{"id":4397,"date":"2023-02-20T18:32:24","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T18:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordquaker.com\/newsletter\/?page_id=4397"},"modified":"2023-02-21T18:02:25","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T18:02:25","slug":"oxford-meeting-quaker-and-answer-march-2023","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oxfordquaker.com\/newsletter\/march-2023\/oxford-meeting-quaker-and-answer-march-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Oxford Meeting Quaker and Answer – March 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luke Young<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Luke Young<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Luke Young is currently completing his PhD in English at Oriel College. He works on literary style and political thought in the Twentieth Century essay. He enjoys writing creatively too, including short stories, theatre, and long-form prose.<\/em><\/p>\n

Who, what, when, where, and why – are you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luke Young. Student. May 2nd<\/sup>, 1997. South London, Raynes Park. Love, what else?<\/p>\n

Do you have a memory that brings you comfort in times of hardship?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I used to attend camps with Scouts every summer in Horner Wood, Somerset. It is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. When I am struggling, I visualise myself sitting in a camping chair by the river, and watch my worries float away downstream.<\/p>\n

How long, if you are, have you been a Quaker (or attender)?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I grew up going to a Jesuit Catholic School, Wimbledon College. By the time I came to university I would say I was a Christian without a church, open to the teachings of other religions too, including Buddhism. I had been in Birmingham for almost three years, minutes away from Woodbrooke, but during my third year, during a difficult period of anxiety and depression, I first discovered Quakers. I consider myself a Quaker, although I\u2019m technically an attender\u2026<\/p>\n

What brings you joy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong>Reading and writing by candlelight, or a log fire \u2013 although I don\u2019t have one myself.<\/p>\n

Do you have a passage from QF&P that you would like to draw Friends attention to?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I suppose, in light of my next answer, I am drawn to Advices and Queries thirty: \u2018Are you able to contemplate your death and the death of those closest to you? Accepting the fact of death, we are freed to live more fully.\u2019<\/p>\n

What was the last book you read?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong>A biography of Joan Didion by Tracy Daugherty. I was struck by the loneliness of her life. In her youth she was told she had an aura of death. Her husband and daughter died within two years of each other. Virtually everyone else she knew was already gone too.<\/p>\n

What would you say to someone coming to MfW for the first time?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong>Welcome, Friend.<\/p>\n

Can you describe what  Quakerism is to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

God gave you one mouth and two ears \u2013 so listen twice as much as you speak. I\u2019m not very good at doing this myself.<\/p>\n

If you could do anything, what would you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong>Really, I would like to write, to tell stories, to talk to others about them and, if I\u2019m lucky, their stories too. Perhaps I\u2019m na\u00efve to think that this desire of mine might also be good for the world \u2013 but then, Jesus did like a story or two himself.<\/p>\n

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This Month’s Forty-Three Newsletter Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n