Peace

The text comes from here

Fierce Feathers:
A true story of the Society of Friends in America


In 1775, there were many communities of European settlers in the American west. Some of these were followers of William Penn and called themselves the Society of Friends, though others often call them Quakers. These Christian disciples had found a new way of practising their faith. They keep to a simple way of quiet worship, often meeting in silence, seeking to be peaceful in every situation. Many Friends went to America to find the religious freedom that was denied them back in Britain. You may have read about the Pilgrim Fathers, and the Mayflower, their ship.

Robert Nisbet was a Quaker preacher. One weekend he had to set out on Friday to arrive at a new and remote settlement by Sunday, to preach. It was a thirty-mile walk, tiring and thirsty, and he slept two nights in the open. The journey could be dangerous too. Many of the white settlers, though not the Friends, had used guns against the native Americans, and the response was swift, and often murderous.

As Robert walked, he thought about how to preach. The small community of Friends he was visiting were fearful and hard pressed, but faithful to their peaceful intentions. Every day there were stories of fierce fighting between settlers and native Americans, aka 'Red Indians'. Robert chose a Bible verse, Psalm 91, verse 4. ‘God will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will find refuge. Do not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day.’ Robert Nisbet planned a short sermon on the text.

On Sunday morning, as usual, all the Friends, from the eldest grandparent to the tiniest child, sat together in silent worship and meditation in the largest of their wooden cabins. It was a fresh morning, with a clear sky. The doors and windows were left open, and a gentle wind blew through. Robert read his text, and the people listened while he spent a few minutes sharing his thoughts. Silence descended: the community was worshipping. No sound arose inside the cabin. But outside soft footfalls came into the little village.

The native American Chief followed by many Braves crept into the little group of wooden buildings. They carried war axes, scalping knives, arrows and bows. They came to kill the settlers, and drive the whites away from their land. At first they thought the tiny village was deserted, but their expert trackers noticed all footprints leading to the largest cabin. They silently surrounded the wooden building.

Then two Braves stepped across the open window. Two more, and the chief, stood in the doorway. One by one, the worshipping Friends inside noticed the presence of the attackers. The quiet air crackled with tension. Each one looked to Robert: he motioned with his hands to keep still, to continue in prayer. Time stretched. The native American eyes took in the scene. There were no guns. No swords. No weapons. Then the Chief murmured to his Braves in a low voice. Silently, one by one, each Brave laid his axe and weapons on the ground. Each one filed into the crowded cabin. They too sat at peace with the Friends in worship.

Minutes passed, and the oldest of the Friends, a man called Zebulon, closed the meeting with a blessing. He stood, approached the Chief, and wordlessly motioned him to follow. He took the chief home, and shared his meal with him. Another of the Braves told Robert, ‘We came to kill you, and destroy your settlement. But you worship the Great Spirit in silence as we do.’ The Braves gave the Friends a white feather and an arrow as signs of peace, to display from their rooftop. There was no war between them.



For me, a great point in this story (besides the fact that peace ushers peace before war ever will) is not WHICH God we worship, but HOW we worship. That we have silent, joyous reverence for that which is beyond us. Not that we believe "I'm right" but that we AGREE that we are finite, while something else is eternal. As the native calls it the "Great Spirit" the settlers call it "God." Jews call it "Yahweh" as Muslims call it "Allah" and all I ask is, what's in a name?
This is an important factor in the story. That common ground was found; that the natives and the settlers worship.
What else is necessary to recognize is that the prospect for violence did not distract the settlers from worship. This is beautiful. Furthermore, those prepared for battle recognized the serenity of worship and respected it. Oh, the beauty of peace. God - the Great Spirit - Allah - Yahweh - weeps joy for this.