Two events are taking place this week that cause us to be aware of the diverse cultural nature of our social fabric. These include many family and community celebrations. Invitations to participate, observe or learn about cultural, social and spiritual practices are commonplace and occur in small family setting and large community events.
Chinese New Year celebrations started this past Tuesday and because our adopted daughter has a Chinese heritage, we will have a wonderful family dinner with some close friends, some decorations and some simple gifts. It honours our daughter’s heritage and it is a time to talk about what that means for her. She looks forward to this recognition and celebration each year.
The second event is the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week Celebration 2019. There will be a series of events, dinners, dialogue opportunities and speaker engagements that have open invitations for those interested in meeting new neighbours, hearing about many different faith traditions and sharing your own experience and belief expressions.
This is not always comfortable for everyone but it is an opportunity to come together in an environment to both learn about others and to learn how to be respectful and confident in sharing your own faith experience.
These kinds of events certainly open conversations that are worth having, so prepare your heart with confidence, prayer for wisdom and words of witness, and engage the world around you with the deep grace Jesus places within you.
