June 2010
1 post
“From the Episcopal Church, with her imposing ritual and elaborate ceremonials,...”
– from the Exposition of Sentiments, a seminal statement of the spiritual principles of liberal Friends
I’ve been thinking about the dangerous idolatry of asserting that prayerful Quaker process leads inexorably to finding “God’s will”. God’s will is God’s alone...
May 2010
4 posts
3 tags
A dress code worthy of Friends gathering in...
In light of the 2010 Young Adult Friends gathering this weekend, a friend of mine posted the following comment on Facebook, that I felt was worth repeating and considering with care:
Some people are concerned about the dress code for the YA Gathering in Wichita— here’s a thought. Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength… and...
6 tags
Divergent Friends community and a fully catholic...
The 2010 Young Adult Friends Gathering in Wichita, about which I’ve written with concern here before, is happening this weekend. In short, I find the rules problematic, and the apparent disdain for critical public dialog is unworthy of Friends— but there’s no reason to rehash those matters in detail here.
On the other hand, I am very supportive of cross-branch interchange and...
3 tags
Whose house is it? The priorities of ecumenical...
My wife and I moved in with her parents after our daughter was born, and we lived with them for several years. As a young family with little savings, just back from art school in San Francisco, it would have been impossible for us to afford a place of our own. But living as a multi-generational family had a lot of benefits, not least among them the profound relationship my daughter now has with...
“Why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a...”
– Acts 15:10 (NRSV)
April 2010
2 posts
13 tags
Rules & ecumenism in Wichita
As a young liberal Quaker keen on ecumenism and interfaith exchange, I’ve followed the media blasts about this year’s Young Adult Friends conference in Wichita with interest. From the beginning, it’s been advertised as an opportunity for fellowship with a diverse variety of Friends, hosted by meetings affiliated with Evangelical Friends Church, Friends General Conference, and...
“…being a part of a faith community where queer people are full...”
– from Interbranch communication and liberal Friends—what do we get out of it?
March 2010
6 posts
2 tags
“To the many people who see me as the embodiment of answers to prayer I have to...”
– from Hostage in Iraq by Norman Kember
4 tags
Woolman on Conscious Business
Divine love which enlarges the heart towards mankind universally is that alone which stops every corrupt stream and opens those channels of business and commerce in which nothing runs that is not pure, and so establishes our goings that when in our labors we meditate on the universal love of God and the harmony of holy angels, the serenity of our minds may never be clouded by remembering that...
A Statement of Conviction →
“If I am ever called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in love of enemy, I...”
– Tom Fox (1951-2006)
“To labor for an establishment in Divine love, in which the mind is disentangled...”
– A Plea for the Poor, by John Woolman
“You want better? Better do it yourself.”
– Rant: Complaining About Fancy-Schmancy Quaker Schools by Chuck Fager
October 2009
1 post
Fox, Girard, & The Little Prince
This essay originally appeared in a book of reflections on the CPT hostage crisis compiled by Chuck Fager in 2006, called Tom Fox Was My Friend. Yours, Too.
“What does that mean— ‘tame’?”
“It is an act too often neglected,” said the fox. “It means to establish ties.”
“‘To establish ties’?”
“Just...
April 2009
1 post
There is a pinhole of light and a whisper.
“I know you.
“I trust the good wish inside you.
“Grow.
“Grow.”
March 2009
1 post
“He’s important enough to warrant our attention (though Slaughter doesn’t tell us...”
– Peace Theology: Ted Grimsrud reviews The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, Apostle of Abolition by Thomas Slaughter.
February 2009
2 posts
1 tag
A letter to those traveling in straitened times
Faith is a mystery. If we refute God’s existence, and still find abiding trust in the mystery that God’s absence reveals— that is a faith beyond the reach of arguments.
Faith is a gift, and few people really have it, I think. Stressful times, and times of abandonment by God can strain the “faith” out of most people. It is a priceless treasure for those who receive...
Spiritual formation 2009
For the past few years, I’ve been living on the other side of a mountain from my meeting, but I still visit frequently. And I participate in spiritual formation there, even though I can’t be with them regularly.
Today, I sent this update to my spiritual formation group:
Two days ago, I made a groundhog day resolution to keeping a journal as a spiritual discipline this year. My format is...
November 2008
1 post
As in heaven, so on earth.
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Come thy kingdom, be done thy will As in heaven, so on earth.
The other day, my wife was walking at dusk with a friend, and they saw a shooting star.
It happened so fast, at first she didn’t recognize it. Then her friend said “I just saw a shooting star.”
“I saw it too.”
Today I’m thinking about how often we see movement between heaven and earth...
October 2008
1 post
Responding to Martin Kelley re: Quaking,... →
September 2008
1 post
Reflection on Herding
The gospel of Luke talks about shepherds who were waiting in the fields at night when they got a message from an angel announcing the birth of Christ. It seems significant that this message came to the shepherds; the Bible recognises that herders, like Moses and Abraham, are accustomed to silence, to long nights of quiet watchfulness, and alert attention to present events.
It’s like meeting...
“I know that God will provide. I only wish he would provide until he provides.”
– Proverb
“By the tender mercies of our God, let the dawn from on high break upon us,...”
– Luke 1:78-9
"..To turn all the treasures we possess into the... →
from Worship by John Woolman
Twelve Pots of Honey
“Though conscience is an imperfect instrument for transmitting the Light, its claims are absolute and must always be obeyed, for conscience gives us the highest knowledge of the Light that we have at any one time. Because clearer and clearer knowledge may progressively be attained as the virtue of obedience grows, Friends have never declared any doctrine to be a final and unalterable...
1 tag
Divergent Friends
To open the way, a cultural breakthrough need not involve masses of people but must be done decisively by someone.
— from Goatwalking: A Guide to Wildland Living, a Quest for the Peaceable Kingdom by Jim Corbett
Social conscience is often wrong, among Friends as elsewhere.
Persons refusing to comply with social conscience are like researchers who refuse to conform their data to...
Dark Night
Into darkness of an obscure Night Burning with passionate longing for my love, Oh gladsome chance! I sallied forth with none to note, My house being now asleep. - from Dark Night of the Soul Christian theology and Christian experience describes a kind of spiritual draught called the Dark Night. The Dark Night is like going blind to every spark of divine Light, going deaf to every echo of...
Thinks during meeting for worship
Mind the Light: Watch out for vibrations of trouble and apply the AVP guides to Transforming Power. Keep low and stay alert for new ways to serve God in my family and my studies. Exercise Integrity: Simplify my tasks and just focus on priorities. Serve others: Center on the issues where I can serve my family and community, and engage the mystery present in others. Celebrate...
“The first step to peace is to stand still in the light.”
– George Fox
“Stand all naked, bare, and uncovered before the Lord.”
– George Fox
“Let the light of Jesus Christ, that shines in every one of your consciences,...”
– George Fox
the Central Concern
“The central concern is what we must do today to live faithfully.” from The Servant Church by Elford & Corbett New Light: This is the query I need to come back to the present moment in times of slacking or stress. “What must I do today to live faithfully?” Experience: Salvation in categories of belief & unbelief are abstract conjuring. The central concern...
a Transforming Power
AVP and HIPP are like the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius: a concentrated period of transforming dialogue that imparts concrete skills in community peacebuilding with the undercurrents of Quaker listening spirituality.
“The essence of divinity is found in every single thing — nothing but it...”
– from Sanctuary for All Life by Jim Corbett
Corbett's guides to moon sabbath
Begin at sunset the night before the new moon crescent appears; conclude at sunrise after it reappears. Be alone, at least during the night. Sleep under the sky. Use no fire, artificial light, electricity, motorized devices.from Sanctuary for All Life.