It is First Day at the Dover Friends Meeting House. Old windows frame bare branches against a brilliant blue sky, eliminating the need for stained glass. On this bench against the wall I center down, joining my spiritual community in the silent worship of Friends, listening for the teachings of the Friend. "Thy will, not my will," I pray. As I go quiet within in the quiet without, deep indigo waves of calm pulsate behind my eyes and soothe my soul, connecting me to the highest power. For nearly 240 years Friends have gathered here in Meeting and I feel deeply connected in this timeless place.
By coming through these doors each First Day "Way opens," as we Quakers say, for Meaning to come into my life. In this setting I am called to co-create Meaning with those with whom I share beliefs and values. This is where I move beyond myself and join others in a tradition of serving the Light, and seeing "that of God in everyone." The Quaker testimonies to peace, truth and integrity, justice and equality, simplicity and community call us to actualize these beliefs in our daily lives. It is a real challenge for me to live these testimonies in my own life and I don't do it at all perfectly. Yet Meaning comes in the joint effort to attend to these values in all we do.
In a short yet I thought eloquent chapter, Pink highlights some important thinkers who have illuminated the importance of meaning in human life. He discusses the work of Victor Frankl, the Dali Lama, Martin Seligman, and others who have explored this essential human need. To this list I would add Parker Palmer, a Friend who has dedicated his life to the spiritual elements of education. One of his earliest books is subtitled, "Education as a Spiritual Journey." After reading Pink's chapter, I wonder if we saw our vocation as more of a spiritual calling if so many young people would be so disenfranchised by the education system in this country. The political climate steers us away from this aspect, convincing us that to "go there" would be dangerous because we must separate church from state. Yet I am not advocating the elevation of any particular religion - just the integration of the search for meaning into the learners' daily lives, through helping them discover what has heart - and meaning - for them, so they can follow their own path. And, in that way, perhaps we would find more meaning for ourselves.
In a short yet I thought eloquent chapter, Pink highlights some important thinkers who have illuminated the importance of meaning in human life. He discusses the work of Victor Frankl, the Dali Lama, Martin Seligman, and others who have explored this essential human need. To this list I would add Parker Palmer, a Friend who has dedicated his life to the spiritual elements of education. One of his earliest books is subtitled, "Education as a Spiritual Journey." After reading Pink's chapter, I wonder if we saw our vocation as more of a spiritual calling if so many young people would be so disenfranchised by the education system in this country. The political climate steers us away from this aspect, convincing us that to "go there" would be dangerous because we must separate church from state. Yet I am not advocating the elevation of any particular religion - just the integration of the search for meaning into the learners' daily lives, through helping them discover what has heart - and meaning - for them, so they can follow their own path. And, in that way, perhaps we would find more meaning for ourselves.
2 comments:
Furr, thanks for the look see at your way cool blog!
Your photos of the Dover Meeting House give a clear vision of the calm simplisity of the Friends.
I can dig "the deep indigo waves pulsation behind your eyes," sorta ultra!
"Education as a Spiritual Journey" sounds great but we are hanging on a thin edge these days and the blades of the "Ritious" are cunning and sharp.
All love, Iory
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