SPICEblog

In our meeting we are struggling mightily with what to put in our "Welcoming Pamplet". Here is my two cents:

Quakerism is about trusting people that they can know or find their own spiritual path or places. We believe that within each of us is a seed of inspiration that given time to grow in a quiet supportive place will transform us and heal us of all worldly troubles.

Much more than that we have difficulty saying because there is a world of difference between the words we use concerning that transformative thing and the thing itself within. The words themselves do so often lead us astray.

But if we wait and labour to know, understand, and allow ourselves to be guided by, the motives, leadings, teachings of the thing within we will be transformed and healed.

Distinguish between the words without concerning the thing, and the thing itself within; and wait and labour then to know, understand, and be guided by, the motives, leadings, drawings, teachings, quickenings, etc. of the thing itself within.
-- Isaac Penington 1673

We all experience something within, maybe it is the same thing, maybe not. Certainly any attempt at presenting it with words and concepts will be flawed.

How silly to fight over the flawed thing when the real thing is right there inside of us.

Quakers believe that every person is fully capable of knowing and understanding life's deepest and most profound truths through quietly looking inward. Many of us believe there is a presence/spirit beyond ourselves that we can only hear when we are quiet enough to listen for it. In this tradition we sit in silence together without clergy or liturgy seeking these truths.

Our goal in Meeting for Worship is to create a safe haven for all of our spiritual paths and places. Because profound truths can never be completely captured by words or concepts, we know our experiences here are both shared and unique. If Quakers were asked what was happening in this silence the answers would be varied. Some worshipers would say they are praying, still others are listening to God. Some are using this time to meditate, some would say they are seeking a connection to the everlasting present. Still others are discerning their right path to making this a better world. All of us find this experience transforming, healing and often joyful.

Anyone so moved may rise and speak. We have found that after someone speaks, it is best to allow time for reflection and a return to a deep silence before another rises to speak. These messages are not a dialogue, but sometimes when those present are uniquely connected, all the messages in a meeting form a single tapestry.