Ted Lew

Unity in diversity and all its' ramifications, I know it needs to be tested out. How do we understand and except and embrace this kind of diversity? How do we begin to trust our inner centers, or inner truth or core values? And I think rather than focus on the external or forms and theologies, and different beliefs and metaphysics and how people believe, it is their own truth and yet it's not the only absolute truth.

In essence we are all the same, yet in reality, in our human expression on this planet we are all uniquely different. Even within the family that we live in is very different. And I feel the more we challenge ourselves and are willing to meet people who are different than us, because it's easy to like people who think like us and feel like us, and many people who come to these type of gatherings have the same kind of beliefs about unity in diversity even though they may come in with their own particular practices. And it's easy because they find people who are at least willing to respect each other, doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but with actual practice through time, I think we begin to learn something deeper within ourselves that, it wasn't all that hard was it, to embrace somebody that actually thinks different than we are and believes something different than we are? And this is a safe environment to practice and to learn. In the real world it's hard and I think this is where the challenge of all of us is, that we don't have the gift of these kind of gatherings on a daily basis, and yet I think being humans and being what god has created for us in our own hearts, it is very powerful for each and every one of us.

The destiny of us as the human race is to become one family, a spiritual family that love and respect and honor one another no matter what ethnic, racial, religious background. I believe that if we learn not just tolerance, but truly respect and honor, I think we can never go wrong... And rather than arguing about which religion, or which way or which belief or which way of prayer or ceremony is the best, the human race cannot do without any of them. The whole human race needs each and every one, each with their gifts and talents, and their way that they pray, the way that they acknowledge and ask for help and assistance. If the heart had to argue with the liver that it was better than the liver, the whole body dies in enough time. While we may believe that our own particular function on earth, or our own race may be superior, I don't believe so, because if you were blind and you were deaf you even know what color you are or what race you come from or even what language you speak. How would you know whether you could trust or love this person if you are blind and deaf? It's what you can feel, heart to heart, soul to soul, spirit to spirit. And I think it's common for everyone.