Dear Friends,
I remember taking a spirituality class in seminary where we were all told to bring cameras or phones to take pictures of God in nature. That year we had two things that were not adept to each other, my friend Margaret’s amazing curiosity and a lot of skunks that had populated the town. We left the class in spring, and we had many flowers and small animals to choose from for the photos. We were a sight, a whole class of students climbing up trees or bent over or under bushes. Imagine hands and shoes being all you could see of some of them as they searched for that exact picture of what God in nature looks like to them. It looked more like a children’s scavenger hunt than a graduate class. Margaret and I set off together. She had lived in Durham when I lived outside Raleigh, and that is close enough for Quakers that get stranded in Quaker-free areas of the country to get to know each other. We had become both little f and big F friends. We decided to go over to Quaker Hill to take pictures in the woods. There was a path to a waterfall and that waterfall sure looked like God to me. Then I saw Margaret scooting along the lawn after these two little black and white fuzzy creature. “They’re so cute!” she kept squealing. I of course was doing the “No Margaret, no!” squealing back to her. “They are skunks. Take a picture right there. Don’t get too close.” Of course they sprayed their scent into the air, and it was plenty to keep Margaret away from them. She did get a picture from afar before the stench wafted toward her.
But it made me think. How diligently do we look for God in the skunks of life? Do we stay a safe distance away? Do we avoid some people because they create chaos? Or they might leave an odor on our reputation if we are seen with them. Like Margaret’s picture, there is a way to capture the idea that God is there in all things. But what do we do? We can’t spend our lives creating a safe distance between us and anyone who might soil our lives in some way.
The man laying in the ditch in the story of the “Good Samaritan” had a certain stench. He could have been a robber just pretending to be hurt to lure someone near. He could have been a source of “uncleanness” for the rabbi and the priest. But no matter who, no matter where, no matter the stench it may leave, God is there. Our job as Quakers is to “greet it cheerfully.” (Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone. – George Fox) He is our neighbor, and we are to treat him as such. In this age of political divides, violent rhetoric, and cultural gaps, let us find a way to see that of God in all people regardless.
Have a great week! Hope to see you at church on Sunday. Peace and social concerns meet at 9:00 in the office and the Thanksgiving Potluck (all are invited) will be on the 23rd. Come if you come regularly. Come if you used to come and just want to express your gratitude. Always come to greet each other cheerfully.
Leigh
0 Comments