Rev. Lori on Our Quaker Forebears and The Gift of Silence
A version of this reflection was originally published in the previous week’s Friday Flyer.
Hello Good People,
I find myself in the unanticipated synchronous moment of being immersed this week in the Quaker community of Monteverde, Costa Rica leading up to our service on Quakerism. Didn’t realize that when planning the schedule but fabulously serendipitous. My experience of Quaker meeting up here is interesting. First of all, it feels very UUish. There are Jewish Quakers, atheist Quakers, Buddhist Quakers, earth based Quakers. It almost doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are willing to practice community in silence and respect, holding peace and community as central tenets. And sing the hymns from the hymnal and bring a dish to potluck after service. I was forgiven for not bringing one being a visitor and all.
Open and affirming, liberal, environmentally focused (especially here) and justice focused, everyone is equal….and here is the theology part, everyone is understood to have their own unique experience of the Divine that informs them how to live their life. There doesnt need to be a preacher or priest to interpret scriptures and tell you how to live. Yes you should live the 10 commandments. However all the grey areas of life are explained to you directly by your experience of Divine. Again, sounds very UU ish. And just like at our Church there are some mighty fine cooks judging by the dishes at the potluck.
Accompanying people as they have their own spiritual experience and trusting that wherever they are at on that journey is exactly where Spirit has led them. Or at least is holding them in that space. Holding tight to that realization is so helpful when trying not to judge someone. They are where they are and they are doing the best with what has been given them. If it isn’t acceptable to you, you do not have to be present to it, but in your spiritual path, you must accept that is where Spirit has them right now and whatever is going on is their task to face. They are working on it or through it or being worked on.
Ironic that I will be preaching about Quakerism rather than just holding us in silence. But I will make space for some silence also as we explore our own direct experience of the Divine in community!
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford