I’ve taken a hiatus from my blog for a while, because I’ve had more thinking to do than talking (or typing). Sometimes, you have to just sit back and rest for a while in the shelter of contemplation before your words are of use to anyone.
Husband and I have finally found the spiritual community we were looking for in a Santa Cruz Quaker church. When I thought of Quakers, the first thing that came to mind were images of the Amish and Mennonites; people who look like a picture of the 1800s (we’ve all seen the Quaker Oat box). However, I couldn't have been more wrong, and thank God I didn’t limit myself to pre-concieved notions I’d gained from breakfast foods. Actually, I think I’m the most conservatively dressed in the whole church (more on that later).
The Quakers are actually a band of “odd ducks” (as described by a practicing Quaker), that gather together for weekly Sunday Meetings. The Meetings are similar to average Sunday religious services, except no one is in charge, and no one says anything (So, essentially, it’s nothing like average Sunday religious services). Quakers believe that no human can be closer to God than anyone else who actively seeks God, therefore there are no ministers, pastors, priests, or clergy of any kind. Longstanding church members are collectively appointed as Clerks, who orchestrate the Meetings, but do not preach or receive payment. Everyone is equal.
A typical Quaker Meeting involves sitting together in silence and stillness for an hour. An hour can be a long time for someone who isn’t used to it (ahem), but luckily for my sake, it wasn’t as intimidating as it sounds. People meditate or pray, depending on what moves them, and occasionally someone will stand and say something very profound and thought-provoking, or sing a song. Whatever the Spirit moves them to say or do. There is no right or wrong way to connect with God, and every path is respected.Quakerism has its roots in Christianity, but it is by no means limited to Christians. Quakerism is more of a spiritual practice. You can be a Pagan Quaker, a Jewish Quaker, a Buddhist Quaker (There are all three and more at our church), or however people want to blend being a Quaker with their faith. Husband and I consider ourselves more along the lines of Everything Quakers. I believe there is no solitary spiritual path, but many meaningful paths amongst many meaningful spiritualities.
Sitting through a Quaker meeting is an experience, especially if you’re particularly attuned to other people’s energy. The two times I’ve gone, I’ve felt propelled into a deep meditation along with the meditative energy of the fellow Friends (as they’re called) around me. The communicative channel to God feels clear and open, and I feel free to speak to the sacred, ask questions, and just savor the energy around me. After a long time of doing this, however, I start to come back down to earth, and spend the remaining time in a sort of spiritual afterglow. Everyone around me is still sitting in peace with God, and being in the presence of something so sincere makes me feel okay sitting still for so long. There is no need to fidget or move. I am at peace.I never thought myself to be a good meditator until I experienced a Meeting. There is something about the collective meditative energy that doesn’t just guide me to the sacred, it hurls me, ready or not.
