Comparing Quaker Experiences
I was first introduced to Quakerism in the 6th grade when I started to attend Friends Seminary, a Quaker school in downtown Manhattan. I spent four years worshiping in their two story meeting house, becoming familiar with the red cushions and the sound of cars and ambulences wirly by. We met there daily, mondays for 20 minutes of silence, tuesdays for 10 and 10 minutes of announcements, wednesdays for class meeting, thursday for advisor meeting, and friday for 20 minutes. Back then, 20 minutes seemed like an eternity, little did I know that I would be required to sit for an hour at my new school. It was in this Meeting House that I shared my first message. It was the day after Obama's election in 2008, the room was vibrating with hope and positive energy, it was a popcorn meeting, meaning the moment one person sat down the next person stood up. I shared an anedctode from my Auntie Heather, who was so grateful for the Black Americans paving the way for her children to succeed in this country. My message floated in the sea of words that day.
My next Quaker community i became a part of was my high school, Westtown, the oldest co-educational school in the country. I consider Westtown the place my spirituality and connection to Quakerism blossomed. Meeting for worship here took place on thursdays for 45 minutes and sundays for an hour. The longer worship times allowed me the space to dive into the spiritual practice and really grow fond for of the silence. I came to know myself in that space and became a reflection of the community I was in. My senior year, during one of the first sunday meetings, someone stood up and shared a message that resonated with me and I feel encapuslates the meeting experience. He said meeting for worship is our spiritual well, the place we can go to quench the thirst in our souls, and also to give to repleanish the healing supply.
The newest Quaker community I have become a part of is the Claremont Friends Meeting. It is different from the others because it is not required I attend meeting, but now it is my choice. Because it is not connected with a school, the age demographic is the most diverse I've been a part of. I appreciate the wisdom of the elders, however, because being surrounded by people my age limits my perspective.
In addition to these communities, I have also worshiped with Beccles Quaker Meeting in Suffolk, England. Having this experience with English Quakers in a more conservative environment was really interesting. They had pamphlets and reading material that was more Christian focused than any of the Quaker communities I've been a part of. The room was a small room with chairs arranged in a cirlce, it was clearly a small and aging community.
Quakerism is a religion, but it is a also a community and a means of tapping into inner spirituality. My Quaker experiences have deepend the meaning of my life as well as began my spiritual journey. Living with Quaker values an attending meeting for worship is now part of my being.