We liberal Quakers often don't have a meaningful description of what we do in worship. I have read it referred to as "meditation", "silent prayer", "reflection", and "centering". While our lack of doctrine or uniform theology might hold an attraction for many seekers, our inability to explain why our worship is worthwhile could be our downfall.

What's wrong with the description given by earlier Friends? "Silent waiting" is such a meaningful description because it has the connotation of 'listening' patiently for something or someone bigger than our individual self; something worth waiting for.

I have tried of late approaching worship with a goal of "silent waiting", rather than my past practices of zoning out through meditation, or reflecting on my life. My active 'listening' has been very worthwhile for me, and I am now more eager each week for Sunday worship. There is someone who I am wanting to "listen" to either through my own listening or through the vocal ministry of another worshipper.

It matters not whether we label who we are listening to as "the Light", "Christ", "God", or the "Greater Self". It IS what it is, and our label for it won't change its reality. Rather than a hard-fast label, what we need to have is the humility to accept that there is a mysterious Spirit knitting our reality together that we can't define, but can know experientially. Isn't that Fox's experience that created a whole religion?

Once we take that leap of faith, and simply strive to listen for that Voice during worship, our Quaker faith takes on a deep attraction in a stressful, modern world that is increasingly shying away from religion and dogma. And our experience, once we 'listen' in worship, will make us eager to share that faith with others.