Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends
A Quaker community in Frederick, Maryland

The Frederick News Post's: Words on Faith by Helen Tasker

Public ContentAnyone can view this post

Helen Tasker's essay "Words of Faith: How do people of faith respond to the fear and violence that pervade the world?" appeared in the Frederick News Post on September 9, 2016.

__

The end of summer is near as far as dates go, but the hot weather is still bearing down on us. I am curious to see seasons change, as my love of the sky, the trees, the plants and this Earth grows each day.

This creation is an amazing thing, and I breathe in a sense of peace or awe as the heavens are painted with roiling clouds or brilliant sunsets. The cicadas and crickets, the birds and other creatures of God offer their soothing sounds in the mornings and evenings, quieting in the hush of the heat of midday. I feel ever grateful for this world and mourn the erosion of this planet’s resources and beauty, taken by those greedy for the money that natural resources bring to their pockets.

I believe we, as humans, are part of God’s creation as well. We are many and varied in temperament, ethnicity, wealth, health and religion. What a beautiful mosaic we form. And yet there are many who see other humans as possessions, as objects, as enemies, as victims, as toys, as threats. In our daily lives, we must somehow respond to those with hateful hearts, bringing them the love that is in our own.

How can we do this? How can we overcome fear of the others with love that heals the brokenness? I ask this question of myself and of God, and I hear this: Stay centered and when in a tough situation, a silent prayer for the situation or for a person might work wonders.

As a teacher in a public high school, I encounter difficult moments with high school students who feel the power of their words, sarcasm and jokes with others. The biting humor is often associated with internal pain that I might not ever see or know. And at the same time, I see these young people are so full of love or need, power and promise, kindness and respect, and curiosity about the world in which they live. As teachers — and I believe we each have something to teach others on this planet, in this life — when we listen to each other, we model respect and understanding. We affirm the other’s being, when we look them in the eye and nod with understanding, with kindness, with sympathy or sorrow — and even a smile. Love has so much power.

I’m a bit fearful to engage in conversations that might arise as we discuss various texts this school year; often literature brings questions of what it means to be human. Over the summer, there have been many events that have caused divisive, violent and wounding acts, and simmering emotions and sentiments have boiled over. When we believe those who are public leaders, who claim a faith that is deep, but speak with intolerance or hate for others, we are hurting ourselves. When we allow or even encourage this vitriol, we have strayed from the path of creating a peaceable kingdom. So many faiths preach of loving one’s enemies, being our brothers’ keepers, and yet how can we show this to each other? How can we manifest the Spirit in our daily acts? How can we show others a path to inner peace?

As people of faith, all we can do is strive to live with integrity and love. I know, I hope, that when I center in Spirit, I can create a space for listening hearts to thrive and grow, and help others learn to recognize the beauty in our human and natural world.

Share