Thought for the Week: Bob Lovett comes to Light

‘Light is transformative, but so is Love’

‘Is it possible for us to re-create that Divine Light, empowering Friends to deal more adequately with their difficulties?’ | Photo: by Rihards Dicis on Unsplash

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life’. This was central to Fox’s understanding of direct communion with God, and of the Truth and insight that such communion would reveal about the world and ourselves.

Quakers share a lot of Light. But do we all share a common understanding of the nature of that Light? As part of a series of dialogues exploring some basic Quaker concepts, friends in Exeter recently explored their understanding of the much loved expression ‘Holding in the Light’.

After short personal introductions by members of the Learning and Growing in Faith Committee, worship sharing was opened up.

The contributions were richly varied and deeply felt. Friends spoke of the power of knowing that they were being metaphorically held; of the tremendous sense of reassurance experienced during times of difficulty; one Friend recounted a ministry offered by a visiting Friend after Meeting had been asked to hold someone in the Light. She said she had often wondered what we meant when we said that and it was only when she had been seriously ill, and was being held in the Light, that she experienced a sense of calmness and reassurance knowing that, whatever happened, all was going to be well – a real Julian of Norwich moment.

The questions came freely. Should we be holding in the Light those whose actions are contrary to our testimonies and not just beloved Friends in difficulty? What is the difference between ‘holding in the Light’ and prayer? Do those who are unaware they are being held in the Light feel in some way empowered? What do we feel we are doing when we hold someone in the Light? Is there a particular power generated when we collectively hold someone in the Light?

The 1959 Book of Discipline Revision Committee suggested that ‘The Society of Friends might be thought of as a prism through which the Divine Light passes to become visible in a spectrum of many colours’. When we collectively hold someone in the Light is it possible for us to bring our various talents to bear and re-create that Divine Light, empowering Friends to deal more adequately with their current difficulties? Light is transformative, but so is Love. Do we use Light as a synonym for Love?

Our session was deeply enriching and rewarding. All the questions were carefully considered and all the varied answers right. What joy!

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