23.32 is one of my favourite passages – Ursula Franklin talks about the her enjoyment of sitting in silence at the beginning of meeting knowing that everything can happen.
It always makes me think of an encounter with a homeless ex-catholic priest while volunteering at the Quaker Centre at Friends House. A large part of the role is to meet the public and discuss aspects of Quaker beliefs and history with them.
Suddenly, in the middle of a personal history monologue, my visitor leant forward and putting an arm on the desk said earnestly,
“I have been meaning to ask you…. do you go to Meeting?”,
after I confirmed that I went most Sundays, he continued.
“So…. do you have miracles every Sunday?”
I don’t remember exactly what I said, something along the lines of ‘not every Sunday’. But ever since, that question has been mulled over on a regular basis. Remembering the idea of all days being created equal, I’ve felt the question could have easily been: “Do I have miracles happen every day?”
Maintaining that expectant waiting that I go into Meeting for Worship throughout the week would be tricky but I think returning to it regularly would also be worthwhile. Something to consider the next time the days start to blur together through work or family stresses.
So – what miracles have happened in your life?
Do you look for them?
This post is part of my Reading Quaker Faith & Practice series – click here for the introduction and explanation or here for all posts in this series.
