Last year I applied for and received the Barbara Marshall Award, granting me a six-month sabbatical from my work at Hallmark to pursue a creative project I had designed called “Stories of Devotion,” exploring faith traditions and spiritual journeys both among company employees and others I would solicit and encounter in my quest.
Upon returning to work I would prepare a three-part program that would consist of a presentation to Hallmark employees and invited guests, a gallery exhibit, and a series of conversation circles. While I was thrilled to exhibit artifacts, photos and stories from my travels and visits from a wide array of faith traditions, I was particularly excited about the conversation circles I facilitated. The circles were intentionally small, 6 and 8 company employees and outside guests representing different faith traditions. My hope was to create a warm and welcoming environment in which people would feel comfortable talking about religion, asking questions about other people’s beliefs, and sharing their own experiences and convictions. Seating was limited and our sessions filled up quickly.
Last year I applied for and received the Barbara Marshall Award, grant-ing me a six-month sabbatical from my work at Hallmark to pursue a creative project I had designed called “Stories of Devotion,” exploring faith traditions and spiritual journeys both among company employees and others I would solicit and encounter in my quest. Upon returning to work I would prepare a three-part program that would consist of a presentation to Hallmark employees and invited guests, a gallery exhibit, and a series of conversation circles.
While I was thrilled to exhibit artifacts, photos and stories from my travels and visits from a wide array of faith traditions, I was particularly excited about the conversation circles I facilitated. The circles were intentionally small, 6 and 8 company employees and outside guests representing different faith traditions. My hope was to create a warm and welcoming environment in which people would feel comfortable talking about religion, asking questions about other people’s beliefs, and sharing their own experiences and convictions. Seating was limited and our sessions filled up quickly.
It was very important for me to inform our employees about the religious diversity within our own company and in our community. I invited five members from the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and a dear friend of mine to be our guests, and they all graciously accepted. The format was simple: each of our guests made brief intro-ductory remarks about their tradition and their personal path.
The rest of the session was an open dialogue among all present. I was pleased to have clergy and laity represented; and I was particularly pleased with the reception our guests had, paired as they participated: Linda Prugh (uma) (Vedanta) and Fr. Mike Medis (Eastern Orthodox); Sheila Sonnen-schein (Judaism) and Lama Chuck Stanford (Buddhism); Inas Younis (Islam) and Karta Purkh Khalsa (Sikhism). This was not a spectator event. Those in attendance were expected to engage in dialogue, and engage they did!
These conversations were everything I had hoped for and more. Questions raised ranged from specifics about sacred garments and ritual practices, to deeper philosophical and cultural issues. We all learned a lot about each other and about the world around us. But something I hadn’t planned was the wonderful interac-tion that naturally occurred between our guests. As attendees asked questions, our guests answered them and then also discussed between each other the ways in which their respective traditions are similar and different. People are still talking about these circles. I am immeasurably grateful that I had this opportunity, and for the many ways it continues to bless me and others. To learn more about this project visit www.storiesofdevotion.com.
by Sergio Moreno