Log:
“No more talking, no more fun, Quakers meeting has begun.” This was my previous exposure to the Quakers. As a child my mom used this phrase to trick us into having a silent contests with her. Today I expanded that impression as I walked to the edge of Arcata (off Q Street) for a friends meeting. I was a tad late due to the walk being farther than I had guessed and faulty directions. I heard singing and entered a room to find an assortment of couches and chairs arranged in a square filled with people raising their voices. Mid-song I was promptly handed a song book and invited to have a seat. I’ve never been able to read music, but I found the melody of the group and went with it. I even found a couple of the harmonies. It felt really good to click with the people and the music. After a few good songs, the silent part of the service began. At first it was hard to concentrate on internal thoughts, because I wanted to watch everyone in the room. I too found a comfortable silence and was able to open myself to spiritual connections. Periodically, friends stood and spoke if they felt moved. The first message shared today was in remembrance of a friend who had passed away. We were reminded not to get so caught up in our own lives that we don’t care for the world. The second sharing was in reference to a Biblical story. The woman explained that she understands the Bible by reading bits and meditating on them. I found this interesting as that’s what we were all doing in the Quaker meeting, listening and then meditating. She told the parable about Jesus cursing a fig tree that did not feed the people, just as he cursed the church that did not meet the spiritual needs of the people. She emphasized that a personal relationship with God filled her spiritually. The third person to share explained that empathy would make the world a better place and children should grow up not only knowing the word, but the practice of empathizing with the world. I appreciated all of the lessons shared in the service. After the silent time, we rose and shared recent life events. They asked about birthdays, so I told them I was excited to be 20. Joyfully, they sang “Happy Birthday” to me. I thanked them and assured them that indeed it had been a happy birthday.
I couldn’t help but think of Rumi’s “Zero Circle” during the meeting today. It’s one of my favorite poems and surprisingly applicable to the Quaker meeting.
* * *
Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Unable to say yes or no.
Then a stretcher will come from grace to gather us up.

We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say we can, we're lying.
If we say No, we don't see it,
That No will behead us
And shut tight our window onto spirit.

So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness
* * *
After the meeting I continued wandering and stumbled upon some stunningly ripe blackberries. It was an amazing moment, feeling spiritually filled by the berries; not unlike the surprise fulfillment that comes from my church sampling.
When I got back into town I had an insatiable urge to write, after not talking for an hour I had a lot to say to myself. Needless to say I had a very full day.

Questions:
-The even curious, should SENS have a term limit for directors? After talking with Kati today I think it would be hard to be at Berea and not be in SENS, how will we both feel about that in a year?
-How prevalent is the Quaker religion?
-As the summer draws to a close, I’m finding that more and more stories are tying themselves up neatly in my mind and morals are being revealed. How much more will I learn in these final two weeks?

Feelings:
I felt completely overwhelmed today by the blackberries, it was such a rich connection.

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