Poodledoc, Jr Goes on Retreat, Part Two

Poodledoc, Jr. enjoyed his retreat. He made some new friends and seemed very contented, although a bit tired. It sounds like they didn't do anything particularly Quakerly. Well, they did a service project. They watched a movie about an Iraqi family and how the US occupation effects them. So it's ok with me that they didn't do anything particularly Quakerly.

When I stopped by last night, I managed to be a "fly on the wall" for a few minutes and I watched him moving about the room, creating things with his hands and connecting with others, making new friends. So watching that, I feel that Spirit was there in the room as the kids were bustling about, making cake, making candles, making friends. This looked and felt very spiritual to me. All this creating and connecting. And a retreat from his "regular world". A place to build some trust with other kids coming from a Quaker place in terms of some shared values. And shared hope, I think, too.

We talked some about it in the car on the way home and he really enjoyed his new (and old) friends. He wants to go to the next NYM Quaker retreat in the spring in the Twin Cities. To see his friends. I pray that God continues to guide him on his journeys.

Poodledoc, Jr Goes on Retreat, Part One

Just dropped Poodledoc, Jr off at the Meetinghouse for an overnight Quaker retreat. It was challenging wending our way through the pre-football game debris. The football stadium is only two blocks from the Meetinghouse, but the game had started by the time we'd arrived. So it wasn't too crazy.

Poodledoc, Jr looked a bit glum sitting in the little room in the Meetinghouse we call "The Sun Room" as I left. I think he was maybe feeling a bit shy. I plan to go back this evening, AFTER the football crowd has had a chance to clear out, to see how he's doing. I think he'll be fine and have fun once some of his friends like Isaac and Sparkly Sea Cow arrive.

It's interesting that he continues to maintain he's not a Quaker, just an Associate Member (of Madison Monthly Meeting). But, I've seen him identify himself as a Quaker in things he's written for school. I'm always curious about his spiritual development. Personally, I'm not particularly interested in whether he decides to be a Quaker. But this is a place, I think, where he can explore spirituality. We'll see. We have some great talks about faith, God, fate and other aspects of spirituality, so I guess I'm really more concerned that he's thinking about spiritual stuff, rather than what he calls himself.