Unexpected Blessing from Freecycle

I had a lovely email in my box this week which I almost overlooked in the great sea of messages. A few weeks ago, I replied to request on freecycle* for a portable CD player. The requester's friend was in a coma, and her doctor had recommended playing her favorite music. This weekend's email was to tell me that the friend was now awake after three weeks in a coma, and had been enjoying the CD player. I had forgotten all about this soon after the player was picked up, so I was both surprised and touched that this young woman's friend would bother to give me an update. It was a nice lesson, too, on letting go of hoarded possessions- that player was doing no one good shoved in a drawer. Less clutter and a little kindness in the world-- what could be better?

*Note: Freecycle is an awesome site that coordinates people who have stuff to give away with people who want that stuff. Only 4 types of messages are allowed: offered, wanted, taken, and received. You join the group(s) that are close to your home or workplace. You can choose to receive individual emails (which I think is overwhelming) or to get the daily digest.

Laying Down My Sword... Again and Again

From ministry that rose in me last first day:
I feel that a prayer I didn't even know I was praying has been answered. I came to Meeting today with an angry and resentful heart. I received a disturbing communication shortly before leaving for Meeting, and I almost didn't come because I was so agitated that I feared I wouldn't even be able to sit still.
As I sat here in worship, I felt such a shift in me. One of the images that came to me was a story about an interaction between George Fox and William Penn. I have no idea if this story is literally, historically true, but it is spiritually true, and it has been such a help to me. According to this story, William Penn asked George Fox if he had to take off his sword, and George Fox told him "to wear it as long as you can."
I'm thinking about the sword that I am called again and again to lay down, my need to be right. I keep thinking that I've learned that lesson, but apparently I haven't, at least not well enough, because I keep being presented with new opportunities to learn it again. I suspect this is not the last time, either.
It's only by taking off this figurative sword that I am able to see how heavy it is, how much it weighs on me and obscures my vision. When I was wearing the sword, I could not have compassion for the other person. All I could see was how hurt I was, and how right I was. Now I can see that this friend is doing the best they can, that we're all often just doing the best we can. Unbuckling that sword freed up such energy, and I'm able to see ways we might move towards some resolution whereas before I was so locked in to this conflict that we were at an impasse.
As attractive as I find my sword of righteousness, what a relief to lay it down, and see it for the burden that it is.

Eco-Friendly Travel to Gathering

A couple of months ago, Robin M. had a post at What Canst Thou Say regarding balancing traveling in the ministry with striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I've been thinking since then of how our monthly and yearly meetings might support us with such challenges. This is why I was excited to receive the announcement from Friends General Conference announcing the link for eco-friendly travel to this year's Gathering (June 28-July 5, Johnstown, Pennsylvania). Go here to indicate interest and get more information on a Quaker train, bus, bike trip, or carpool. One of the things I have always admired and appreciated about Gathering is how helpful they are with travel arrangements for those of us who fly across country to be at Gathering. I am so pleased to see more eco-friendly forms of travel get this same loving attention.

This all has me wondering anew what our monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings might do. What if meetings offered to pay whatever extra it might cost to take the train (for sleeping accommodations, for childcare for extra days away from home)? What if those traveling in the ministry only flew one direction, instead of both? What if we paid for carbon offsets for those who simply can't see their way clear to travel any other way but by airplane? What if Quaker employers allowed their employees the time off to take the bus or the train instead of a plane?

There is tremendous value to traveling among Friends, both for those called to ministry and for those of us simply called to fellowship. We need to talk with one another, worship together, play together. Our meetings do not thrive in isolation and the provincialism that can result from such isolation. Since there is such value to our gathering as Friends, shouldn't our meetings labor to support means of travel that allow us to live more fully our testimonies?