The last two decades have seen me live in struggles where my view of Divinity is in the minority, or so I tell myself. As my five-year anniversary in the Emirates approaches, I find myself reflecting on belief diversity. Two local examples are the Grand Mosque and the recent Abrahamic Family House.
While the Grand Mosque is visually very traditional, the diversity and openness to creativity and contribution is revealed through an amazing range of countries providing materials, New Zealand through Asia, the Gulf, Africa, and beyond, and design influences, eastern and western. The Abrahamic Family House brings the shared threads of three different faiths in a way that pays respect to each while highlighting the family relationships revealed through the traditions and expressions which have emerged with time.
One of the lessons that continue to challenge me is the way my faith reveals itself. I think I know where my faith lies, however my actions, choices, and behaviour, at times, tell a different story. If I were to put a face to the god or gods I appear to worship, I suspect there would be a lot more manifestations than I currently acknowledge.
Lesson telltales include the following.
Values and priorities revealed in the choices I make. I love the idea of service for others. There is an obvious “but” when it comes to success versus failure, achieving a goal at any cost, and even the motivation for action.
A focus on I versus community as revealed by my behaviour. Reflection highlights a cruel irony. Even as I think I am driven by what is best for us as a community, I see the indicators pointing toward a god within. Sadly, in this tale, “I” often takes precedence and priority over “we”.
In the past, one writer noted “they traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.” (Romans 1.23) While this was yesterday, today is a new chapter and potentially a fresh manifestation. Each lesson is an opportunity for change.
