Anxiety and surrender

As I write this post, the 2007 FGC Gathering of Friends is less than one month away. Yipes!

Thank goodness for care-and-accountability committees. Mine met with me this past First Day, knowing that getting together so close to the Gathering would be important, and knowing that if we had met any closer to the Gathering, it would have been a hassle to interrupt whatever it is I'll have my hands, head, and heart into at the time!

I was able to express my growing anxiety over all the loose ends that need to be tied up between now and the end of June. I was able to express my worst case scenarios that were playing in my head. And I was able to remind myself that all I really need to do is pay attention to what God has put directly at my feet, what is directly in front of me right here, right now.

I just need to give myself and the experience over to God, day by day. The rest will take care of itself.

The committee of a few caring fFriends heard me out with love and compassion. They didn't talk me out of my worry and they didn't affirm my anxiety, either. Ultimately, we all came up with ideas to help get me through. Some of the ideas had us in stitches because they were so off the wall.

Whether or not you'll be at the Gathering, there's probably a way for you to participate, if you want, in helping me shift from worst-case thinking to best-or-better-case thinking. I'll take all the support I can get!

Here's a partial list of what we came up with.

I need to engage in daily worship, before and during Gathering, starting now.

Open myself to receiving prayer support from various fFriends.

Solicit ideas from others about dealing with pre-Gathering stress, especially from Friends and FGC staff who are familiar with preparing for the Gathering and making it to the other side.

Use humor.

Imagine: Dedicated lines for "4 complaints or more," and an express line for "3 complaints or fewer."

Imagine: Different directions for crabby people and for serene people:

"Please rate your mood: For "Crabby and worse," please follow this (long-and-winding) path to the Workshop Changes Table. For "Pleasant, serene, or better," please follow this (very simple and direct) route to the Workshop Changes Table."

Maybe for real: Post a sign, “We're in continuing revelation—Back in ten minutes.”

Reminders to be gentle with myself as well as with others. Allow myself and others to be very human, all week long.

Have the committee arrange for impromptu and periodic check-ins with me by pre-selected fFriends:

"On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being 'you are loose and relaxed' and 5 being 'you are about to lose your Quaker cool,' how would you rate yourself?"

If my answer is higher than a 3, these Friends would know to take evasive action!

Similarly: establish a safe word or coded phrase to let other committee members and other significant Friends know when a break is Completely Necessary Right Now.

A “Friendly fire/forest fire danger" sign, visible to those in line ("Friendly...'Nice'...Un-Friendly" risk levels).

Notecards written with reminders:

God is with me.
These Friends are my neighbors and my family.
They've had a long day too.

Have food and water available, and a cooler filled with ice water that has bandanas soaking in it for my head!

Frequent short breaks.

More notecards:

I am a servant.
I am serving the registrants.
I am serving FGC.
I am serving God.

Pray and pray and pray.

Blessings,
Liz