Sitting in Silent Solidarity

Early in the year, my friend was troubled by the state of things. She sent an e-mail to our group.

“I am going to go to this Starbucks every day this week and sit in silence for peace.”

My life was simple enough at the time. (Januarys’ trend that way. Especially when you shirk resolutions.) I reached out to her, found out the specifics, and then joined her.

I should be specific, because the specifics were what almost got me. I understood that she was going to sit in peace. I assumed, what with it being January and all, that she would be sitting indoors.

You figured it out.

“Oh it is such a beautiful day. I’m going to sit outside.”

She had a hat, jacket, gloves, and warm coffee. What saved me was my wool cap. I was not in love with the idea. However, as most folks can tell you, the exterior seating at a cafe is always quieter than the interior. Certainly in the middle of January.

I tried it out. I knew I would be cold. However, with constant squeezing of thighs, my legs (sitting on a metal chair) hung in there with me. I carry gloves in my jacket pocket for just such an occasion.

A reality check: I was not Lewis and Clark traipsing through unmapped wilderness -cold. I was not escaping slavery with threadbare clothing and no shoes, Harriet Tubman threatening to desert me -cold. I was “chilly.” It was her quiet protest, not mine, so I let it be.

We sat. I had my Bible with me. I flipped through a passage or two. And we sat.

That is the quirk of us Quakers. We can go and go and go without talking. Cars drove by, trucks loaded up, and lattes were purchased. Neither of us said a word.

Finally, about an hour and a half later, my friend started to stir. She nudged us back into polite conversation. Two or three folks in thick jackets walked up, thinking we were son and mother. We talked about our desire for peace. Our little attempt to bring more peace to the world.

Then, a few minutes later, my friend and I parted ways. She went to her car, I went to mine (where I quickly cranked up the heat), and we drove back to our own sections of the world. The peace we found on that quiet Tuesday was fine. Though I believe we still desire much more.