Inland Valley Friends Meeting - State of the Meeting 2007
After half an hour of waiting outside the Meeting House, the keys to organized religion arrived so we could go inside. Since the weather was so wonderful, we decided to get chairs, make a circle outside and continue our Meeting in the light. We then enjoyed our potluck inside and reflected on the peace rallies attended the day before. This led into our State of the Meeting discussion.
We believe that the spiritual life at IVFM is healthy and lively. Some of us have felt changes in the vitality of vocal ministry in the past year, perhaps because of newcomers helping us gain insight into our inner lives. The spiritual life of the Meeting is such a strong base on which to rely, even if there is no vocal ministry. Something happens internally during the Meeting, which helps us go back into the world. New people and long timers in the Meeting revealing new facets of themselves have helped us articulate why we say we are Quakers.
We appreciate that it is a small Meeting where we can share our problems, troubles, and great gifts with each other. We can be considered complete people, able to be ourselves, without having to hide our weaknesses. We can appreciate the Silence, which is like “a roaring bonfire swirling around in the room” in which we can feel completely consumed, in total joy. Sometimes when people speak it is as if we were listening directly to God. We are compelled; we do not ask for it; it falls upon us.
Newcomers feel very welcomed here. Every single person becomes a part of this Meeting. We can feel like we don’t need to separate the spiritual from the action. Spiritual beliefs and actions are intertwined into a whole in this Meeting.
Our Meeting is a shelter in a wilderness of confusion. Here, some of us experience meditation as the kind of practice Jesus experienced when he waited for Divine guidance. Others of us experience meditation in kinship with the kinds of practice that have been experienced in many different spiritual traditions throughout the ages. This is a place we can come and meditate on the core of our spirituality.
This year our Meeting has also been a very happy and beautiful expression, with music and joy. The opportunity to gather in musical community is uplifting and contributes to our spiritual life. We also had a great Baby Welcoming. We enjoy the children and their vocal ministry and appreciate the wonderful and growing children’s program.
It’s a place where we find a sense of family and companionship, a sense of caring for each other, a community where we can say things we don’t say to others about our own lives, our own feelings. Some of us in the Meeting pursue questions such as: why are we here, is there a God, and why is it so strange for our Christian relatives to consider that other creatures are genetically related to us with a common heritage. We’ve got a place where we can ask these questions and seek to understand.
Sometimes we have come to Meeting or to a committee meeting with a very strong view and have been completely turned around. It’s a place where we can trust the unique Quaker process we have, groping with the truth and allowing ourselves to be flexible. The respect shown for each person in this Meeting is remarkable.
Also remarkable is how we support and care for each other, given the distances we come from. And our touch extends considerable distances. The work of some of our members in San Bernardino and with the Clergy Association has helped create an inclusive spiritual community in the Inland Valley. Our pleasure at having the Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) use our space during the week also supports our meeting.
Here, we can feel the joyful burden of having to do our own searching for the answers to the spiritual questions in our lives. People are led in this Meeting, led to act. Critical mass is making a difference, is making things happen in our Meeting.