A few years ago I had the opportunity to interview an extraordinary Friend, Quaker hospice chaplain and traveling minister Carl Magruder. Today Carl is receiving intensive care in the hospital following a motorcycle accident. As he heals from a serious brain injury, Friends everywhere who have been blessed by his unique and wonderful presence and ministry are praying for his recovery. Whether or not you know Carl, I invite you to join in prayer. I also invite you to spend some time with him, either by watching the interview, below, or by viewing one or more of his thought-provoking Bible Study half hours recorded at the 2020 FGC virtual Gathering, with the theme of “Jesus as Trickster.” You can find the Tuesday half-hour session at this link: https://youtu.be/5fQz0ZzRXgk?si=OS1VEIpiUiJuHKAT He begins with a song and you can enjoy his lovely voice and smile. He is one of the contemporary Quakers who has felt led by the Spirit to dress plainly–in his unique way. He begins this opening Bible Half Hour session by talking about how focusing on our blessings can help us heal from trauma. Then he turns to the subject of facing the end of the world as we know it, and invites us to daily repentence, which he defines (from the original Greek metadoia) as “transform your knowing,” “expand your consciousness,” and “turn in a new direction,” expecially by continually turning toward God and the ways of the Spirit. Looking at Jesus as a trickster teacher and the seed of his message as a powerful truth that needs to be attended, Carl invites us to repentence in astonishing ways, ways that challenge some traditional “Christian” prejudices. His talk is at once scholarly and very contemporary, challenging and also loving, deeply serious but humorous, powerful and subtle. While his message is joyful, it also provokes tears.
At the time of my 2020 interview with Carl, more than 500 wildfires were raging in the state of California, where he lives. He spoke of his experience of the start of the fires, and addressed the challenging nature of our era—a time of the Great Unraveling that precedes the Great Turning. He explained why he is a Quaker, described his calls and leadings, and shared his experience as a hospice chaplain. He told me about seeking support for his spiritual gifts and described the help he has received from Quaker elders and his anchor committee, offering the example of how he was supported while preparing and offering the Bible Half Hours. At the end of the interview, Carl spoke of his sense of oneness with the world. An EarthQuaker, he finds God in the world around him.
To watch the video without any ads, see it on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/454122919?share=copy
To watch the interview with ads, click on the YouTube link below:
Links for other 2020 FGC virtual Bible Half Hour videorecordings can be found below:
Monday: https://youtu.be/IvGOORudk5E?si=YWENS29ez9Q6evF6
Wednesday: https://youtu.be/wgUXwpp_g28?si=6PIL-W7TMZXNKnv6
A Whole Heart 