On January 30, 2000, three Friends gathered on Independence Mall to hold our weekly prayer vigil for peace in the world. Kathryn Gordon wrote the following report:
I think I will remember it the way one does a vivid dream: snow falling "fast, oh fast," small and large flakes in a faint wind. Looking up a long time I saw the atmosphere soup-like, the few passersby like fish swimming through silty water.
I caught flakes on my tongue. I had unsuccessfully tried that in past snowfalls, walking with kids, trying to recapture my childhood joy at snow. But Sunday at the vigil standing in place for an hour I caught many. Only the larger ones could be felt — a tiny shock — but small and large alike pinged my eyeballs. I laughed. This air was too gritty to look up into long.
First it was just Marcelle and me, and then Kaki came, hurrying from a clearness committee, to stand between us. The three of us seemed to me like three pillars, like three statues collecting snow, like a community. Two young black men called encouraging words, and an older man kept looking back at us as he walked away. Making a full turn once, studying us. Maybe he too will remember it as a dream, as a dream he dreamed.
Kaki and I took turns holding a sign that read, "Be Peace." When we weren't holding the sign, we could put our hands in our pockets.
For weeks, for months really, my mind had been as full of thoughts as the air was of flakes. But the day before that I had been to a PYM Worship, Ministry, and Eldering gathering. We'd worshipped three hours, eaten, and worship-shared hours more. I had been touched by the stillness, invited. The snow falling now seemed like a clearing, and I knew what when I rode the El back to the ghetto, the noise of our street would be muffled, and the children struggling through violent childhoods there would have succumbed, some of them, to the wonder of the falling, fallen snow.
I will remember as in a dream how when the snow was falling the hardest I looked left, at Marcelle, who looked right at me. We traded big smiles. It felt to me like my first smile in a long time. I felt joy — at standing still within so much swirl; at being peace with two such women.
Jorge has been maintaining the vigil in the Plaza Grande in Quito, Ecuador, as he did last summer. He hasn't had time to write a report, however. He's been leading a series of four three-day workshops in Alternatives to Violence, three of them in a prison, and training a team of facilitators who will continue the work after he leaves. He reports that Patricio, the man who joined the vigil last August, has joined him again.
Lee Garner of Central Philadelphia Meeting writes:
As Friends in Merion, and New Paltz Meetings have done, posting your weekly reports on the Monthly Meeting bulletin board, I shall also do as often as I can. I agree that reading the weekly reports has been a powerful reminder to me of forces for change and truth moving in the world. I want others in my community to also partake of that knowledge and that energy!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
Independence Mall Vigil for PeacePlease join us at our weekly prayer vigils for peace in the world, held in front of the Liberty Bell on Market St. between 5th and 6th, every Sunday from 4 to 5 PM. For more information, contact cityquake@aol.com.
In our reports, participants share their experiences of the prayer vigils and explore beliefs related to their participation. Reports reflect the experience of each author and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or practice of all vigil participants. We welcome your responses, which are forwarded to the individual authors (when possible). We sometimes include part of a response in a future report, unless you ask us not to.
It is meaningful to us that you share in the vigils by reading these reports and in other ways, such as joining us in prayer.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM