Holy convergence

May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you throughout the year.

I pause to consider those words on the Christmas cards I’m preparing to send. I remember how the peace of last December’s silent and holy night was too soon shattered by the devastating waves of a tsunami in Asia. I think of this year’s natural disasters—hurricanes, earthquakes and floods—and how the havoc they wreaked was exacerbated by human actions that alter ecosystems and perpetuate poverty.

I sadly note that wars still rage, AIDS still kills and people still starve in a world of plenty. Where is peace?

Then I remember the Holy Convergence.

The Holy Convergence happened the first Sunday in October at Peace Lutheran Church, Danville, Calif. It was sponsored by Interfaith-San Ramon Valley, comprised of a dozen faith communities including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i.