Quakers have an unusual way of talking about what we are seeking: we are seeking “the Light.”
The Gospel of John, long a favorite of Quakers, begins by saying “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” That’s an arresting way of talking about what we are seeking, but quickly John moves to speaking of the Light. John says the Word was “the light of all humankind.” Moreover, “the light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Of the coming of Jesus, John says “the true light that gives life to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:1-9. And later John quotes Jesus as saying “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.
The early Quaker James Naylor said “Art thou in the darkness? Mind it not, for if thou dost thee will feed it more. Stand still, act not, and wait in patience till light arises out of darkness and leads thee.”
The early Quaker theologian Robert Barclay said “That for this end God hath communicated and given unto every [person] a measure of the Light of his own Son, a measure of grace, or a measure of the Spirit.”
And in worship we often ask that we hold someone “in the Light.”
What a remarkable gift is “the light.” How can we awaken the Light within us? How can we wait in patience till light arises out of darkness and leads us?
Worth watching is this QuakerSpeak video:
