In yesterday’s post, Quakers and Presencing, I wrote about the compatibilities between Quaker spiritual practices and Presencing.

Kheprw Institute

The path the Inner Light led me down related to racism started about four years ago (circa 2012).  I was deeply involved in the environmental activist movement, mainly through the Keystone Pledge of Resistance.  At that time various environmental groups would organize national days of education or action to try to raise awareness about our environmental crisis.  These things were organized via the Internet.  When I learned of an upcoming day of action, I looked to see where something in Indiana was occurring, and the only event was at a place I’d never heard of, the Kheprw Institute (KI).  I was led to attend that event.  I found an old building that had previously been a convenience store in an inner-city neighborhood in Indianapolis.  But it was full of young, black kids enthusiastically showing us their aquaponics system and rain barrel making enterprise as ways they were working for the environment.

I was intrigued, and wanted to learn more.  They did have a web page, but the only contact information was an email address.  On the web page I saw one of their projects was “Open Source Activism”, to develop computer applications to support activism.  Being a computer programmer, I thought this would be the way for me to connect with KI.

I sent an email message indicating that I would like to be involved with that, but did not receive a reply.  I was thinking this was not meant to be, but this was one of those times when the Inner Light was not going to let me give up, so after a couple of weeks, I sent another email message.   After some time, I received an offer to meet at KI.  I arrived on my bicycle on a dark, rainy evening, to find the same group of about a dozen kids in their early to late teens, and KI’s leaders, Imhotep, Pambana, Miss Fair, and Alvin.

After some greetings, we all sat down, and I thought we would talk about programming languages and projects.  Instead everyone looked at me, and Imhotep said, “Tell us about yourself.”  I talked a little about being concerned about the environment and working with the Keystone Pledge of Resistance, and my work at Riley Children’s Hospital.  “Tell us some more.”  So I mentioned I was a Quaker, and Miss Fair enthusiastically talked about Quakers and the Underground Railroad.  When she stopped, everyone looked at me.  I said something along the lines of how grateful I was that my ancestors had done that work, but Quakers try to not take credit for things they personally hadn’t done.

Which led me to talk more about how Quakers didn’t see religion as something only involving listening to a sermon once a week, and left me at the point where I needed to provide an example from my own life.  Since KI is built on concern for the environment, I spoke of how I had reluctantly purchased a used car for $50 when I moved to Indianapolis, mainly for trips home to Iowa.  Car rental was not common in the early 1970’s.  When my car was totaled several years after that, I decided to see if I could live in the city without a car, and have since then.  I was hoping that would show how Quakers try to translate what they believe, what they feel God is telling them, into how they actually live their lives.  At that point Imhotep, with a smile on his face, said something like “Thirty years?  You are a warrior.”  I had never been called a warrior before.  It seeming a humorous term to use for a pacifist, (and I suspect that was his intention now that I know him better) but I liked it.

I have since learned that Imhotep is very good at drawing stories out of people.  So again, he said, “OK, tell us some more.”  I finally realized, and realized I should have anticipated, that this was more an interview to see if I was going to fit in, and the usual surface information wasn’t going to be adequate.  I remember everyone looking expectantly at me and wondering what to I should say next.  I also clearly remember the Inner Light telling me what I needed to do.   I turned to each person and said “Quakers believe there is that of God in everyone, and that includes you, and you…” The very first time, I think I hesitated slightly as I was asking myself, “OK, we Friends always say this, but do you really believe this of a group that is different from you?” And I’m really glad the answer was an immediate and emphatic YES, but it also seemed to reaffirm that by exploring it intentionally.  At that point I remember smiling at the thought, and the young person whose eyes I was looking into saw it, too, I think. Each person smiled at me as I said that to them, and I had the impression they were thinking, “of course”.   I strongly felt the presence of the Spirit among us.

That finally seemed to satisfy the questioning.  This was a real revelation to me, how it is important to express spiritual matters as well as you are able when the situation calls for it.  (It is also important NOT to do so when the situation does not call for it.)  And to be alert for those possibilities, and how the Inner Light guided me through that evening.  That set the tone for my involvement with KI since that night, for which I am profoundly grateful.