May 2008

Pictured from left to right: Wess, Evelyn, Sarah, Cara, John Lomuria, Angelina, Rachel, Emma, Harriet, and Katrina

The Quaker Youth Book Project

For the May newsletter, I was going to describe to you why I love being a Quaker and tell you some of the beliefs as a follow up to my April newsletter. However, then I found out what that meant in a deeper way than I was planning on writing about at first so I am incorporating the two by telling you more about the Quakers, my place among them, and about the international editorial board for the Quaker Youth Book Project I am so gifted to be a part of. (Pictured above.)

When I flew out of Portland last Friday morning, I wasn't expecting to go on an adventure but an adventure certainly found me. I was first flying to Chicago where my connection was delayed by hours due to weather. Then they told us it was canceled along with a ton of other flights going out of Chicago. The airport was a nightmare and the earliest flight I could get to North Carolina where the editorial board was meeting left in the morning. I wanted to scream and cry, a night spent in the airport while I missed out on time where I was headed was not my idea of fun. No siree. I called the people I was supposed to meet to tell them what was going on and through several phone calls they arranged for someone, (a friend of a friend of a friend), to come pick me up and take me home. When I finally got in her car, (I had to wait a LONG time to print up boarding passes), I asked her a huge favor on top of the one she was already doing for me. "Would you please drive me around Chicago? I've never been here before." Ann said she'd love to and off we went. It was dark and raining, but it was Chicago and I loved it. It was my lemonade from the lemons life had handed me. Ann is the clerk for a larger Quaker meeting and she and her family were the epitome of hospitality. I left my new friend thinking, "I love the Quaker world!" I now know if I'm ever in trouble, all I need to do is find the local Quaker meeting house and I'll be fine. The Quakers, being smaller in number, really care about each other and support one another through thick and thin. That is the kind of love I want to have around me.

When I at last arrived in North Carolina, Angelina texted me, "Crying is welcome. We will be here waiting for you." Her words touched me deeply and I looked forward to meeting the compassionate people I would be sharing this project with for the next two plus years. For the background of this trip, please see my blog at www.walkingthesea.blogspot.com. The editorial board gradually met over the rest of the day until eight out of the nine of us were lined up by our project coordinator, Angelina, as a panel in front of Quakers United in Publishing. Cara would join us the next morning. As Angelina introduced us and the project, cameras were going off right and left, she commented to the group that she felt like we were in a press conference, which in a way, I suppose we were. As I sat in my chair answering questions along with the others, I was so grateful to God that He made everything work out for flights and hospitality and it amazed all the things He had done to bring me to that point- sitting on an editorial board doing many of the things I loved. It truly is a dream come true in so many ways.

Over the next few days, I got to know these amazing young men and women. It felt wonderful to be around other young adult Quakers who were in the same time of life as I dealing with many of the same struggles and knowing some of the same joys. Though we are from five different countries and numerous different Quaker backgrounds, we got along famously, laughing throughout much of our meetings and enjoying our time together. We shared stories, found common language, and worked as a team. Before going to meet them, they were only words to me, names I didn't recognize and biographies that were rather intimidating. Everyone was accomplished and quite talented. But then I got to know them as people, as friends, as "brothers and sisters in Christ." And like in any relationship, I am not the same for having known them.

Though Quaker meetings do vary widely, my new friends exemplify much of what I appreciate about the Quaker world. We believe in simplicity, both in life and materialistic goods. Everyone was pretty down to earth and genuine. We also believe there is that of God in every person and I could definitely see God in the people I met and got to know. I also like how Quakers tend to be more open to questions and being "out of the box". Like any group, people can go overboard on do's and don'ts, but in general, I have found the emphasis to be on right relationship with God, self, others, and the earth, and not on "towing the line". Being with friends from the east coast of America and other parts of the world, also broadened my view of Quakers beyond the groups I had known in the Northwest. I feel my view is far fuller and I have a far more balanced perspective of what the Quaker world is really like.

For two days our group met in a conference room writing a call for submissions, writing a minute requesting support, drafting a plan for writing workshops, and discussing many other decisions that needed to be made. On Sunday night we took a break from our work and went bowling and I will tell you, for me, bowling will never be the same... I'll always want to walk to the lane like a gazelle which I admit, looked more like a gorilla. I learned joy among that group. I learned to let myself go, to have fun and to really be a part of a group with other people my age. To join in the impromptu dance parties and the spontaneous hikes to gigantic trees.

I knew going to this meeting would direct my life into new avenues and now I am quite sure of it. For the next year I will be traveling around the Northwest calling for submissions from other Quakers ages 15-35, speaking and leading writing workshops, and then possibly touring with the other members of the board promoting the book when it's printed. This meeting also inspired me to start working on writings I can submit to Quaker publications and above all, this time gave me a more solid view of self, who I am, and who I want to be.

It's ironic, but oh so right, that this even more solid view of self was born out of me being a part of a greater whole. I'm one of a team and a strong team at that. Unlike many other times when I spend weekends with a new group, this time we HAVE to keep in touch and we know we'll see each other again next year when we meet to decide which submissions to include. Knowing that made parting a bit easier, but I know I'm going to miss having them around. They truly are a fantastic bunch.

In the coming month as we finalize the documents we created, there will be a page on this website for the Quaker Youth Book Project along with links to other blogs and websites linked with our work. I look forward to sharing our progress with you.

I hope in each of your lives, you get to be a part of something bigger than yourself and through the storms, can see clearly how God is guiding you through them to bring you exactly where you need to go. This adventure of my own gave me greater confidence in God, myself, and in the people I share the joy of the "Quaker Youth Book Project." Thank you God for making me a part of this Quaker world and for making them a part of me.

Photographs

Here are some of the photos I took at the meeting.

New Garden Meeting House	Enjoying the very large tree.	The panel on Saturday night.
Out in the rocking chairs enjoying the North Carolina spring.	Fantastic job everyone!	QUIP and the Editorial Board

News

You can find out more information about the Quaker Youth Book Project at our website: Quaker Youth Book Project.

Last Updated: 12/30/2011