I was recently invited to spend a few days in a Sufi community here on the East Coast. As a guest, I wanted to show respect and try to follow their traditions. I was concerned that in my relative ignorance of their customs, I might say or do something that would offend the members of the community. But I need not have worried. The community was entirely open and welcoming right from the start. They took me in with open arms and treated me like a beloved sister. I am sure that I did make mistakes, and I probably said things that were offensive. But no one in the group seemed to notice or care. If they were offended, they chose not to let that get in the way. They chose to prioritize love and belonging. Through their words and actions, they showed me that they loved me completely with the love of Allah/God. I don’t think I’ve ever been welcomed into a spiritual or religious community in quite that way before. But now that I’ve experienced how wonderful it is, I want to work toward being a person who welcomes others in the same way. We are all on this spiritual journey together. It is through love that we will find the way.