I just want to acknowledge the story that Scott Simon had on Weekend Edition Saturday on national Public Radio. You might remember there was a terrible story of human apathy back in the 60’s of a young woman attacked on a street corner in NYC. She called for help for a long time and no one, no one came to help her or even called the police, though many heard her cries for help. On the anniversary of this story, there was an interview with her lover of one year at that time. The woman recounted her loss mourned in secret after identifying the body for police. I just want to say to my lesbian sisters that I grieve for all the violence visited upon your lives, past and present. I am so glad that we have moved along this road together, that we have many victories to celebrate and so much more to do.
On another note, I have been noticing the visual images that come to mind during prayer. In the last decade or so, I tend to bring the image of the night sky when I begin my prayers. It’s as though the infinite sky is the best match I can come up with to address the Divine, the Holy Spirit, the Great Spirit, or however one names the addressee for prayers. Seems to me, I didn’t use to use an image but this one helps me keep from turning the Divine into some big ol white guy on a cloud who is the grouchy landlord of the Sunday School stories. I know that when big trouble comes, people, myself and others, have a hard time not turning to big daddy god to make it all OK. And I think this is logical, but shows the least understanding of the best of what Quakerism and Jesus have brought us. And I am wondering, what images help you all in prayer? Are there images, pictures, mind-forms that help you begin/get into prayer/reverence/Light?
With much love and respect for this gathered corner of queer Quakers,
John
PS Yes, most of the snow is gone and suddenly the temps have dropped and 2, yes TWO, snow storms are on their way to us. March is like a blind date, you’ve got to watch them very closely.