLT) There is a veil you and I can conceal ourselves behind and it’s called quietude. I pretend I have no interest in the arguments and disputes, the sarcastic words and ignorant…
Being A Lover
It was the Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend, and I felt that, for the first time, I was fully aware of how thankful I ought to be. I am thankful for so many things in my life that make it easy and tidy and comfortable. I listed off what I was thankful for with my…
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year! To me, but maybe not to everyone. I remember loving Christmas from the first moment I realized it was Christmas. I loved it for the same reason why I loved it when the power would go out; it was a time of un-distracted togetherness, crackling fires, and…
Growing Up Pt 1
I’m trying to figure out what it means to be mature because it occurred to me that I am actually really afraid of being seen as immature. Like, I’d somehow duped myself into thinking I’m something I’m not, like everyone knows something I don’t.
Vying with Each Other
This previous Wednesday, I and a group of my friends had the privilege to attend a World Religions Conference hosted by a local Christian University. There, I was inspired by the joint effort to be in relationship with each other, but also saddened by the realization of how far away I and others have drifted…
She’s So Heavy
That she? Yeah, that’s me. Things have been uncommonly heavy for several months now – real heart heavy. Sometimes it’s felt like I’ve been standing on a street corner asking passers-by, “where am I right now and how do I get out of here?” How did I get in the middle of all of this malice?…
Is Anyone There?
Have you ever looked at the night sky and gotten so lost in it – in its twinkling and whispy blackness – that you felt less like a person and more like you’re just existing in this vastness? The longer you look you wonder how there can ever be anything that could matter in a…
Church Soup
I know we have our borscht and our barley and our chicken noodle soups, but let me introduce you to church soup – a steamy hot pot of goodness.
Hope Through Failure
Bob Goff, author of Love Does once wrote, “the thing I love about God is he intentionally guides people into failure.” Mr Goff, I think I am finally starting to understand what you mean. Yesterday, I felt a new hope flutter in my chest, a hope that has been missing for some time now. As…
Photography – Pets
Recently, my husband and I have purchased a camera and I’ve been trying my hand at learning how to work with it. The following pictures are of the pets in my life because they make such good models.
Photography – E 4th Ave
It was a pretty miserable day, but the kind of day that made me want to get up and get moving after stewing in my chair all day. I took these photos during my short walk.
I played a lot with the different settings of the camera, but wasn’t very happy with what I left myself with. I’m not too bothered, though, since it’s all a work in progress.
Photography – Texture
As I have continued to explore and flesh out what I enjoy in photography, I have enjoyed trying new styles, and these are a few of my recent favourites. I wanted to do a black and white series to focus on texture and lighting, contrast and depth, but I also enjoyed feeling like I was seeing more of the picture thanks to its desaturation.
Small Eyes
Let’s have a chat about having small eyes in a big, doe eyed world. Now, it’s no secret that I am asian – half to be specific, and Malaysian if you need to know what kind – and something very particular comes with that territory.
small. eyes.
Cha Cha Changes
First of all, do yourself a favour and listen to this version of Changes by David Bowie and Butterfly Boucher from the Shrek 2 Soundtrack. Yeah, go back in time. My heart is filled today – with satisfaction, people fatigue, excitement and hope. Today, I completed my orientation at my new job, a new job…
Is There Room?
Jumping on the sky-train or the bus at 5pm has given me very little to look forward to. I’ve ended up bumping into strangers, getting a little too close for comfort, receiving the evil eye from others if I’ve been lucky enough to get a seat, or staring at my phone and wishing I was home. However, before even jumping on I’ve had to wonder “is there room for me?”
Grateful
A new season is near, the air is cooling, the rain is falling. Students are back in school and the year ahead is being planned; it’s time to look forward. But my previous and current worries don’t fizzle out at the first sign of a turning leaf, nor do any of us get a breather to compensate for all of the time that worry has stolen from us.
The Journey – Part 1
As a child I didn’t have a poor body image of myself. But as I grew older and experienced different stages in my life, this self image transformed into something of a beast – a bully, a nemesis.
Connect
The older I get the more challenging connecting with the ones I care about and love becomes. I spend more time with strangers and coworkers than I do my best friend and partner. My heart begins to ache for the place it feels most at home – with family and friends. Every week I attend…
xoxoxoxoxo Grandma & Grandpa
“xoxoxoxoxo Grandma & Grandpa” That’s how every birthday card I have ever got from my grandparent ends. It’s a sweet and loving familiarity I got to look forward to each celebration, reminding me of all the support I’ve been fortunate enough to have through my lifetime. However, this year’s was the first card his name…
Grandma’s Caesar Dressing
I definitely don’t run a food blog, but I have yet to taste a caesar dressing as good as the one my grandma makes, and I need it to be online so I can share it to my recipe Pinterest board, so here is the recipe. Grandma’s Caesar Dressing By Edna Ruck – Grandma –…
Simply Sarah 