Interfaith Dialogue

Last Sunday I attended an interfaith program at Tikvat Israel in Rockville. There was a panel discussion with local leaders: Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Christian. There many points shared about the spiritual quest which resonated with me and I share just a few:
How would I describe my relationship with God: a personal one or awareness of an impersonal force? Yes to both. I certainly do talk to God asking for strength and wisdom and from personal experience sense that God does love me (and everyone). I also have frequent experiences of radical amazement, often in the wonders of nature, flowing through an awe which fills me with an awareness of the creative and loving flow of the Spiritual Force of the Universe. I also frequently experience wonder in the knowledge of another person's story and soul - I affirm that these connections are possibly because of the Divine connection between all the spiritualities of the universe, thanks to God.
A few of the speakers spoke about: MYSTERY. I know that God exists having felt the Presence, but I don't understand what God is. I believe this is impossible for our finite minds. We can't conceptualize a completely spiritual reality - since we can only conceive of physical reality. The mystical tradition affirms this when it articulates the idea of "Ein Sof" (literally 'without end') - that the God who created the universe is inherently unknowable, except for God's emanations into creation. For Judaism we also live in the mystery of the suffering of the world. There are partial but no fully satisfying answer to: why a good and powerful God would create a world filled with so much suffering. This (and human free will given God's knowledge) are paradoxes in which Judaism is willing to live.
Third, when do I feel most distant from God? For me there are three internal negative which eclipse God from my life. When I'm not in the moment ... God is distant. For example, when I'm worrying about the logistics and choreography of services, instead of praying, I don't feel any connection to God. Second, when I'm angry, especially at someone else, it's almost impossible to pray (just to ask for calm) and empty of spiritual connection. Finally when the prayers/thoughts are all about me - I don't feel the holiness. I used to hate the artificial breaks in the Yom Kippur Service. I! hated the mass outflow of people who would rush out of services after the sermon before Yizkor. And I raged! again after Yizkor at everyone who rushed out and blocked the Cantor from beginning Hineni and the Musaf Service by their "exodus." I! know what's best for people - they shouldn't leave! The readings we do now really help me to focus on continuing to be in the right place spiritually and (even though I may disagree about priorities) to allow people their own spirituality: to feel uncomfortable reciting the Memorial Service while their parents are still alive or to leave to get their kids and to spend time with their family. When the worship is about me - I can't daven. There are times when I deeply meditate at the end of the Amidah that the "me" actually fades away and for a moment or two I sense something beyond me - connecting everything.
Just one more of many thoughts shared and reflected upon last Sunday. Someone commenting on the historical and present-day intolerance too often created by our various faiths said, and I paraphrase: "It's scary when we're so sure we know what God wants me to do..." To think that I possess the absolute truth and that I can impose that certitude on others - is truly terrifying. I think the great religious traditions all have slices, large pieces of God's message to mankind. To think I'm the one who possesses the whole answer - to often leads to human suffering and certainly not to sanctifying God's Name and Presence.