(f&f, quaker notes, elder care, overwhelm)

[elainegrey]

Friday, this weekend, and today are all about care for elders and the LGBTQ Quaker retreat, mostly.

I've not had much time to do much more as i've led communications for the retreat and ...

OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD I JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER REGISTRATION WTF Buttercup.

Exhale.

Anyhow, i want to record that i am clear that i should be writing to the meeting that holds my membership and ask for release. I need the space of waiting worship that is not part of the practice at Spring. They are working on issues of race, which i respect, but i don't think it would be pushing me as far as i want to be pushed. I think i could find better communities in which to work on antiracisim if that is what i am called to do as i have time for another community beyond here and my family and work. (I still feel very called to plants and ecosystem; while this is not an either/or, the both/and has the limit of my capacity.)

Meanwhile, the siren of "Behind! Behind! Behind!" is still screaming at me because there has been little time to get in order. I have missed your writing; i don't know when i will catch up -- or if i can. Good news is i have kept some of my morning rhythms going during these days -- it's just the computer time has been spent on the retreat.

Comments

[cmcmck]

I find it strange to imagine a Meeting where waiting isn't a thing as it's so much a thing here.

I value that silence so deeply and it's why I left the Church of England for Friends.

[elainegrey]

I'd been in that silence and waiting for years. When i moved here, i was spending so much quiet time in the yard, weeding things by hand, i think the years of practice were tiding me over into that meditative quiet. Now i'm using motor tools and shovels and hoes and it's not quite the same. I need the silence back. Plenty of meetings do have silence here, but there is a branch of Quakers that have become very church-like. This Meeting was veering away from that tradition towards the more traditional forms, but not as much as i needed.

[amaebi]

I am holding my thumbs for the bubble of peace within you to draw a little attention to itself, to help you feel you can depend on that peace.

[elainegrey]

o!

yes.

Thank you for speaking for it!