The storm breaks -- and all is well

It was clear to me that the diversity in religious practices between the Liberal and Conservatives -- the Unprogrammed and Programmed Meetings -- would, at some point in the 18 months of the School of the Spirit program, result in hard feelings based on  misunderstandings, unwarranted assumptions, and simple ignorance.  

Fortunately for our ("SN11") class, this eruption in the "feel good  feel at home" atmosphere happened on the third day!  And, as I suspected, there would be harsh words, but nothing would be said that couldn't be taken back.  Underlying the acrimony, there was a much stronger feeling of love and compassion to which we all subscribed.  And it helped that there were so many Seasoned Quakers in our midst to mitigate the words as they were spoken.  

The question arose: "Will we have space in these gatherings to express our Rage [and explore those feelings until the Rage subsided]?"  At one point, I took the microphone to say "If we allow space for laughter and joy, we must also allow space for tears and sadness.  If we allow space for togetherness and mutual respect, we must also allow space for anger and rage."  I think that helped. 

Many folks spoke from Very Deep Places, for the nourishment of all of us.  

What also helped was Johanna taking out a bottle of bubbles and blowing a few into the center of the circle.  

It took maybe 30 to 45 minutes -- from a very packed schedule which had not allotted any time for this! -- for everyone to express their feelings and come to mutual understanding.  One "side" to the other.  I chatted with Evelyn a bit later, and she was pleased.  On previous occasions, this blow-up did not occur in the program until it was 3/4 done.  So little time was left to repair whatever damage had been done and move forward.  And we had almost the entire program in front of us to benefit from what had occurred.

As the episode was drawing to a conclusion, I took the mike to suggest that, if and when another contretemps should take place, we should make sure that there was a bottle of bubble soap and a blower close at hand.  

Quakers are cool.  Even cooler than I thought...