My friend Jana Llewellyn recently wrote "The Bible says that the Jews are God’s chosen people. Author Anne Lamott says that the Presbyterians are God’s frozen people. I decided last week that the religious sect I’m a part of, Quakers (also called The Religious Society of Friends), are God’s weird people.
That means I’m weird, too."
That means I'm weird, too -- which is a badge I'll add to my "bad" badge. Not bad as in "evil," but bad as in not being very good at being a good Quaker.
Jana offers seven tips to help us deal with the not so good weirdness we Quakers sometimes experience/demonstrate --
First and foremost, we need to live a life that focuses on a deep inward connection to God.
Second, each of us needs a personal and daily practice of communing with God.
Third, stop talking about being Quaker. Stop navel-gazing. Reach out.
Fourth, cut your beard.
Fifth, humbly minister to other Quakers.
Sixth. Get out of the past.
Seventh: Look for the best in everyone you meet.
This essay is warm, quirky, funny, biting, and helpful. Every Quaker and every Friends meeting should read the whole thing -- which you can here: God's Weird People
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