“Quakers develop their theology through the experience of the energy moving through the entire creation around them and through their life,” says Christy Randazzo. “So, I was like, well, what would that look like?”
In this video, Christy shares the image of a tree, rooted in the ground on the banks of a river. They describe how the river is made up of water from all the rivers upstream that flow into it, the flora and fauna that live in it, the pollutants that have made their way into the ecosystem… “When it flows past your tree by that bank,” they tell us, “you are pulling in everything in your context, in your climate.” Our spiritual condition thrives or suffers in a similar way, depending on our surrounding environment.
Christy extends the metaphor to consider how trees interact with one another, and how the testimony of one Friend can influence the spiritual direction of others. “The doctrine… emerges from testimony, emerges from a way of being,” they say. “And that is a truth I can give to you. I understand who God is because I’ve experienced it. I’ve seen it in community. I’ve understood it. I’ve lived it.”
I am a 77 year old “old hippy,” Birkenstock wearing, ‘let your freak flag fly’ Quaker.
It is with the deepest reluctance that I say to Christy: If you want to preach to the choir, then by all means wear the earrings and sleeveless shirt.
If you want to appeal to a broader audience, remove the earrings- or at least wear some modest hoops- and wear a long sleeve- or at least short sleeve- shirt.
It’s distracting.
The message to the broader audience is that “you should be able to see past these superficial ornaments.” Well- I agree. They “should.” And maybe, eventually, once they are rooted in the diverse ecology of a gathered Meeting, they will.
Isn’t that at least part of the purpose of these videos?
And PS- I really like the message itself.