10.23.20

“There is always hope in the darkest of times
if one remembers to turn on the light."
- Professor Albus Dumbledore

The highlight of my elementary school experience was going to Meeting for Worship every Wednesday at the Westfield Friends Meeting. Our classes would walk from our school building to the Meeting House and settle into silence.

I always wondered what message the Divine would give to my peers and maybe even me. The silence that was created was often pierced by messages about a recently deceased hamster or the upcoming trip to visit a grandparent.

Meeting for Worship on Wednesdays continues to be a joy in my life. While I am no longer a child and am not sitting in a Meeting House or even on the floor of the Multipurpose Room at FCS, I look forward to the silence and the voices of children speaking a word that has been implanted in their hearts or is ruminating in their minds.

In recent weeks, I have been struck that children start their messages with the words “I hope . . .” often following with wishes for their peers.

I hope no one gets COVID.

I hope everyone has a good day.

I hope everyone has a good year.

These messages of hope are meaningful and powerful to those who speak them and those who receive them. These are the messages that teachers and students need right now. For what is a life without hope? With it, we believe things will get better. And they will.

In Peace and Partnership,
Angela

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