Recently, I had the honour of being interviewed by Brian Carwana. Nearly a decade ago, I met Brian at an Encounter World Religion Retreat held in Vancouver, BC. During the course of the weekend, we visited several religious communities and attended services with them, and/or engaged in dialogue with leaders and members. The purpose? To promote understanding between persons with different beliefs.

I will never forget talking with our bus driver, a Sikh man, on the way to visit a Sikh temple. I could see his eyes light up in the rearview mirror as he shared about his childhood relationship to his faith community. And, I noticed the light turn to sadness when he spoke about his reluctance to attend temple as an adult. I know I listened more deeply because of his story. I remember how excited the guide at the Zoroastrian center was to retell the story about the flame that has continuously shone for hundreds of years in their centers around the world, each flame lit from the original fire. I also remember raising my hand and speaking during a synagogue service. I wasn’t being rude; their Rabbi set aside a time for questions following his reading and teaching from the Torah. I remember thinking, “How cool is that?”

The experience (and the following year’s retreat) continues to inform my passion for and confidence to share about spiritual experiences with people from diverse backgrounds than my own. I feel closer to my neighbours, be they in the same community or on the other side of the globe.

Brian interviews individuals and then posts his reflections and new understandings on his blog “Religion Geek. He interviewed me about spiritual life writing. As a conversation instigator, Brian possesses the rare ability to tune in completely to what his interviewees want to communicate. He begins his piece about our interview, “Writing changes us in many ways, for writing does not merely express what’s already inside us. Rather, it generates a kind of internal work that leads us to reflect, to turn things over, to hone in, and sometimes to reorient. In doing so, it can exert a kind of magic.” Brian Carwana, Executive Director, Encounter World Religions.

The most compelling reason for writing The Spiritual Life Writing Workbook was to help others discover that kind of magic. To pay attention, discern, and communicate journeys with faith, spirituality, religion and culture. I notice that many individuals remain silent about the beliefs and practices closest to their hearts. I think there are many reasons for this tendency, but two of the most common reasons are: the fear of being misunderstood and the fear of offending others. I also think our capacity for peacemaking is hindered, internally and externally, by these two fears. And, I know that it is possible (and necessary!) to learn skills to change our communication with one another. I can tell you, it feels amazing to be understood.

Each summer in Toronto, Brian hosts the Encounter World Religion Discovery Week. Next year, it will take place from July 5th to 11th. Spots sell out early because the week is not meant to be a conversion experience. Rather, education is provided in a respectful, non-judgmental, and detailed manner. The hope is that participants will better understand their extended families, co-workers, workplaces, communities, and the world of diverse nations. Not just understand, but to obtain knowledge and skills to create deeper, more productive, and more meaningful relationships.

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