Let Our Light Shine Brightly

The comments reflected in this particular entry are directed to fellow silent worship Friends. However, I hope everyone will continue to read this. I’m writing this to spark debate, dialogue, and commentary. So please chime in on the comments area at the end of this entry.

1. Some Friends say that it is hard to describe what being Quaker means or is. Sometimes it’s almost easier to say what we’re not.

My Comment- The vision of the Religious Society of Friends is not uniform, but it is powerful and can be powerfully communicated. Equality before God and others. Direct mystical access to the source through expectant waiting. Our witness for Peace and Justice. The sacredness of every moment. A community of prayer, service and dialogue. A home for seekers. Tolerance through the belief that God finds you in the place that you are (many paths). A dynamic history that provides hundreds if not thousands and tens of thousands of role models for living powerfully in the world.

It’s worth explaining what Quakerism is. No apologies necessary.

2. Some say that learning Quakerism is complex or at least lengthy and we need to find a way to communicate it without complexity. After all, Quakers believe in simplicity…

My Comment- The depth (not complexity) of Quaker practice is astonishing and should be cherished. You can spend a lifetime deepening your understanding and practice. The fact that many Quakers also learn practice techniques from other paths only enriches the possibilities of a life lived on a Quaker path. This is one of the most beautiful things about Quakerism and should be powerfully communicated to those who seek us.

The richness of Quaker practice adds to its effectiveness. There is no reason to make Quakerism into a sound bite. The basics may be simple, but we can spend a lifetime getting to a deep place with them. This is good news. Quakerism is process. It’s about becoming, not arriving.

3. Some say that being a Friend requires too great of a commitment for most contemporary Americans.

My Comment- Quakerism is not intended to be the religion of all humanity. This is why there are so many paths. People’s minds and spirits do not hear in the same way. Having said this, Quakerism speaks powerfully to those who seek a path of justice, altruism, and personal transformation. The fact that hundreds of thousands of Americans are learning Buddhist spiritual practice speaks to the deep need for a process of transformation based in being centered, quiet and contemplative, of being mystical. Thank God for Buddhism. We, as Quakers, should make no apology for the commitment required of walking a Quaker path. Quaker practice is valuable and worthy of a deeply rooted commitment to transform our lives and the world.

4. Some say Outreach and Prosetylization are the same thing.

My Comment- Not at all. Not in the least. Prosetylization is when someone believes that you must practice their belief system. It is the process of the teacher trying to make the prospective student into a carbon copy of themselves. Outreach is not this. Outreach is simply the process of making Quakerism available to those who are seeking, to those who may find value in its process. Whether these people become Quaker is of no consequence to the person who conducts true outreach. True outreach is an act of spiritual hospitality. It is an act of service to others to find and take what they need so they can find that of God in themselves and others.

5. Some silent worship Quakers are concerned that unprogrammed Quakerism is dying and is largely composed of mature members.

My comment- Yes. Silent worship Quakerism is dying. Quaker practitioners are aging and there are fewer every year. It is dying not because it is an unworthy path (Though, if it is of no use, it should die. Paths exist to serve others, not for their own sake.). It is dying because too many Quakers seem to believe that Prosetylization and Outreach are the same. It’s dying because too many Quakers seem to feel that being contemplative and doing outreach are incompatible. It’s dying because many seem to think others are uninterested and so they keep it to themselves. This is the biggest problem.

I’m going to share a story…

I was traveling to see people and stopped to have breakfast in a little town in Colorado. A friend (not the capital “F” variety) joined me and brought someone I did not know. My new acquaintance was told by my friend that I walked a Quaker path. The acquaintance’s face lit up. “What is that?” she asked. For the next hour she peppered me with questions about the Quaker path. I could not evade or sidetrack her. She was intense. At the end she exclaimed, “If I had known all of this twenty years ago, I would have lived a different life!” I sat stunned, moved, elated, and saddened all at the same time. This person grew up in Philadelphia. She had heard of Quakers all her life, but she never met a Quaker that would explain what it meant.

To borrow and butcher a phrase from the Bible: it’s time to stop hiding our light under a bushel.

6. Same say Quaker practice cannot appeal to the young, especially to Gen Xers raised on TV and video games.

My Comment- Wrong. I came to Quakerism from Buddhist study. I also worked for an international Buddhist organization for two years. These are experiences for which I am deeply grateful. Teachings for which I am deeply grateful. I saw twenty something year olds who took Buddhist ordination vows and shaved their heads. This was deeply moving and was a joy to share their sense of union at having committed to a path. These kids were flying to India to take teachings. The commitment level was unbelievable. Some of them went on month long silent retreats. Quakerism, especially now, in these times could speak to many. Unfortunately we hide it and thousands and thousands of people in their twenties and thirties go without a spiritual home.

Conclusion- Quakerism is a dynamic, committed, contemporary faith. It offers a rich heritage and a rich present that speaks powerfully to those who are looking for a path that is open, committed to dialogue, focused on personal transformation and dedicated to societal transformation through justice and compassion. Quakers have always tried to walk the talk. This is our testament. People are looking. If we believe in Social Justice, it’s not just about feeding people bread. It’s about starting with the source of our suffering, our minds and hearts. This is why Quakerism exploded into the world in the seventeenth century. It spoke to people. They were so moved they Quaked when they rose to speak. This is, in part, how we got our name. Quakerism’s powerful nature, message and process are why it’s needed now. It’s time to walk powerfully in the world, living intensely from our hearts and minds. It’s time to make Quakerism transparent to the world.