Members of the Israeli Scouts Friendship Caravan performed recently at Abbey Delray North.

—  from my latest InterFaith21 essay in The Coastal Star.

"Proud Papa" Shelly Weil, who for 38 years has been hosting the exemplary cultural program.

More scenes:

— C.B. Hanif

Last, over on HanifOnMedia.com, from Florida Weekly, I weigh in on the latest WikiLeaks release — with a little help from my friends.

Don’t hesitate to leave your comments and ideas. With appreciation.

— C.B. Hanif

This month’s Coastal Star, First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach’s Rev. Aaron Janklow and the popular TnT — or Twenties ’n’ Thirties — young professionals group he leads:

Young minister succeeding on his mission

And this month’s Look Inside our Places of Worship, the amazing story of the congregation whose serene, picturesque sanctuary once was a Boca Raton Air Force Base chapel:

First Church of Christ, Scientist

For more on Baku, switch channels to HanifOnMedia. From here in Azerbaijan, the former Soviet republic, I see that my latest InterFaith21 essay, on the Dalai Lama’s message at Florida Atlantic University, is on tap back home in the new March edition of The Coastal Star.

There wasn’t space to mention my late blessed mother taking me to hear the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak years ago at then-Coppin State College in Baltimore. Or  the numerous giants I took my own children to hear. But Tibet’s great Buddhist leader left me with good thoughts of what’s to come from the kids in whom he planted his seeds of compassion.

Here are some scenes, and some other Dalai Lama @ FAU links:

I hardly have a great camera, and wouldn’t yet know what to do with one, but I like composing shots such as this of audience on the right and reflections on the left.

Dalai Lama Tells Crowd of 3,000 at FAU: ‘Change Oneself and Change the World’

Cerabino: (Part of) Dalai Lama’s message: You’ve got to be able to laugh – at yourself

Dalai Lama: Message of internal compassion comes to South Florida

Dalai Lama Speaks At Nova Southeastern, FAU

The Coastal Star Interfaith21: Pensive student crowd hears message of peace

Listening in as the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet spoke at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, it didn’t take me long to decide on nuances to share that might be different from others in the crush of media. Among the most striking was the juxtaposition of the man and the kids.

Students comprised the majority of the 3,000 at the FAU Center Feb. 24. Elsewhere on campus, another 2,500 students and faculty watched a simulcast in the auditorium. What a good thing, I thought as I watched them pay rapt attention, that they are getting to hear this wonderful human being.

The 74-year-old exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader is the personification of humility spawned of wisdom. “Some people regard me as all-knowing,” he said. “But I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow.”

Most pleasantly surprising was the sage’s humor. No stuffed robe he. That became apparent a few minutes into his hour-long talk-and-question session as he removed his shoes to adopt a lotus position in the oversized chair.

This was not the occasion to discuss Tibet’s occupation by China that has made him an exile. His message was about how compassion leads to peace and begins in each individual. “We need peaceful resolution,” he said, “in order to carry out real dialogue.”

I was aware that as a result of meetings of major world religious leaders, the Dalai Lama was close with two of my recently deceased heroes: Chiara Lubich, who became known as the “Blessed Lady” of the worldwide Catholic lay movement the Focolare, and Imam W.D. Mohammed, who was eulogized as “America’s Imam.”

I wished I could have asked him about the loss of his friends. I also lamented who could replace such spiritual giants among humanity including him, who many call “His Holiness.”

Initial cloudy thoughts quickly gave way to sunshine musings about the kids who shared such a rare space with him.

It was a joy to see the students’ pensive faces as His Holiness the Dalai Lama planted good seeds for what comes next.

Not to make any comparisons, but who, when he was in college, predicted the presidency of Mrs. Obama’s son? The message of the sage of Tibet, and the students’ respect for it, served as yet another reminder that for humanity, the best is yet to come.

C.B. Hanif is a writer, editor and media and inter-religious affairs consultant. Find him at www.interfaith21.com.

Professional awards and other recognitions always are special. Although not the biggest, this Excellence in Journalism Award from the Florida Press Club is especially so. Not only for having been bestowed by my journalism peers, and in a time of unprecedented change in our profession. But also for coming in a new venue, The Coastal Star newspaper, as well as in a new arena of writing: on matters of faith, and, because I didn’t know my work had been entered.

My editor, Mary Kate Leming did that. Here’s an excerpt from her email citing the results:

“AND: The Coastal Star won five awards in the latest Florida Press Club contest:

“Info-Graphic Presentation – Bonnie Lallky-Seibert  - 1st Place – Class C & D

“Artist Illustration – Bonnie Lallky-Seibert – 1st Place – Class D

“Photo Illustration – Tim Stepien – 2nd place – Class C & D

“Feature Photo Essay – Staff – 1st place – Class D

“Religion Writing – C.B. Hanif – 3rd place – Class C & D

“And yes, Jerry (Lower, the paper’s publisher) also won a 2nd for Front Page Design for Florida Fishing Weekly….

“Thanks to all of you for your contributions to The Coastal Star. We couldn’t do it without such an experienced, professional team. Thank you. Mary Kate.”

It’ll be interesting to see which entry(ies) of mine the judges appreciated. I’m guessing the “Obama in Cairo” essay, whose lead played on my column (and blog) subtitle, “Uniting people of faith (or no particular faith) in the 21st century.”

The five awards in the newspaper’s first year illustrate again why I’ve lauded The Coastal Star.

But let me again thank our Maker, for my colleagues who produce the paper, for the Press Club recognition, and for you, my readers, supporters and advocates in whatever venue.