Dancing in the Dark

Have you ever been dancing in the dark?  Me neither, but I’m beginning to think more and more that I might like it.  Around the office at the InterFaith Conference a few folks have compared interfaith work to dancing in the dark.  You are close, and have the same goal in mind but inevitability you’re going to step on your partners foot.

The best we can do is admit our missteps, ask for forgiveness, and begin again where we left off.  A key is to always learn from our mistakes.  To never let a misstep overshadow why we dance.  (sounds like good advice for intra-faith work as well but perhaps more on that later.)

I made space today to call a good friend and mentor of mine from Albion College.  In addition to catching up we talked about the work that is happening there and the interfaith conversations that are beginning to move towards center stage.  I remember sitting in a room a long time ago as the first of those conversations unfolded.  You could say it was really dark then.  I guess my hope now is that by some of us being willing to come together, to dance, we helped to dispel fear.

In the process we created relationships and trust.  And maybe, some light was shed.  I’m not sure if the goal of interfaith work is for us all to dance in the light or not.  If we were to do that, for example, we would have to know each other well.  We would also have to be familiar with the dance.  Familiar enough that missteps were few and the purpose of the dance was clear. 

I pray that as God stretches us here at IFC we are better prepared to be Christian dancing partners.  May our dancing be blessed by God, and may it one day lead us into the light.

 God’s Peace,  Eric :p