Not long ago, this poignant message was posted on the Internet:

Maybe someone can help me here? I consider myself a very spiritual person. I pray everyday and the Lord is very present in my life. I have been married for 8 1/2 years to a great man with whom I'm deeply in love with. We have overcome many obstacles during this time. But there is one present now that I really didn't think would concern me when I married my husband. We are different religions. Not only that but different races. When you're in love and young, these things really don't matter. But now years down the line, they are coming into play. I honestly don't believe my husband has the Lord in his life, and this bothers me very much. --Ally

How would you respond to Ally? Does she challenge her husband to accept a common path? Should he "convert"? Notwithstanding his being a loving father and husband, must she resolve her dissonance in marriage by choosing between him and God, or observe her faith in silence? These are very trying issues faced by interfaith couples all the time.

Perhaps Ally and her husband would not be going through this challenge now if they had communicated more effectively at the beginning of their relationship.