The preparation of this music has become for me an exercise in waiting on the spirit, feeling the Holy nudge. Elspeth's service is broad in its message, ecumenical in its tenor and inclusive in its intent. It has to be.. our community in the cyber world is the same. There are anywhere from 15 - 20 attenders on any given, every other, Sunday.
On Saturdays at 6pm my time I attend Quaker meeting in the cyber-world. (I can see your eyebrows raised) The very nature of Meeting is that of 'where one or more are gathered in my name'. Jesus didn't specify how.... and it is with this trust in the promise of the word that I sit in silence at my computer and wait upon the Spirit.
This waiting is by far the most disciplined of all my Practices of Faith, because, not only must I wait in my own surroundings, but I have unseen others* with whom I am waiting with for the Holy Spirit. I have a responsibility to wait upon the Lord in good Faith.. not be distracted by dogs, cats, and other things that can happen in a household at 6pm on a Saturday night. Many of the unspoken cues that we use in a gathered worship are not there.. the shift of a seat, the sigh or deep breath of a Friend. And so this part of community is missing and must be made up for in other ways. We have 15 - 20 attenders every Saturday at meeting. A budding Peace and Justice committee and a longing to provide more information for seekers and those that are interested. It is an interesting medium to be a Quaker in.. this cyberspace world where your neighbor could be a 7 meter tall wolf or fox or zebra.. or just the guy/gal next door.
Worship, Witnessing, expression of Faith and Practice is challenging in the cyber world. It is a place where only one's words are there to be read and excepted. There are no other cues or visual judgements or prejudices to get in the way. Only what one has to say.. a true 'What doest thou say?' situation.
Yesterday in the wee small hours of the morning I was challenged by a young man in just that way. He said to me out of the blue:
"If God loves all of his children, then he needs a visit from social services cause he's definitely not a good parent."
I didn't want to debate nor did I want to be happy clappy about how God is in all things even if we can't see it. It was clear as our conversation continued that this young man was in no mood to be comforted, he was wounded and saw God as the OFWG. 'What doest thou say?' was pounding in my ears as I searched for an explanation of why.. and I just couldn't find the words to comfort nor enlighten this young man in a way that would speak to him. Except for this: 'I really know how you feel, I have been there many times, but I still believe in a God who is kind and who is loving and cares for us all. Why these things happen is not something that I can answer easily there is no easy answer. But all I can say is I believe that it all works to the plan of God and that not believing leaves me alone in a cold and heartless world. I do not want to be in a world that is cold and heartless.. and I choose to believe.' Now that was a really stoopid answer I thought.. but a voice in me said.. you never know what will come of your words.
I don't know if my words were comforting or enlightening.. I do know that this young person needed to rant.. and not be judged nor chided nor preached to. So.. there you go.. a witness in cyberspace.. but it could have been anywhere.
**** In Second Life, other people are seen, they are their chosen Avatar. You can see them, rather how they choose to be seen. I am referring to the 'Real Life Person' in this statement. People choose their avatars and how they look and it can be anything. (that in its self can be a cue or not and deserves a whole paper) ...****
My point is in this ramble on First Day is this: People are seeking for meaning and answers in all of our wilderness.. aetherical and cyber. So back to the beginning.. my music for today at St Patrick's in Kinvara will contain 'How Great thou Art'.
It is below for your enjoyment:
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