Before delving into yet another Quaker world, I thought I would post a little here about my experience at North West Yearly Meeting. While I was there, many Friends asked me for some reflections about what I thought about their Yearly Meeting. It is interesting to be asked that question - as someone who has never experienced an Evangelical gathering before, and someone who was there because it was God's will with little other plans than to build relationships - because, really, what can I say? I have little to compare it to ... But even as I type that, I am sure comparison is not what is needed. We do too much of that already in the Quaker world. While I know there is much more that will come to the surface as the experience digests, I thought I would share some of my observations and thoughts (for what they are worth) now.

First of all, I was delighted at the warmth and excitement that greeted Andrew and me. I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't for people to continue to come up to us and thank us for coming, to tell us how excited they were that we were there, to begin conversations in the auditoriums, dining halls, hallways, bathrooms ... I was so overcome by fear before getting to NWYM (made up entirely of overly dramatic visualizations of being judged and shunned), that I was floating on a cloud for the entire time when I realized deep within myself what I had known to be true all along: we are all Friends.

The other thing that I was surprised by was how liberal the Yearly Meeting was. I don't know what I was thinking going into it, but being someone who doesn't identify as Christian, but as a Follower of Jesus, I was worried that I would not be accepted for who I was. How wrong I was. There was no one who questioned my own validity as a Quaker or insinuated that I was somehow "less than" because of my spiritual identification. Friends were happy to engage in dialog with me, and I found myself entering into mutual vulnerable covenants often, where I felt safe to be open and be myself, and know that I would be loved for it.

Perhaps that was one of the most striking pieces to me: the love within the community. I felt like I was embraced, as a sister, as a Friend, as a member of this powerful spiritual community. What a humbling and honoring experience it was!

There were other more specific things I noticed. For one, I was very aware of the restructuring of the Yearly Meeting body right now (reorganizing of Boards - which are similar to liberal "Committees" and the staff of the Yearly Meeting). Because of the restructuring and the deep wrestling that the community has been doing corporately over the past couple of years, the movement within the YM is apparent to the naked eye. People are inspired, and there is energy to be doing God's Work in the world.

Another thing that went along with that is the presence of recognition of service ... Time and again, I was touched to see various people acknowledged, thanked and recognized for their work within the community and the gifts that they bring. It was not done stintingly or jealously ... But with deep gratitude and appreciation - and it was accepted with humble and honest appreciation for having been recognized. It takes work to do God's Will in the world, and this Yearly Meeting seemed to understand that we are only building stronger community and inspiring more people to do that work when they are honored for it ...

The quality of corporate worship was made so much richer and deeper with song. The services were amazing and the songs were a piece of the worship that I will deeply miss. To join voices with others in the gathering, in vocal prayer and praise, was something that I will always remember. It moved me in ways that I have not been moved in a long time - and made my chest feel close to bursting on more than one occasion.

The plenaries from every night spoke to me in a way that I never imagined. The questions that I didn't know I had been asking were answered. Something that was very apparent to me during my time there was that God is certainly moving Friends forward together. Pieces of each of the messages that were given were pieces that Andrew and I have known we needed to be bringing to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting this year. How incredibly powerful to hear the message you have received from God to deliver to one body of Friends be delivered a week prior to another body of Friends. And to have each of those bodies of Friends be considered very different from each other. We have so much more in common than we think we do.

The last thought I have for the night is the power of intervisitation. I learned more this last couple of days - and was spoken to in a way that I didn't imagine was possible prior to this gathering. Friends, the movement within our society is clear - to find Way Forward together. We are all Friends, and we each have important lessons to learn from one another. But the first step is perhaps the most important. To build relationships across the theological divides and truly become a family in the name of the Divine. We can heal the pain we experience through disconnection throughout the wider society - but first, we must work on healing that pain within our Society. Take the time to fall in love with one another in God. It's perhaps one of the greatest gifts you can give or be given.

Blessings be with you, dear Friends.