More about Yearly Meeting

It's been a while, and some of the things I was intending to talk about were discussed on other blogs (notably) the NEYM Young Friend's Minute about the quality of worship. However, I have a highly anecdotal mind, and the things that stick out from the sessions for me were not really connected to big "issues" or "questions". They were all very personal, in the context of the larger gathering.

Strangely, one of the more spiritually gathered and important moments for me was the one session where I was a "microphone spacer". They used to call the position "microphone runners", but realized that the name gave the wrong idea. It was a complete accident - I didn't even sign up. Someone cancelled, and I stepped in. Basically, the job is: when someone stands to speak in open worship, or in a session, you wait for acknowledgement from the clerk, and slowly and measuredly walk up to the indicated person and hand them the microphone. The end. There were a couple of things that were great about it. First of all, showing up at sessions without feeling "a part" of things was stressful for me. I always want to be behind the scenes - involved in the "real thing", not a spectator. I hadn't helped to plan it or anything, and being able to volunteer on the spot, even for something so minor made me feel like a part of the community. Deciphering who the clerk was indicating, and trying to move respectfully without hurrying when I saw the waiting speaker looking impatient, or feeling awkward when I passed someone who clearly wanted to speak but hadn't been recognized was a gentle challenge, and a reminder of how people-pleasing ways can sometimes get in the way of faithfulness. Also, eveyone did a great job of making me feel valued afterwards. It was such a little thing, but no less than 5 people came up and thanked me for it afterwards. It's not that I needed to be thanked or anything, but their acknowledgement made me feel a part of the group.

Meals were very important to me, as well. I found it daunting to try to start conversations just out of the blue, but every meal brought at least one new face and fascinating conversation and fellowship. Over the course of a few dinners, I became fast friends with a plain woman named Anna. She exuded warmth and joy and good humour, and we had conversations that burst at the seams with spirit. We discussed a lot of things close to our hearts and she told me some things about her journey to the Society of Friends and her plain conviction that hit very close to home and shed new light on some of my own thoughts. I have a standing invitation to visit their homestead in Maine.

I hadn't signed up for any worshops, since I was only going to be there a few days, and didn't want to start something I couldn't finish. On Monday, as I was wandering around thinking what I should do with myself during the worshop time, I checked the board and saw that there were a few 1-day workshops. I wandered over to Peterson Toscano's workshop and was moved to giggles and even a few misty-eyed moments. It was wonderful.

I went for a few late-night walks with Jeff. The stars were very thick - I've been living in cities for several years now and forgot how homesick I can get for a sky crusty with light. You could see the milky way and there were even meteors. It was perfect, very condusive to awe and worship. Lying on the grass and staring up, I felt some things knit together inside me.

Those are the main things I brought away with me from those three days of NEYM.