My First Quakers Meeting
It was cold in the morning, at about 13 degrees outside; it did feel like the Irish summer was truly over. I planned to go last week, but last week I left my room way too late and all my taxi apps decided to act up together at once. This time, it's different. I took the bus at the nearet bus stop, but the bus decided to stop around Parnell Square; many people are getting off the bus, and I suppose I should get off the bus as well, so I did.
Sunday in Dublin city center is nothing I would have expected. You'd thought there would be more people on a Sunday (that's the case in China, after all), but no; it seems like everyone would rather be chilling in their house. The meeting house is not that far from Parnell Square; I walked the rest of the way and made it to the meeting house just in time.
At the meeting house I was greeted by a lady. She was very nice, at least that seems to be the case from the limited interactions we've had. She asked if I've been to a Quakers meeting before. I said no, this is my first time. She said, do you know what you should be expecting? I said yes, we sit in silence and worship for an hour. She told me where the meeting room was, so I went in.
The room is not big. It's not tiny, it's just not big. (I suppose you can call the room "tiny" in common Christian church standards, but when's the last time you see Quakers care about having big churches and big rooms?) There are many chairs and benches, all facing each other into the center of the room, where a low table is set with a vase for flowers being placed above. I entered the room, picking the furthest seat because I was worried if there's previously-established conventions among the regular attendees and me being in the wrong seat could upset someone. As the time passes more people came into the room, a majority of them middle-aged, and in the end the room was more than half full.
The time reaches 11:00, and the meeting began. Some people read (there were books all around the room), some people closed their eyes, maybe thinking or praying, but all was done in silence; sometimes there were noises of clothes moving, sometimes there were noises outside the building. There were times when someone wanted to say something, they stood up and said it and then sit back down. There's a copy of KJV Bible on the seat next to me; I read a few passages and I did try to close my eyes and meditate. I'd thought that sitting in silence for an hour would be too much of a burden for my brain which would normally ask for stimulation constantly, but of course God knows 1 hour wasn't nearly enough for reflecting and praying considering all the things I've done…
By the end of the meeting there was a section reserved for people to share things they didn't feel comfortable or appropriate to share during the meeting; and after that people shakes each other's hand and went to the tea & coffee room to chat and have tea & coffee. (I had three handshakes in one day - three handshakes! To be honest I wasn't expecting this much interaction at all.) I always felt like I really shouldn't be myself in these kinds of social activities, so I left early.
I should go again next Sunday. If I had the chance, that is. I should try to stay for the coffee as well…
Last update: 2024.8.26