Monday 7 April 2014

The Ministry of Children in our Meeting.

My local Quaker meeting is notable for the way in which it's children continued meeting whilst all the adults were in prison. Although this story originates from as far back as the seventeenth century, local Friends have given me the impression of being particularly aware of it at times.

Lately it would seem there has been considerably less  interest in Early Quaker history and since it is now so seldom mentioned, newcomers do not tend to pick up on the story. Perhaps this is a missed opportunity to strengthen a sense of identity and responsibility for us all since it would seem every bit as relevant to note those reasons why almost a whole generation of adult Quakers had been imprisoned in the first place. At some point they must also have been able to communicate the importance of their beliefs in a compelling and appropriate way to their children. Loyalty is not accidental. This needed to be taught.

In the past Quaker children were confronted by beatings, buckets of cold water and the taunts of their neighbours. These persecutions only seemed to strengthen their intent. These days there is also opposition, through the attraction of so many other priorities, the media promoting very different ideals, besides the role of parents who might very well find themselves particularly busy and so stay away from Meeting. Despite all these new challenges, I would like to think that although our generation of children may not know or relate to this particular story, its relevance and possibilities are still present in our Meeting.

Some of the most memorable ministry I hear still comes from children. There was for example a Meeting during which several adults spoke about the challenge of how to communicate with God. At times it was a little difficult to hear these words because in the background there was the sound of an honest plain-speaking baby telling us about being persistent and that sometimes when you are very hungry, it is necessary to yell to be heard!

At times my own children have given me an opportunity to reflect on a deeper level. One morning all three of them were sitting very quietly in Meeting. The oldest was staring intently at the ceiling for almost the whole time she was there. Later she told me very proudly how many little lines there were in the patterned tiles, having counted them all. I would guess adults might have described this deep, thoughtful concentration on some aspect of the environment "Holding the moment".

My son was busy trying to learn his spellings knowing that he would be tested on them next day. At first it seemed quite inappropriate to be doing any aspect of homework in Meeting, but then I thought that ministry was about honesty and opening your mind to learn. The problem of a class spelling test was being addressed through silence, surrounded by the support of Friends.

To my dismay I saw that my youngest daughter had brought her most treasured possession into Meeting. Within a few moments that little draw-string bag was open and about fifty little plastic dogs were carefully arranged all along the bench. This part of the Meeting House now looked more like a playgroup than a respectable place of worship. Friends who spotted little dogs could see those things which were very precious to a three year old. Though seeing my daughter treasuring her possessions, I was reminded of the joy in worship.

Although my own children has now grown up, it is very good to see a new younger generation still enriching the life of our Meeting. If these children were no longer there I would miss the honesty and open-mindedness. There might be no one brave enough to notice a tree that needs climbing. Everyone would be content with just one biscuit which looked the same as all the rest. This would never be decorated with sticky brightly coloured sweets and drippy icing. There would be no excuse to sneak away and to read story books. We might never make our mark on dough, or draw for the first time in a decade because there happens to be crayons about. There would be fewer people about to put you on the spot by asking awkward questions. When someone failed dismally to eat a boiled sweet quietly during Meeting, discovered the hard way that they had forgotten to turn their mobile phone off, or even fell asleep, there would be no one else trying so very hard to catch your eye, suggesting that it might be OK to laugh.

To me it would seem children are like any other human being. Our Meeting is so much more alive when they are with us. They have kept us alive in the past and continue to be our future.




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