Surprising People in Unexpected Times and Places
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Pastor Bob Henry
October 22, 2023
Good morning, Friends and welcome to Light Reflections. Our scripture for this morning is more of a summary of my message and is used to support what I am saying. The scripture comes from 1 Peter 4:10-11a in The Voice translation.
Use whatever gift you’ve received for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of God’s grace in all its varieties. 11 If you’re called upon to talk, speak as though God put the words in your mouth; if you’re called upon to serve others, serve as though you had the strength of God behind you.
This morning, I am concluding my series of messages on the biblical prophets that were inspired by my Friend Howard Macy’s book, “Befriending the Prophets.” Let me quickly do a recap of where we have been over the last 6 weeks.
On Kick Off Sunday we began by looking at some of the misconceptions we have of the biblical prophets, as well as, how we ALL share an identity with the prophets. Realizing that in the end,
The world needs more disturbing people who can envision the wonders of life together that God intends for us, people who can see through and call out the ways we corrupt that life, people who can teach us how to walk in God’s ways.
Week two, I brought my big and little “stir sticks” and we discussed “stirring appropriately.” That when we feel lead to speak, act, or engage prophetically in our circles of influence, and as we become visible signs that God is here, that God cares, and that God is actively working to renew wholeness (shalom) in all of creation, we must remember to season all things with patience, kindness and love, then listen deeply to the Spirit within us, finally stirring appropriately (sometimes it will be in small ways and other times it will be in much bigger ways) – but most importantly we must remember to stir it up!
In week three, I shared about my grandfather’s prophetic influence on me, and we pondered how often our ventures in this world are not prophetic because we have simply bought into boasting about correct knowledge, might, and wealth instead of becoming God-enthralled and delighting in kindness, justice, and moral (righteous) living.
In week four, we looked at the biblical prophets’ similar vision of living together in ways that make for peace (shalom). And to live as a community of peace means we would need to turn from our ways and learn the ways of God which again are righteousness, social justice, loving kindness, and truth.
In week six, Beth had us looking at the prophet Jonah about how he ran from the call because he did not want God to save Ninevah. The reality was that the people of Ninveah were enemies of Israel and God was going to save them. Beth then had us wrestle with how we embrace a God of ultimate inclusiveness?
Finally last week, I had us look at how we are to be experienced listeners AND speakers of the “word of God” within our hearts in our own unique and special ways.
So, this morning, I want to conclude these messages by trying to help us see how God often chooses surprising people in unexpected times and places to speak to our condition and even change our world.
Friend Craig Barnett from Britain Yearly Meeting points out that as modern Quakers, we are still drawing on the deep spiritual visions of prophets such as George Fox, Lucretia Mott, and John Woolman, and we could name several more from our past. And often we expand those historical prophets to include people of the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Mahatma Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, and I could name many more.
But I too probably am at fault for spending too much time looking at our past and missing what is happening in the present moment.
Think about who are the prophets among Quakers today. I did a google search – it took me a couple of times to get the algorithm to work for me, but even then my search resulted in 20 people who were dead and 5 that were alive. And you have probably heard of many of these 25, but the ones you can experience in-person or in the flesh, today, you could count on one hand.
The five included 2 people alive in our actual yearly meeting – Brent Bill and Phil Gulley. And there was also a couple other alive Quakers like theologian Pink Dandelion, Actress Judi Dench (which I wasn’t sure should be on this list), and for the first time Quaker YouTube sensation, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard who a couple of our new people here at First Friends found before exploring us as their community of faith.
Otherwise, the other 20 people were dead and a huge majority of them have been dead for many years. Not saying their prophetic voices have died, just that they were speaking to a past generation of Quakers.
As American Quakers we have been and continue to be nourished by the prophetic ministry and witness of many Friends, not just in the 17th Century but throughout our history. I think we clearly have contemporary prophets among us today (and as good Quakers they probably would not agree with being given that label) but I think they have been voices that have spoken to our condition and helped return us to what delights God. I am thinking of people that I hope to one day get a chance of introducing you to, like Noah Baker, Ashley Wilcox, C. Wess Daniels, Emily Provance, and I would include Cherice Bock, Max Carter, and Colin Saxton who you may have met at our Yearly Meeting Sessions.
But still, all these people I mentioned are part of the greater gathering of Friends, but they are not always those closest to us or who can speak into our life, directly.
Actually, none of the people I mentioned so far are or were part of Indianapolis First Friends – our community of faith.
Maybe we should begin to look around, be more aware, and identify who are the prophets in our midst right here at First Friends?
I agree with Friend Craig Barnett that,
“Each generation needs new prophetic voices, to speak to its condition, both to criticize and to energize their community and the wider society with a 'prophetic imagination' that opens up new possibilities.”
If we are genuinely called to be a prophetic community perhaps we need to ask ourselves how we can become more receptive to the prophetic voices in our Meeting. How we can nurture and support Friends who are being led to minister the message of the Spirit for our times - especially younger Friends.
Do you know some of the most prophetic voices in our Meeting are heard during the children’s message?
Our children, with their simple but often profound, honest, even at times bold but authentic words speak to the depth of our condition. I know they often speak to mine. They remind us as Christ did that our faith should be like that of a child. Sometimes, I don’t even think my message is necessary after they speak because their words have said what was needed to be said.
The kids are a prime example of how God can use surprising people at unexpected times to be prophetic in our community.
I know I have mentioned Stella before, but she is a prophet in our midst as she dances in the aisle and reminds us how everyone is welcome in this place – and she uses no words to share her prophetic voice in our midst.
At the end of the summer when Shelby Nation shared her saxophone talents with us during worship, she chose the song, “Oh Happy Day” not knowing that during the previous week that fires in Maui would consume an entire community and that I would be talking about sitting with the darkness of life. Again, I sensed that instrumental version of the song Shelby played and Eric accompanied was a prophetic song of comfort and healing – it even became our benediction that Sunday to send us out.
I remember on many occasions when our dear Friend Linda Lee shared a poem in Meeting for Worship, often it spoke a universal message to each of us about our spiritual journeys – and today her partner, Ed, has continued that prophetic voice of hers through our Linda Lee Spiritual Retreat.
How many of you have been told “I love you” by Liam (formerly Erin) Tinsley. Almost every Sunday, Liam comes in and gives me a big hug and tells me that they love me. That is persistence, and we could easily dismiss it, but I believe it is a prophetic voice in our midst reminding us to see and love everyone.
Even though it can be, the prophetic in our midst does not have to take the typical form of a message or of speaking out of the silence. It can also come in a variety of unexpected and surprising ways - a child’s honesty, a dance of joy, an instrumental song with deep healing power, a poem or retreat, even a simple hug and the words “I love you.”
Howard Macy concludes his book “Befriending the Prophets” with a chapter titled, “Beyond Cranky” which alludes to the fact that many think prophets to be loud, cranky and even curmudgeonly, but folks that is not the case. It reminds me of when Eric Baker spoke out of the silence earlier in this series and said his view of a prophet was a loud person holding a sign on the corner warning of the end times. Maybe that is what the movies have taught us to see or what we have come to expect because we weren’t looking deep enough.
I believe God is using surprising people in unexpected ways in our lives all the time to speak into our lives. The question is are our eyes open to see them, to hear them, to receive their prophetic messages.
If there is one thing Howard has taught me through his book, and hopefully, I have conveyed it in this series is that we ALL have the potential of being prophetic voices in our community of faith and in a plethora of ways.
Whether it is a prophetic warning or teaching, an opportunity for guidance, or stirring words or actions of hope, comfort, and even restoration – each of us in our own unique way has something to offer this community.
So, in conclusion, the poet Mary Oliver may have written the best definition of what it means to be a prophet in our time. She writes simply,
“Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
Now, as we enter waiting worship, I ask you to ponder the following queries:
1. How often have I looked to the past for prophetic guidance while missing the prophets in my midst?
2. Who are the prophets at First Friends that have spoken to my condition?
3. How am I utilizing my unique prophetic voice for the benefit of my community? Are there reasons I have not shared?