A Friend Letters and Journals: Moth and Light

This episode explains a little bit more about what Friends have historically done to share their spiritual journey and messages outside of Friends Meetings and worship. This is followed by my first message I offer, a poem I wrote for a friend and for Friends, for my children and beloved spiritual companions. The poem is called Moth and Light. At times a message comes, at least for me, I t be form first of a reoccurring thought that comes back like a moth to a light. I find that the message bubbles and brews, percolates and becomes a little taste of a message. Lately, I have been gifted with the chance to have many poems, Letters and ministry messages pour out of me. Hold me in the Light y’all, as I keep getting these. Often it is in the middle of the night and come out of a dream that then I can get up and find “writes itself in me”. When in that process and then when done I feel momentarily complete. But then, I don’t feel quite balanced until I message the words to the listeners, my close listening Friend(s) or my best chosen family or my wife Hannah. Hannah is my constant clearness committee, helping me discern my path. When she tells me I need to follow a leading, or offers an idea that could be a way to be true and faithful to a Calling, it is a powerful confirmation. And I find that then when I follow the leading and her insights, it’s clear way forward, as we like to say when we are on a long journey and hit blocks (literally traffic) or challenging hard times. We like to say “we’re never bored” and always have a project or community bond to connect, or little leadings that we nurture in each other- best of a true chosen partnership. So when Hannah suggested I might try making podcasts, and get advises from some of our friends who’ve been on that path, Quakers have been making new podcasts and reminded me of those who have done this recording thing and are professionals at it (shout out to Peterson Toscano and Evelyn Perry), I figured out that yes it felt like just the most wonderful and right way to offend modern Quaker message. And even more so realizing that there are already Quakers who have been making this their longterm practice. I am finding the courage to try, inspired by y’all who I know will hear this, and by the words sung by my Friend Susan Stark and offered in a wonderful QuakerSpeak video of Friend Niyonu Spann speaking, “you are never alone, no never, so live up to the light that thou haste and more will be granted thee. So live up to the Light thou haste...!