Daily I take an evening walk through the main floor of the various university interconnected buildings. It is a time of family when my husband, daughter or son join me. We socialize about the day’s events depending on who is walking that particular night. Usually there are just two of us, my husband and myself. It is a time to release any stress from the day. The exercise is very beneficial to our health. The time never gets boring because of all the people and activity that surrounds us.
The walk generally lasts about an hour and a half. It begins with topics from the day’s work or what is happening in the world from the news. Eventually though, silence finds its way into our quiet comfort. Looking around, one’s mind takes in the many differences of life in that particular space. I notice the diverse number of students that strut the hallways alongside me. I ponder who they are and where they are from. There are vast arrays of different skin colours. I’m sure that most of these young adults are international students.
God created all these people. We are all His children no matter where we are from. Home could be anywhere on the planet. My faith becomes challenged when I question what their lives hold in their particular beliefs. There is only one God for us to worship but what does that really look like for each of us. My rough guess is that most of the evening students are African, Indian, Pakistani and Eastern Asian. Some of the women are wearing hijabs or burkas and the men are wearing turbans, meaning they are Sikhs.
One evening recently, I was walking through the Student Services building and some international students, Muslims, tried catching my attention to discuss their Islamic faith. Even though I could have discussed my own Christian beliefs, I didn’t desire to engage in a religious discussion with them. I felt they were going to tell me that they believed in the same God that I did. They could say that Christians are on the wrong faith path by believing that God became man as Jesus Christ and gave us the Holy Spirit. They could say that Jesus was merely one of many prophets. I didn’t want someone trying to change my mind about what I loved to believe and in my heart, felt to be true.
Another incident modelled a young man we believed to be Muslim who was preparing for evening prayer. He had his special prayer rug and set it to face Mecca in the east. We assumed that he was preparing for his evening prayer, even if it was in the hallway of the university. This young man and all the others were proudly demonstrating who they are and what they believe.
Each of us is born into a particular culture and family. God created us that way. It is important that we believe in Him. It is sad that faith has to be challenged as correct or incorrect. Education is important to shape and form our beliefs but we don’t have to force others’ beliefs. All the arguing and debating in the world can’t change my love and heart for God. I worship Him with what He has planned for my personal destiny. Those young adults may be searching for their place in the role that God has created for them. Their future remains to be determined.
Personally, I love that God created us all unique. When I was reading through Genesis last week from my daily scripture passages, I noted that Abraham had two sons that went in different directions. Yet, God sent them that way and protected them. One son grew to believe differently than the Jewish people, thinking that a prophet was their way to be lead in faith. God knows who we all are. Those students who are coming to learn in our country may bring their own religion and culture. The important part may be how they intend to treat God’s creation. We are commanded to not kill and steal, plus given the path to God’s Kingdom. That only may come with looking at all His people and just accepting them as who they are.