Faith: A Journey of Courage, Perseverance, and Dialogue

Photo by Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash

Let's talk about faith…

Faith is when you know in your heart and gut that you must do something. You must move forward on an idea or go somewhere, even if it does not seem logical. And you have no idea how things will turn out. Some of us are uncomfortable with the word faith, so if that is you, let's call it that inner voice.

Faith is about the courage to live with uncertainty and to trust in your gut that you are on the right path. It's the courage to do something new, to take a risk, to begin a journey to a distant destination, knowing that there will be hazards and bumps along the way. Faith is all of those things, and it's also knowing that your inner conviction is with you along the way, giving you the strength to carry on.

In this week's Torah portion called Lech Lecha, God instructs Avram to go forth and leave the comfort of his home, everything he trusts, everything he knows. As God has instructed, Avram and Sarai embark on this journey driven by faith. Despite the uncertainty, they believe that God will show them the way.

Avram and Sarai, in many ways, remind me of my parents, who grew up dirt poor in the segregated South. My parents grew up in rural southern towns. They were part of that generation of young African-Americans who left the rural South, Jim Crow, and poverty, searching for better opportunities in the North. My mother and father decided to Lech Lecha to go forth, on faith, with very little money, believing in their hearts that this was the right path. And like Avram and Sarai, my parents left their families, their homes, and everything they knew in hopes of a better future. Shortly before my parents married, my dad was drafted into the United States Army. They got married, and upon his return from Vietnam, they set out on their adventure together. My parents' choices before I was born ensured that I would not continue the same level of poverty they had growing up. 

Growing up in a military family, I spent much of my youth moving from one city to another and from one school to another. Later, as an adult, I decided to serve my country and enlisted in the United States Army. One of the things I appreciated from being raised in a military family and being a service member is that, over the years, I have met many people who are different from me. People who look different than me talk differently than I do and often have different political views. My experiences taught me to focus on our commonalities rather than differences.

I took on the role of rabbi at Elon University after my ordination in 2018. This decision required my wife, Susan, to leave her lifelong home in Philadelphia, echoing the spirit of Lech Lecha, as we sought a better life in North Carolina. Our presence as an interracial, same-sex couple in Burlington is a testament to the times we live in – times in a society that has become, in many ways, more segregated, not necessarily because of laws but because of class, choices, and fear.

Today, I serve as the Director of Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Reconstructing Judaism. I work with senior staff, lay leaders, clergy, rabbinical students, and Reconstructionist communities. I work with others on the journey to create a better world for all. 

As a Jewish leader, I often engage in dialogues with individuals with differing viewpoints. Navigating these conversations requires a deep appreciation for the art of dialogue across differences. Engaging with those who have contrasting beliefs isn't about persuading or changing their minds. Instead, it centers on listening, understanding, and bridge-building. Building relationships doesn't necessarily stem from agreeing on everything. They often grow from mutual respect and a genuine understanding of varied perspectives. When we approach such interactions with open curiosity and without judgment, we cultivate a space where authentic connections take root.

This week's Torah portion nudges us to go beyond our comfort zones, interact with those different from us, and truly listen, not to change opinions but to recognize the shared humanity in all. When we acknowledge that we are all reflections of the Divine, compassion and perhaps a resurgence of faith follow.

On numerous occasions, I am asked, 'What does faith mean?' It's a complex question with no one answer. A question many grapple with throughout their lives. Marinating on this question, I wrote this song after a friend reached out, and it reminded me that someone cared. 

Faith is when you walk in a room 

Not sure why you are there 

Then you see an old friend 

And she asks you where you've been 

Now the world seems to care.

The song is an invitation to reflect on what faith means personally and to find strength in faith, especially during challenging times.

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