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The WoW

2/20/2018

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Today in Meeting a long time member shared a message about how she had a "Wow" moment when she first got connected to God in a Quaker meeting and how now that she is close to God those "Wow" moments are rare.  

When I consider my relationship to the Gathered Quaker Meeting and making a direct connection to God -- I frankly wonder how that happened.  Something "Wow" must have happened but I don't know what? 

It was quiet.  

As I excavate my approach to God I can only come to one conclusion: I experienced a spiritual awakening in the presence of people listening for God.  THE GATHERED MEETING. 

And what is amazing is that I hardly noticed it.  I only know that something stirred in me and I needed to return. 

I could say that, for me, my WOW moment initially was mostly unconscious and to this day is still building to a wider experience of spirituality, integrity, community, equality and peace.  

What was only a dim experience at first has only continued to brighten as I seek to deepen that initial stirring.  And while it is probably different for each person, I sort of like the constant unfolding to deeper and deeper levels.  It reminds me of peeling an onion -- the deeper you go the more robust the smells and flavors.

After meeting today the queries I am left with are:
  • What brings me to meeting?
  • What do I hope to discover there? 
  • Why is it important to discern a message as different from something I'd just like to share? 
  • How do the messages in meeting apply to me? 
  • When in meeting, am I listening for the voice of God for me or for others too?
Joseph Olejak


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    ​This blog was set up to post content of interest to Old Chatham Quaker members and attenders. Posts related to one's own personal spiritual journey, reports based on interviews with others, and reflections on Quaker-related topics are welcome. Posts by individuals are personal expressions and do not necessarily reflect those of the Meeting as a whole.
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  • Home
  • What's Going On?
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
  • Donate
  • More About Us
    • Location
    • Quaker Links
    • Renting the Meeting House
  • Meeting Life
    • Meeting Business
    • Meeting Directory
    • Miscellaneous Documents
    • Document Archive
    • Worship Sharing
    • The Role of Ministry and Counsel
    • Friends Burial Ground at Rayville
    • Photo Archive
  • Covid Policy
  • OCMM Visibility Strategy Survey
  • Blog
  • Sanctuary Documents
  • OPJ Documents
  • Solitary Housing Unit