I’m a Quaker
Abigail Rowse reflects on the words: ‘I’m a Quaker. Ask me why.’
I’m a Quaker because I know I can enter a Meeting for Worship or any other Quaker setting and know that I am accepted exactly as I am: a lesbian woman with dyspraxia and anxiety. I know that my close friend, an atheist, is just as welcome.
I’m a Quaker because I know that wherever my life takes me I will be supported and nurtured by Friends. I could become interested in Islam or lose my faith in a God completely, and I could still worship with Quakers.
I’m a Quaker because silent worship allows me to recharge, an hour to pause after a week of being on fast-forward. Spoken ministry can powerfully speak to me – or, at the very least, teach me to be patient and allow me to understand another perspective.
I’m a Quaker because of our awareness of ‘God at work in the ordinary activities… in our work and friendships, in our sorrows as well as in our joys’ (Advices & queries 7). God isn’t just found in one building but everywhere. The Light isn’t just found when you’re at your best, when you’re feeling the most faith, but all the time, every day.
I’m a Quaker because I’m proud to be a part of a community that genuinely tries to treat all people equally because of a profound belief that ‘all are cherished by God’ (Advices & queries 3). I love that our testimony to equality isn’t just an empty platitude, but a real attempt to change the world.
I’m a Quaker because our spiritual book, Quaker faith & practice, begins with a list of ‘advices and queries’ which challenge me in new ways every time I read them. I’m not told what to think or say, but to form my own opinions and live by my deepest convictions.
I’m a Quaker because it allows me to be fully immersed in community life. There’s no small group of individuals ‘in charge’ – everyone is responsible for our little corner of the world. We give of ourselves what we can but nothing is mandatory. I have grown so much by giving service to my Quaker community.
I’m a Quaker because our rich history is something I feel connected to. It is a movement that has supported the abolition of slavery, won a Nobel Peace Prize, and successfully campaigned for equal marriage. We’re not perfect – no one is – but I’m proud of our often brave attempts at seeking justice.
I’m a Quaker because we are concerned about more than just humankind: ‘We do not own the world, and its riches are not ours to dispose of at will. Show a loving consideration for all creatures, and seek to maintain the beauty and variety of the world’ (Advices & queries 42). We care passionately about the planet we inhabit and all life.
I’m a Quaker because the Religious Society of Friends is a living, breathing faith. We’re willing to learn from our mistakes, react to the culture around us and update our practices. We refuse to bury our heads in the sand and we respond to what is happening on Earth today.
I’m a Quaker because many of my close friends are Friends. I can meet a Quaker for the first time and have a conversation that goes far beyond small talk. We know each other in ‘the things that are eternal’ (Quaker faith & practice 2.01).
I’m a Quaker.
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