"The Path Toward Peace"

I know of only one path toward peace.

My daughter and some of her friends are on it.

We should listen to them.
If the rest of us can not find our way to this path there is no hope for this planet. Only self-destruction.

My daughter hangs with this group called the Interfaith Youth Leadership Youth Coalition. See how serious she looks in her stripes? This is serious business...this trying to save the world stuff.

Actually, these kids have a lot of fun. They are kids from all faiths learning about each other. And working together. There are Jews and Muslims and Catholics and Protestants and Buddhists and Unitarians and a couple of things I'd never heard of.

One thing they discovered right away...

...is that all their faiths have strong service components.

You serve God (or Gods) when you serve the community.

Today the Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition organized several hundred teens of all faith backgrounds.

They did service projects all over St. Paul.

They also spent several hours together just learning about each other. More like celebrating each other.

Keep in mind, for most kids today was a day off of school. A day to sleep. To catch up on homework. These kids got up early to volunteer and to connect with kids who are different from them. But the same, too.

The important thing to know about this interfaith work is that it is not about a blending of the faiths. It's not about converting others to your beliefs and you to theirs. In fact, to take part in good interfaith dialog you've got to be really secure in your own faith.

A lot of people find their commitment to their own faith deepens when they develop friendships with people of other faiths...at the same time they learn to appreciate their friends' beliefs.

It's kinda like loving your neighbor as yourself, wouldn't you say?

I always thought Jesus was an interfaith kind of guy.

I know of only one path toward peace.

Are you on it?