SPRING 2009adapted from Concord Quarterly News, January 2009)
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, welcoming the stranger is an important aspect of being in community. Abraham welcomed three visitors by offering them rest in the shade of a tree and preparing them a fine meal. Jews are told not to oppress the stranger, remembering that they, too, were once strangers in Egypt. They are told to make no distinction between the stranger and one born among them, loving him as they love themselves. Jesus told his followers that how they have treated the stranger will be one of the criteria used to judge them in the end. The leaders of the early Christian communities directed the members to “love one another deeply … offer hospitality without grumbling,” and use whatever gifts they have received in service to others.
How do we welcome strangers today in our meeting communities? Do we invite strangers in, offer rest and refreshment, and open our hearts to the gifts they have to offer? Do those of us who were raised in another religious tradition remember that we, too, were once strangers, and offer the same hospitality that was given to us? And, most importantly, do we love strangers as we love our own, and invite them to be part of us without restriction, including opening ourselves to the possibility of change that new energy and new ideas can bring? Can we learn to welcome that change, understanding that it may be God-given?
Learning to listen is key to welcoming strangers into our meeting communities, and learning to listen to each other and to ourselves in deep and essential ways is key to building loving communities where we each feel needed and are able to grow our gifts in service to one another.
A workshop day is planned for April 4, 2009, at Birmingham Meeting, 1245 S. Birmingham Rd, West Chester, PA, to explore aspects of listening and identify stumbling blocks to its success. It will be an experiential day. Come ready to share your stories and interact with others who have a longing for connection and growth in our meeting communities. A detailed schedule will be forthcoming. Please contact Beth Lawn, Concord Quarter Coordinator, at (610)-872-1522, or concordquarter@verizon.net for information.
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Sunday, March 01, 2009 at 12:12 AM
