Regular vigil participant Dan Homan writes:
We were joined today by Alastair Reid from Scotland. Ali, as he is called, and John were already there when I got there, and we spoke a little before starting. Later in the vigil, Ali was questioned by a young man, maybe six or seven years old, who was with his mother and sister. Ali talked a bit with the child and then helped him select a placard which he wore as he stood with us for a while.
Earlier in the vigil, my heart was stirred when a man, standing near us with his young son, asked if we knew that peace can only come through Jesus Christ. He seemed nervous, but genuinely concerned that we might be missing the truth of the gospel. I believe I've had similar feelings myself, when I believe I've been called to witness — to tell someone what Christ has done for me in my life — and I'm suddenly hit with a wave of fear.
I answered that, yes, I believe true peace comes only through Christ. When he then asked if we represented Christ, I said something like that I believe Christ represents Himself, and that, by the grace of God, Christ moves me to be a witness to His peace and for His peace, including here by the Liberty Bell on Sunday afternoons. I wasn't as eloquent as I think I just was here, with more time to write out what I'd like to think I'd said, but as Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians (ch4, v7), we are "... jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." It does surprise me sometimes, though, at how many people, apparently even some Quakers, don't seem to know that Quakers are Christians.
I'm also reminded of a Quaker woman who recently told me that she's delighted to see that many Friends are starting to realize that they are Christians. William Penn stated in his preface to "The Journal of George Fox" that "... in his ... ministry, (Fox) much laboured to open truth to people's understandings, and to bottom them upon the principle, and principal, Christ Jesus, the Light of the world ...", and Fox himself wrote, early in his journal, that, especially at one point in his formative times, he "... was as a stranger to all, relying wholly upon the Lord Jesus Christ."
It's occurred to me that the name "Friends" may have been inspired by Jesus' own words as John recorded them in his account of the Gospel: "I no longer call you servants, ... Instead, I have called you friends." (5:15)
Later, about five minutes of five, its usual time of appearance, I saw the Red-Tailed Hawk again for the first time in quite a while. It was soaring over the trees to the northeast of us, and was gone in less than a minute, but I pointed it out to Ali. The hawk reminded me that our Sundays together often have an effect on me similar to that spoken of in Isaiah — "... those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (40:31)
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