09/01/2026
We love interfaith friendships at the Interfaith Institute. Prof Syeed and Rev. Babette Chatman have been sharing the stage for years at Augsburg and in the community. We love to see Muslim and Christian women, and people of all faith and belief traditions collaborate!
Today they did the opening blessing for the *biggest and most religiously diverse* incoming class yet!
After Pastor Babette opened, our executive director Prof Syeed offered these words:
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease” is found in Surah Ash-Sharh (94:5-6) Quran (Recite in Arabic)
In this moment, today, as we gather to begin a new year of university, I look across this hall and see your beautiful faces.
I am reminded that many may be showing up today with a hardship, with a burden, with an unfulfilled promise.
God promises us that in these kernels of complexity and difficulty there is a grain of hope, and some day a moment of unburdening and ease.
How do we get to that place of collective calm one day?
We do it by showing up like you did today, together. By holding each other up when someone else falls. By asking for help when we need it, to have the humility to know not every day can any of us be perfect. By learning new ways of being and new people who make our lives richer in the practices of care and hope.
We come to that place of promised calm by building community, talking to that person we never imagined we would by small smiles and hellos to one another.
I greet you with peace, Salam and Shalom and a promise today is not forever. The calm will come, and we will struggle together. In the Augsburg way holding on to the belief that there is a better world we are co creating now in small ways where all are loved, safe, alive and flourishing “
