O  people ! Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.
                                                                                                               -- Baha u llah, founder of Baha'i faith

A heavy snow was falling one recent Saturday morning, but it did nothing to deter the local Baha'i community and members of Park United Church of Christ (UCC) from gathering for breakfast, followed by a class and discussion at the cozy and charming Dragonfly Artisan Tea Cottage on Main Street in downtown Sylvania.

The two communities had come together to enjoy a delicious breakfast offering a choice of spinach or ham quiche and to participate in a class and discussion presented by John Krochmalny of the Baha'i community.

The topic was "The Origins of Human Spirituality, " and John traced the development of  religion from its earliest roots in Sumeria and Mesopotamia. His informative presentation, enriched by contributions from the Rev. Ed Heilman, pastor of Park UCC, sparked lively discussion and additional contributions from the members of both faith groups.

The history of the development of religion is a shared history and one that forms the underpinnings of all history. Whether you are a believer or not, it still is easy to see, upon examination, that all history -- all wars,  all art, music, architecture, politics -- and all civilization have in their foundation a basic declaration of each society regarding man's conception of himself and of his relationship to the God of his understanding.

Everyone who was there that day proved to be quite knowledgable regarding this topic. The atmosphere was electric in the way in can be when everyone  is sharing information about a subject that is their passion.

The gathering was infused with the same spirit that that animates ToledoFAVs -- that is, sharing what interests we have in common, as it's the commonalities that will one day unite us as one people.