Traverse City Record-Eagle

Perspectives, by various authors

August 27, 2011

Perspectives: Each swimmer has a stroke

By Al Lewis, Local columnist ----

Magic happens in the water. Recently, while swimming, I was thinking about a question one of my students had asked: "What is the difference between religion and spirituality -- and can I be spiritual without being religious?"

While swimming I noticed there were a number of lanes and in each lane a swimmer was moving through the water utilizing a different stroke. The purposes for being in the water were to increase health, lose unwanted weight and to feel more connected to the self and maybe even to the world around them.

I saw the pool as a metaphor for life itself; that all of us are thrust into the great ocean of life and that we spend many of our conscious moments floundering around, trying not to drown. We want to know who, what and why we are and what about us is unique, universal and timeless; how we are connected to others of our kind and to the universe in general.

We choose to believe there is more to life than biology and genetics. We want to believe there is something eternal, universal and timeless about what we experience, how we are experienced and how we perceive life.

That collective consciousness and question is what I identify as "spirituality."

But, remember, I said each swimmer was in his or her lane using a particular swimming stroke. I began to think of each type of stroke as a symbol for a different understanding or religious attitude about how to stay afloat and fully alive in the sea of life. Catholics, for example, might see the breast stroke as the way to navigate the waters, while Jews might feel more authentic using the side stroke; Protestants could see themselves using the crawl and certain Eastern traditions will be seen using the free style.

Some people, as they age and feel comfortable within their own traditions might even consider adapting the strokes of another religious group. They may not be leaving their lane, but appreciating there are other ways to negotiate with the waters of life.

Is one stroke more or less authentic or valuable than another? Can there be more than one way to be buoyant and purposely alive in the oceans of opportunity and experience? Is a Hindu's search for meaning more or less authentic than that of a Muslim, Christian or Jew? Do we not all have the same basic human and existential questions?

A writer well acquainted with swimming once commented, "When you're a swimmer, you have no one to compete against; the only thing that stands between a swimmer and the water is time." If we view religion as the way in which we choose to view and participate in life, competition has no significant role. The buoyancy, fluidity and cherished values of our lives will keep our heads and hearts above water. Spirituality becomes the universal question and search, and religion becomes the particular answer.

My particular faith tradition teaches that we can learn from all people and that there are multiple paths (or lanes) to God. I have studied and practiced Judaism for almost 60 years; but I have also been deeply influenced by the writings and personal relationship with Father Henri Nouwen. The works of Buddhist, Islamic and Protestant writers line my shelves and impact my values and writing.

Sarah Shahawy, a Muslim Egyptian-American and valedictorian of her graduating class at UCLA, shared the following in her Baccalaureate address to her fellow students:

"For our generation, exclusivism seems obsolete. No one can claim to hold the sole monopoly on truth. I firmly believe in the teachings of the Quran and the prophet, but my religion commands me to find meaning and value in other religions as well. I find beauty in the Bible's call to love, richness in the history of Jewish traditions, peace in Buddhism's call to compassion, wonder in the message of the Bhagavad Gita and splendor in the musicality of the Sikh kirtan."

I believe that Sarah and I and so many others are being quenched from shared wells of wisdom and experience. Spirituality and security within our own religious traditions have opened us up to the sweet and deeply satisfying waters that surround all people. I invite you to join us, even if you begin with dangling your toes in the pool of possibilities.

Rabbi Dr. Albert M. Lewis is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth El in Traverse City. He is a public speaker and author of "Soul Sounds: Reflections on Life," available at www.soulsoundsbook.com. Contact him through the Record-Eagle, 120 W. Front St., Traverse City MI 49684.

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