While watching a youtube video of a rather good preacher, I felt extremely uneasy. Why oh why are we forcing this guy to shine alone while we recline in our chairs, feeling all unworthy? I could not agree more with this post by Mark von Steenwyk.
If someone (misguidely) asked me to speak out about my faith in front of a roomfull of strangers, it would go like this: "Welcome and thank you for turning up to the Quaker sermon. Do please rest your heads in your hands and adress Jesus himself, he's an awesome preacher. We'll be meeting up next door in an hour's time over tea and biscuits"*.
I won’t preach. I don’t want to shine and dim your light. I’d be a lousy Quaker if I didn’t let my friends shine on, shine on...
Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
Lyrics by Pink Floyd
*Oddly enough, that's also the reason why I'm not really hostile to the stripped-down Tridentine masses, or to the stunning Anglican services of Holy Communion in traditional language, with no preaching, and noone truly leading. If these are followed by beers in the pub, all the better!
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