Minding the Light

Our Collective Journal
June/July 2012

“I have often felt a motion of love to leave some hints
in writing of my experience of the goodness of God.”
–John Woolman

Chapter 7
When has following the Light led you to a change of heart, despite initial resistance?

The Light (Oil) by Charles T.

Resolve

Posted on August 07, 2012

Bear him. Bear him lightly, as an incense bearer swings the censer, as a dancer bears the air above her and across her shoulders, as bread is borne home hot and light from market in a basket, as bell notes borne on waves of air from open, arched courtyards, bear him. Bear him like that Job, who bore sharp news with song, who heard from God with one hand over... [more]

Jesus Under the Bridge

Posted on August 07, 2012

In the evening light on a river walk as we dipped under the thundering traffic a picture of Jesus pasted high on the undergirder beam smiled down at us How fitting it was posted on a span that crossed the waters and sad, that as in life, He too was trod upon, unknowingly by the feet of those who need Him most. —K. L. Killian [more]

A New Purpose

Posted on August 07, 2012

I don’t know that this story fits the query for this Chapter, but I offer it anyway. A few years ago I was minding my academic business, largely doing what I had been trained to do: research in the basic biophysics of proteins. This work took me in a number of directions (as it still does), often guided by the interests of other researchers who come to me with problems that are perhaps amenable... [more]

Joining West Hills Friends Church

Posted on August 07, 2012

In 2006 I joined West Hills Friends Church. This was not a transfer from another Friends Church nor a simple transfer from another church body. I had been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and an ordained minister of that church for over fifty years. I had spent part of the summer of 1949 traveling with a group of young people and working in churches in Texas and Louisiana. The rest of the summer... [more]

The Unwelcome Change

Posted on August 07, 2012

It began when my son came out as Gay during his senior year in high school. My husband quit talking to him, although living in the same house. That only increased my commitment to support him–I loved this creative, sensitive, gifted son. I learned from books and movies about LGBT issues and culture. I helped where I could as my son found his new community and went off to college. I feared for his... [more]

Just When You Think You Are Done

Posted on August 07, 2012

When I was young, my church taught that women were to be submissive, under the authority of some male: father or husband or church leader. Women were not to have authority over men. This is a common teaching in Christian churches, but that did not make it easy for me to accept. It felt wrong, even though I could read in the Bible where it was clearly right. But if it were true, why did... [more]

The Turning Point

Posted on August 07, 2012

Introduction: Last year, a week or two after we published the first chapter of Minding the Light, Fred Edera came to me and said, “I have a story.” At that time, Fred was losing his ability to speak, but he was able to tell me the bare bones of the story below. It was clear that Fred intended this story for Minding the Light, but it didn’t work for the chapter at the time. I’ve held... [more]

Resisting Dream Wisdom

Posted on August 07, 2012

Until reaching middle age, I rejected the information dreams offered as mere concoctions of my unconscious mind, influenced by happenings of my day, or what I ate before going to bed. I now see dreams as gifts from a loving God who is guiding me day and night. Around 1983, I had a dream that ultimately landed me at West Hills Friends, but it took about fifteen years to get me there. I had... [more]

Death Wasn’t Part of the Plan

Posted on August 07, 2012

Twenty-five years ago, I worked as a summer intern at Reedwood Friends Church. It was a great opportunity. The church had four very competent pastors on staff. In that company, “I felt like a grasshopper in my own eyes.” I felt very inadequate. Because my internship was during the summer, all of the other pastors kept leaving for vacation. More than once, all of them were gone at the same time. On those rare... [more]

“His name is Elmer, we have to take him”

Posted on August 07, 2012

My ears perked up when I heard the announcement in our small Quaker meeting concerning a young Guatemalan boy, crippled from the effects of polio. He had been cleared to receive medical care in Portland and needed only a foster home for his time here. My husband had also wrestled with polio in 1952, so I was sensitized to the ravages of the disease and couldn’t stop thinking of the fellow. At the time... [more]

Our Collective Journal June/July 2012

Chapter 7 When has following the Light led you to a change of heart, despite initial resistance?

Stories in this Chapter

Our Collective Journal
June/July 2012

Chapter 7
When has following the Light led you to a change of heart, despite initial resistance?