I recently had a conversation with a couple of dear F/friends about how Quakers name
our higher power and how we hear and understand one another. Some of us use
language that mirrors our Christian beginnings with Jesus, Christ, God, etc. Some of us
are uncomfortable with those names. Some of us use Goddess. Others are
uncomfortable with that. Still others try to use words that might be less offensive to all,
like Divine, Spirit, All that is, etc. As we come together in worship sharing, spiritual
formation, and other gatherings it is not uncommon to hear the admonition to “Listen in
tongues.” meaning that we may translate another’s word(s) to align with for our own
understanding and comfort. For quite some time I was all too happy to grab on to this
seemingly easy solution. Until this conversation.
I was recently at a weekend retreat at a Roman Catholic abbey with a group of Quakers.
Many of those Friends reacted with great discomfort to being in the presence of
traditional Christian paintings and statues. Some thought we should cover these items
or take them down until we were leaving. My sense was that we need not embrace these
things as our own, but that in our attempt to be understanding and open to how others
believe; to how they understand their faith, we might open our hearts and minds to
acknowledge a different way and that different ways of understanding our relationships
with God are integral to our human experience. I remembered this as my friends and I
talked. They lifted up this same sense in relation to language. Each of us has a different
relationship to Spirit of necessity as we are all different. I wonder if, in this effort to
translate the way others speak of God into language that we are comfortable with we
don’t risk losing the ability to truly hear the speaker. I wonder if in some way we don’t
dishonor the speaker or even perhaps unintentionally elevate our own understanding
over theirs. It can be uncomfortable and challenging to listen deeply and to hear the
speaker no matter what words they choose to use. In my experience, being challenged
and made uncomfortable is often at the cutting edge of spiritual growth.
I am often surprised by how much is opened for me in this sort of brief exchange when I
open to truly listening and hearing. I am continuing to hold this new opening. I invite
you to join me.
