It’s finally out! The book that my friend Michael Blair has been compiling interviews for from across the State of Texas called, “Amazing Faiths in Texas” which is full of heartfelt stories and beautiful photographs.  As the Lakota say, “Ho! Mitakuye Oyasin”  – “We are all related.” Michael and Ginger Blair have been two very influential people in my spiritual life.  When Ginger and I met way back in 1990, she would “feed” me books that introduced me to new perspectives and ways of thinking about life.  One of these books was, “The Autobiography of a Yogi” by Paramahansa Yogananda–had been given to me before almost a decade previously– but I wasn’t ready to grapple with it’s meaning.   

What I love most about this book is the common theme running throughout the book no matter the religion behind the person.  For each person interviewed there is a photo and a story and then an identifying tag line for that person.  I requested that they not identify me by my religion because I didn’t want to be lumped in to a certain way of thinking based on my religion.  Even so, I realize NOT stating my religion did lump me into a group for some.  

What would I call myself though? Believer in God? Absolutely.  Seeker? You bet.  I was predominately brought up in a Christian environment with Episcopal, Baptist, Unity, and metaphysical influence; however, in my adult years I’ve explored Judaism, Buddhism, the Red Man’s Way, Self Realization Fellowship and am about to learn about the Baha’i Faith as well.  Yogananada, our great guru in SRF informs that it is a good thing for one to settle down into some avenue, whatever avenue it is that you choose to learn and study about God and go deeply within this vehicle.  We all end up at the same place.  I see the wisdom and the value in this decree and I feel I will always be curious about other avenues.  I’m not exploring in a frenetic way, but rather a curious way with the intent to find the common meeting ground. 

The very back cover of the book says it best, “It has never been more clear that we are all in this together” 

Ho!