Who I Share That Bench With

I have a feeling that this blog is going to be like this - it takes some time for me to ruminate and give full flower to thought . It's been an especially busy time in life here in Central Coastal California. Three very busy committees( especially Nominating and the wonderful visiting we have been having with Friends and attenders-future post at the end of that process ) and a job outlook that has gone up and down( I made it through with out being laid off- hanging on for recovery!) have kept my focus kinda local. But I knew I would get to this and here we go-
I have found more gold in the pages of Testimony and Experience in Pacific Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice. The first bit is something I have carried in mind with me for a long time and resonates within me in the continual dialogue of theist/nontheist-
15 ...I am clear that we are a branch of the Christian church, even if to the majority of orthodox Christians our particularities may put us beyond the pale. Our capacity to hold within our fellowship those who cannot declare themselves Christian is part of our particular witness, not least to the Churches. Quoted by Roger Sturge, 1998
This Friend speaks my mind- I would feel impoverished of Spirit if I was not sharing the bench with all - and I would feel impoverished of Spirit if the Christocentric tradition of the Society were denied as well and left unpracticed. I came to a renewed love for Rabbi Jesus in this house and yet I know I would have been as spiritually nourished if I had maintained a nontheist view.
59 Our society has had opportunity to learn, by sorrowful lessons, the danger of exalting too exclusively the Christ within, on one hand, and Christ without, on the other. We have need ever to guard alike against that refined and emasculated spirituality, which undervalues the Bible and the outward means of grace, and even the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of God, and that no less fatal outwardness and superficiality which would substitute profession, and prescription, and ritual, for saving faith and all the soul-renewing and life-transforming verities of Christian experience, realized through the imparted energy of the Spirit of Christ within. Joel Bean 1880 I think to be open to the Seed growing within we would do well to listen carefully to Friend Joel's words. I know I keep coming back to them. I think that's probably enough to for now. More to come.

Testimony and Experience of Friends

I have had the joy of facilitating dialogues of Advices and Queries on third First Day of the month, but in the last few month's our Ministry and Worship Committee has taken a different direction in reflection. We have been using PacYM's( thanks RobinM) Faith and Practice Pt.III- Testimony and Experience- the chapter of quotes and observations from individuals,groups and historic figures, to get a larger view and variety in the discussion. Oh my, the depth of thought and the depth of discussion that comes out of the tenor of these words. I'm going to quote two of the passages that I brought up for dialogue this past First Day and hope they give a wider group of F/friends some food for thought about where RSOF is today and could be tomorrow. And I hope to encourage others to explore their T&M in their YM's Faith and Practice.

14 There is just one further analogy between families and religious movements that must be noted. Families die out. So do religious movements. But here the analogy ends. For the end of a family line is a natural thing- too few marriages,too few children,epidemic disease. A religious movement, however, dies only when the Spirit that gave it birth is lost to the movement, when the movement itself turns away from the eternal Spirit which is its reason for being. Gordon M. Browne, JR.,1986

41 We who are members of the Society of Friends have little to fall back on except as our experience with truth. We cannot resort to ritual or creed or ecclesiastical decisions for guidance. We must find our way by seeing the hand of God at work in the weaving of the fabric of daily life. Clarence E. Pickett

Semi-Controversial Post: Politics and being Quaker

I will be glad to see Election Day come-and none too soon. I just don't like politics and look forward to the last rhetoric and nasty ad and begone. I try to be a responsible person and follow the process, but I can't even stand watching the debates. And I feel guilty. And conflicted. And as a Friend, I'm torn between those Quakers I admire who thrive on political involvement and see it as part of their spiritual calling( or wouldn't call it that but something just as inspired) and the Quietist witness of believing that"speaking truth to power" means to not be a part of that power (i.e. voting) and addressing that power from the outside. It seems for myself to try and be that interested in the political process, I would be crushing something of the Seed inside. I'm hoping there's some light out there that will give me more perspective.

I'll Start Now Before I Fall Off My Quaker

The title comes from the Bruce Cockburn song "Tibetan Side of Town". The verse has a reference to "tom kelly's bike rumbling down". One of my favorite books is" Testament of Devotion" by Thomas Kelly which is one of the great classics of devotional lit. and one of my guides in my life as a Friend. Thomas Kelly was rumored to be quite a daring motorcycle rider. Is Bruce referring to this same T.K.? I let the mystery be.

But it seems an appropriate title for an adventure in Blogging in Quaker space. I hope to be joining in conversation about being a working class Friend, theology ,the Bible , practical living with the growing Seed within, and the convergent dialogue.

And speaking of living with the Seed within- I expect at times I will probably " fall off my Quaker" ( my less inspired self---- phrase courtesy of my sister ). Please gently guide me back. More to work with in upcoming posts.