FGC Gathering, was, to quote my friend Mathew, eight kinds of awesome. In fact, I'll use that to limit myself so I don't blog you all into boredom.
1. Our ritual/spiritual music gig!
We did four hours of rehearsal Sunday in my friend Stasa's room in the dorm, five women singers plus two drummers we literally met that day and pulled in--one was my roommate Vonn, who'd arrived just half an hour before. Harmonies and drums came together outrageously well in both rehearsal and the cabaret. We did sacred and quasi-sacred music ranging from Song of Peace to Imani (African-inspired song about faith) and were rarely off key (usually my fault) and only had to restart 1 song. I hope to have audio files up in the next week.
2. the Quaker LGBTQ community
I stayed in the FLGBTQC dorm (which was also the teen dorm, very much the college experience all around), went to the community's meeting for business (I got frozen out by the air conditioning) and the wonderful meeting for worship they sponsor, heard incredible stories about creative activism (LGBT-related and otherwise) from playing flute in mourning for the current war in Iraq to Peterson's comedy/activism.
3. Kody and Joanna, the Sunday-night speakers. They were tapped into the Light (the usual Quaker term for the Divine/whatever you believe She/He/It/They are) for certain, when speaking about the conference theme, Who is My Neighbor? that night and in their lives. Kody's organized a house full of people with radically different religious beliefs at his college, Joanna lives on a nearly-self-sufficient working farm where permanent and short-term residents also help migrant workers and other struggling people in the area.
4. My green/purple/black/gray/white/gold/hot pink Guatemalan striped pullover, bought at the book/gift store. It's light, warm, looks great and of course I had to wear it with my green/turquoise/orange/hot pink/black tacky Hawaiian pants. No pic--probably would break any camera.
5. Broadway Sing! There are other people on this planet who know the intro vocal to "Hello Young Lovers" and some of the more obscure songs from Guys & Dolls.
6. The Quaker kids' awesome presentation on "The Neighbor," a story about beautiful unusual blue Lucy with loooong hair who is so different the grownups (but not the kids) in the town she comes to do everything they can to drive her off and the river has fallen in love with her and finally goes away with her and oh, what the kids and the theater troupe working with them did with just cardboard, paint and live music!! I got one of the fish to take home!
7. The daily workshop I attended on Holding Each Other in the Light, which is a Quaker practice encompassing praying for others and healing prayer. One of the first things I learned is there are many "right" ways to do it. I found when I do it I often get very vivid imagery and sensory "pictures" as my way of prayer and focusing. Hard to describe, amazing to experience on both ends. I had a profound experience with two people holding me in the Light regarding having a baby. I happily offer to hold any of you in the Light for anything or in general if you like, no guarantees but my love and attention (the Light is in charge of anything else.)
8. Being seriously Quaker for a week, from the interest-group meeting on an effective nonviolent way to communicate with opponents on hot-button issues to the *boys* in childcare making crowns with cloth rosebuds for themselves (and at least one for a Daddy) to the Karma-Shave Signs. One example of "Karma-Shave": Is new attire your desire?/One query would we pose:/Is it 'lilies of the field you're after/Or the Emperor's New Clothes? (Incidentally, my new pullover mentioned in #4 helps support college scholarships for poor Guatemalans and was sewn of gently-used Guatemalan wrap-skirt cloth by a Quaker in the US, not a sweatshop worker.)
I love my chosen faith, can you tell?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
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