November 15, 2007

I Carry

There is a phrase in Quakerism that I have found helpful in my life (lots of phrases, actually, but that's maybe another post for another time). The one I'm thinking about today is, "Under the weight of a concern."

There was a time when the daily speech of Friends (Quakers) was markedly different from that of their peers. But although most Friends now speak in a way that is virtually indistinguishable from that of their peers, there are still some telltale phrases, and "under the weight of a concern" is one of them. When a Friend speaks of being "under the weight of a concern," it is in a spirit of empathy as an inducement to action. So while you might be concerned about a loved one's health and leave it at that, if you spoke about being under the weight of such a concern, it could imply a broader degree of feeling, and might lead a listening Quaker to ask you how you were led to proceed, given the weight of your concern.

The concerns I carry, those which I am under the weight of, are in some ways the ones I have chosen, or at least the ones I have chosen to acknowledge. I am under the weight of a concern about the lack of universal health care coverage in my country. I am under the weight of a concern about the stigma still often associated with mental illness. I am under the weight of a concern about the health of our democracy if we come to think of ourselves only as investors and consumers. And what it means, to me, to be under the weight of these things, is that I am willing to move beyond worry. That I will move through the world with the knowledge that I am carrying them.

I will talk, and argue, and listen, and puzzle over these inequities. I will seek greater understanding, I will try to create spaces for collaboration, I will ally myself with others who seem to me to be under the weight of a similar concern. And in carrying these concerns in this way, I will make the only difference I can. Or maybe I should say, the difference only I can.

(Thanks to the good women of Sunday Scribblings
for their continuing inspiration.)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

that was awesome, particularly the way (or maybe the weigh, now, to me,)you expressed your participation in the last sentence. beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Interesting "Quakerism", never heard about it until now, I learn something new every day in this community of writers, thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for such a clear description of this phrase. I appreciate it.

Mary M

Linda J Wilk said...

Thank you Shelley; I too love this statement. Most often I have heard it used "laboring under the weight of a concern," which I love because it brings to mind the labor of bearing my children. This in kind reminds me that we are bearing forth the creative fruit of the spirit when we do so.
Peace, Linda

myrtle beached whale said...

I, too, labor under the weight of concern, but never knew what to call it until now. Thanks for the insight.

Cherie said...

Thank YOU for 'the weight of concern' and the lessons the thought of that saying brings ... adored your post!

Anonymous said...

I had heard of Quakerism but never understaood it. Thanks for making it so.

Patois42 said...

Your last lines are fabulous. Your whole post is good, but the last is grand.

paisley said...

although i have always shied away from organized religion,, i find the truest yearnings of my soul do tend to follow a quaker path more so than nay other... this was a lovely essay.. thank you for sharing ....

Tumblewords: said...

Wonderful commentary. You share so many carried things with a multitude of us...Thank you for sharing these thoughts and the information about the phrase.

Stacy said...

The phrase is really clear in its meaning. Nicely explained.

Rob Kistner said...

Engaging and poignant post... ;)

Anonymous said...

Very profound! Love it!

Mamarazzi said...

i love the things i learn through the blogs i read, thank you for the new lesson...i will carry it with me!

Jack Greening said...

This is a very interesting take on the prompt. I particularly liked the line... I am willing to move beyond worry. That I will move through the world with the knowledge that I am carrying them. It describes the way I feel about everything that concerns me but feel powerless to change. "Under the weight of a concern" is a beautiful, thoughtful expression that I will adopt to describe the feeling.

Liz Opp said...

Hi, Shelley--

I found your blog because of your mention of Quakerism... and your post is listed on the Quaker website QuakerQuaker, a moderated Quaker blog aggregator of sorts.

Anyway, a few months ago, I also wrote about what it means to carry a concern, or come under the weight of a concern. One comment I make within my own remarks is that as we bear the burden of the concern, our inward condition is changed as well as our outward witness to the thing.

Other experienced Friends share their own understandings of the phrase in their comments to my post, if you were interested.

I realize this post was in response to a writing exercise, so perhaps my own comments aren't useful here. Still, I love reading what others have to say about their own experience in and understanding of the Quaker faith.

Blessings,
Liz Opp, The Good Raised Up