An Ode to Oman

I have always lived as a member of a minority religious tradition in a predominantly Christian society. Upon arriving in Oman, one of the first feasts for my senses was the experience of being in a Muslim society. The wafting smell of Frankincense upon exiting the plane in the airport, the prominence of opulent mosques along the roadside, the witnessing of people in Omani garb, and the sounds of the call to prayers transported me to a place that felt strangely comfortable despite its foreignness. I was in Oman for an Interfaith Photovoice project at the Al Amana Centre. I had met up with two of my soon-to-be lifelong friends in this cohort, two Lutheran women from Finland. One of them had interned in Oman and said that she felt most at peace, at home and welcome in Oman. So maybe this place wasn’t making this impression on me because of my personal spirituality, maybe it was just entrancing?… The process of taking part in Interfaith Photovoice was the fodder for deep, meaningful friendships and embodied learning that will live on with us for our lifetimes.

Read the full article on the Kaufman Interfaith Institute’s website.