The Oneing Project

Note: The term "oneing" is borrowed from Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation who use the word to express the divine unity that stands behind all of the divisions, dichotomies, and dualisms in the world.(I highly recommend that you see Rohr's use of oneing at  https://cac.org/oneing-2016-11-25/) In the same vein I pray that through mutual conversations the words of Jesus "that they may be one" will become a bit closer to reality within our tribalized society. 

This project began as a quest to be faithful to my identity as a follow of Jesus as I listen to people around me as persons and friends rather than labels and enemies. I acknowledge that friends may have different perspectives than my own. That is fine.  Too often I/we only listen to those who think like ourselves and our lives become insular and disconnected with society. In some ways I am influenced by missionary E. Stanley Jones who lived in India and was known for what he called round table discussions in which he invited leading representatives of different faiths, including agnostics and atheists to openly listen to one another. Although my beginning point is one of simply listening, I hope that those who gift me with their time and story will be a part of a bigger story of hope for a divided society.

At this point, I do not know where this project will lead. This is not an academic exercise but rather my own way to explore what it means to share life with new friends.  My goal is to chat with as many people as possible from November 2020-November 2021. I am intentionally looking for people that I would not normally connect with who are distinctly different from me in relation to faith, gender identity, ethnicity, etc.  At minimum I selfishly hope that these conversations will result in new friends.  A bonus would be for the friendships to be a way to understand one another and the values that make us who we are.  Thus the title, “Oneing”. 

The project is divided in two sections.  I encourage you to start with the StoryCorps section then read the blogsite section.  The StoryCorps section will be interviews that give the "back-stage" perspectives of the friends being interviewed.  While the professions and lives of people are absolutely fascinating I begin by listening to people beyond their labels, professions or persona.  After listening to the StoryCorps interview, you can then connect to the blog site where I will give the "front-stage" perspective of the person. 

David Wesley