Even when our lives are full of family, friends, work, and
more; we often have a yearning for something that seems beyond our reach. That
something is not always clear. We don’t always know what it is we are looking
for. We just know that there is a gap within that somehow needs closing. The
size of that space grows with no direct relationship to how happy we are in the
rest our life. It can make us deeply disoriented even discontented. The world
around us may seem full of potential but at the same time full of uncertainty. When
we become aware of it we have entered into the hollow.
The founder of Quakerism, George Fox, described his own sense
of emptiness as an “ocean of darkness” followed by an “ocean of light”. He was
speaking of his own transformational experience when he personally came to know
that “there was one Christ Jesus” who could speak to his condition. Many
Christians describe this as being “saved” or “born again”. This transcendence
is not limited to a Christian experience. It could be described as a personal
awakening, or to being washed clean of worldly concerns revealing a higher
purpose for one’s life.
Realizing they had a common experience of yearning, Fox and
his friends began gathering together to seek God through worship and quiet reflection.
Over the years since then, a common explanation by Quakers for the arrangement
of meetinghouse benches has been the “hollow square”. The benches line the room in rows leaving an opening in the center. It is not just that we want a practical layout of the furniture where everyone can be both seen and heard. When we gather in
silence to wait on Divine inspiration during our meetings for worship, we begin
by entering a quiet vacant space. We are about to open ourselves up to the
possibility of growing spiritually.
How we individually experience this is as wide and varied as
the designs of snowflakes. Not knowing how it might turn out can be
frightening. Yet, we merely need to invite Light in and we can be healed. Our
lives can be forever changed. The result is to be challenged to actively commit
ourselves to lives of integrity and Love. Quaker worship is one way among many to
fill our vessels with the transforming power of God’s love. It is a place where
we are invited to enter the hollow as a community. We do not face the hollow
alone. We go there intentionally.
Experienced Friends advise newcomers that when we enter worship
it is helpful to empty our minds of day to day thoughts. We do this “centering”
to prepare ourselves to wait in silence to receive that of God through the ministry
of other worshippers. We are invited to enter a hollow space both physically
and spiritually. The silence itself is an emptiness uncluttered by
distractions. This simple ritual is a faithful practice where we risk exposure
to the unknown in the safe company of fellow travelers.
This form of worship teaches us how to seek all that life
offers; to face our lives with calm confidence. The Quaker process of corporate
discernment - the way we make decisions together - also helps us to understand
how to enter the hollow as a friendly society, to face the troubles of our time
together. Each time we gather to make decisions together we are testing our common
ideals. Our meetings with attention to business are experiments in faith and
openness. We are asked to empty ourselves of our expectations, our fears, our
personal desires, and our temptations. We are challenged to actively serve that
of God in our community.
Once emptied we carefully put into our corporate vessel our knowledge, our mutual respect, our trust, and our forbearance. This process can be a complicated spiritual discipline for a religious tradition which has a strong affinity for simplicity. But through a mysterious spiritual experience we attempt to create something practical and tangible. As we consider those matters before us we are charged with filling the hollow with acts of Love.
Once emptied we carefully put into our corporate vessel our knowledge, our mutual respect, our trust, and our forbearance. This process can be a complicated spiritual discipline for a religious tradition which has a strong affinity for simplicity. But through a mysterious spiritual experience we attempt to create something practical and tangible. As we consider those matters before us we are charged with filling the hollow with acts of Love.
In our daily lives we are being called to do the same. The
hollow fades from our awareness as we learn to embrace a life that is engaged,
productive, and filled with acts of Love.
Queries
- Are we willing to enter the hollow setting aside things like preconceived notions. pride, personal agendas, or suspicion?
- Are we prepared to open our selves up to the power of the Light, to be transformed, and give ourselves over to a higher purpose?
- How might we walk in that Light which transforms all our endeavors into acts of Love?
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