tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post3284121366618611137..comments2023-06-30T23:05:13.115+12:00Comments on Missionary Anna - kiwi tales!: rattling cagesAnna Dunfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12362143051124854821noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post-26561868416167790502007-03-28T20:00:00.000+12:002007-03-28T20:00:00.000+12:00It isn't so much that I want to stay young forever...It isn't so much that I want to stay young forever, but that I want to grow from my experiences as a younger Quaker. If you remember the experiences of youth, AND the values of your youth then you can put them into practice as you get older and the world becomes more complicated as we have to take on more responsability. The best way to do this is to find something positive you love in life use it for the greater good and give back to the community. Everyone is waiting for a revolution to occur meanwhile the small acts of kindness that are a struggle against the world go unnoticed. Rejoice. There is hope. Put one foot in front of the other and live.Belle And Sebastianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15937695946642111277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post-16968689095719820102007-02-22T19:02:00.000+13:002007-02-22T19:02:00.000+13:00Thanks, Anna. I think you've put your finger on it...Thanks, Anna. I think you've put your finger on it. <BR/><BR/>What was so valuable to me at the Pacific Yearly Meeting annual session last summer was the fact that they put aside the usual business and spent a lot more time looking at what we are called to do as a community. It wasn't "productive" in that it didn't produce any new committees (thank goodness!) or any new processes. Instead, I felt a recommitment to engage in the traditional Quaker process together. It was my sense, and I hope that younger Friends who were present would agree, felt included in that work.<BR/><BR/>I'm greatly encouraged by the reports back from the YAF gathering in Burlington, New Jersey. <BR/><BR/>Also, there will be a <A HREF="http://www.quakercenter.org/Pages/ProgramPages/Flyer07YoungAdults.html" REL="nofollow">YAF workshop</A> at Ben Lomond Quaker Center in California, April 13-15. It will be led by Betsy Blake, a YAF from North Carolina.Chris M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05125825966802002625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post-6972538375817623342007-02-22T09:38:00.000+13:002007-02-22T09:38:00.000+13:00Hi Anna,In my experience in liberal US Quakerism, ...Hi Anna,<BR/>In my experience in liberal US Quakerism, the most common answer what are you after Young Friends is simply that you become an ex-Quaker. Or at least an uninvolved one. At the last liberal Quaker gathering in the US, there were nine 60-somethings in attendance for every 30-something. Ouch!<BR/><BR/>Even though the numbers clearly show there are issues that need to be addressed, it can be dangerous just to mention that there's a problem and a generation gap. <BR/><BR/>I've raised hackles at workshops for suggesting that my experience of being a young Quaker might differ from the young Quaker experience of those now in their 60s. At a conference looking at youth issues a few years ago, all the young people in attendance said that they wanted to have more serious cross-generational conversations about what Friends believe; almost none of the older people in attendance put that down as a priority.<BR/><BR/>I don't know what the answer is, except to get our conversation and support from wherever we can--blogs, segregated conferences, whatever. And to set the example that it's possible to have serious discussions (and disagreements) about faith and the meaning of Quakerism while still respecting each other.<BR/>Martin the <A HREF="http://www.quakerranter.org" REL="nofollow">Quaker Ranter</A>Martin Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999620933648327663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post-77741897883292834212007-02-21T17:09:00.000+13:002007-02-21T17:09:00.000+13:00Thanks for this post Anna, I was all smiles and th...Thanks for this post Anna, I was all smiles and thinking AMEN while reading it!Liz in the Misthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396346855135995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post-87848911944567843902007-02-20T21:32:00.000+13:002007-02-20T21:32:00.000+13:00Thanks Dad =)Thanks Dad =)Anna Dunfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362143051124854821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16620908.post-83968301461757281442007-02-20T21:30:00.000+13:002007-02-20T21:30:00.000+13:00I hope that you never cease to be YFs at heart, an...I hope that you never cease to be YFs at heart, and that you will carry your enthusiasm, energy and preparedness to look for better ways with you. Sure it will stir things up, but it will stop the Society fossilising.<BR/><BR/>DadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com