this fabulous thing called the internet.

So, today I had yet another one of my moments of my Internet life crossing paths with my "real" one (I use quotes because I recognize of course that it is all in fact "real")...

Two instances stand out above all else this week. First, at a potluck and gathering mid-week, a conversation ensued regarding some "issue", then unnamed, that was brewing in some Quaker meetings in other parts of the county, and in some smaller (my perception) concerns, here in New England as well. As the conversation went on, a Friend turned to me and asked if I had any idea what everyone in the room (except for me) was talking about. She noticed, in a moment of awareness and caring I am sure, that I, as a "new" Quaker, might not have any idea of the same-sex marriage controversies being spoken of in many ways and many places. I chuckled to myself as I explained that yes indeed, I was aware of the basics (although not perhaps the New England details) of the concerns. The chuckle came as I reflected on where the knowledge had come from - the Quaker blogs of course....

Instance two: Today I met Jeff. Whom I had met briefly before, this summer at my second attendance at meeting in Amesbury. Where had I really felt that I had "met" him? When I read his article here on Quaker Ranter (it spoke even more to my concerns today, BTW). I asked Jeff for some suggestions on how to find more information, and he said, not surprisingly, "keep reading the blogs." Certainly he did not mean as my only source of information, but for a wider view and sense of connection with a larger Quaker community? Of course!

So in two places now this question (in various forms) has come up - "how do we expand membership or awareness of our existence/mission/community to others, both within and without the smaller Quaker community?" I'm not advocating that we in any way diminish the avenues for personal contact that we have now, but as someone who came to meeting via a web search in the first place, I wonder how much longer it might have taken me if Amesbury Quakers had not had a website?

I was asked this week about my Quaker experience, from a curious acquaintance who had been intrigued by my "Quakerish" status updates on facebook. And as someone who has always found great comfort in writing, the added dimension of a blog helps to lend a little more validity to my musings. My first instinct was to send this person to a website for Quaker information, NOT invite her to a meeting, or to speak with me further. I was worried at my instant reluctance to extend an invitation - but I think at that moment, I sensed that she might have been best served simply by basic information.

As someone who came from what I saw as a controlling religious upbringing, I needed the neutrality of the internet to open that door to Quakerism for me. There is no substitute for me for the expectant waiting and community shared in a meeting. However, I'm pretty sure if someone had "invited" me to attend a meeting I would have run the other way. I get wary of being "invited" to religious venues, even if they seem pretty good for me at first. The internet provided a level of neutrality, combined with a rich text of contrasting views, that laid a foundation.

I recognize that my path was one of a reader, a writer, a solitary researcher, and perhaps that path is more unique than I imagine. I certainly also feel "predestined" to end up where I have right now, led by experiences such as Parker Palmer's work at Courage Northeast, and my dialogue process work with Umass' CCT program. Those programs and experiences were not "Quaker" in direct format, but they introduced to me alternate methods of communication, so I felt that when I finally arrived at meeting this year, I had a personal vocabulary upon which to layer a deeply spiritual experience.

I have lots of thoughts still running through my head from a pretty busy week. I suspect this week will be one of "putting it all together" as I return to work and a regular schedule. But I will certainly be keeping up with those blogs and postings, to keep abreast of the larger community that in some way supports my smaller one.