We Are Not Tasked with Fixing the Whole World Alone

Hello dear readers,

Thank you for exploring the relationship between faith and action with me this month, and for your wonderful query responses. As someone who leans contemplative, I often find myself overwhelmed by my activist leadings, overthinking them until they fizzle out. But the messages this month reminded me that I am not tasked with fixing the whole world alone; I have Spirit, I have community, and I have been given a few specific responsibilities to effect change.

I also want to speak to Friends who are engaged in activist work. I hope that you protect yourself from burnout, that you can say “no” with confidence when you need to. 

A central theme that emerged this month is that “the ideal spiritual life is an integrated one,” meaning that activism and worship should inform and strengthen each other. This is something I hope to keep in mind as we get closer to the presidential election here in the United States. Diane Randall urged us to “bring your spiritual self to politics,” and I know taking this advice will ground me for the heated, partisan days ahead. 

Tomorrow we will begin a month of messages on the theme of integrity, learning from our Quaker ancestors and elders what it means to embody our beliefs consistently in every aspect of our lives. Integrity means honesty and truth-telling, even when those truths are uncomfortable. We’ll dig into the history of refusing to take oaths and doff hats, the invention of the price tag, and other ways Friends have brought their public lives in line with their spiritual convictions.

I’m grateful to be on this journey with you. 

In friendship,

Maeve Sutherland
Editor of the Daily Quaker Message

Reader Responses

How have you seen Quaker faith and process meet the challenges of our time?

If the world could learn one thing from Quakers, what would it be? How would that change the world?

"For me the most important message that Quakers have is that we are part of a greater movement. It will last longer than our lifetimes, and we will not likely see the fruit of our labors. When people ask me why we work for peace, when it is unlikely to ever come to fruition, I point to the abolition of slavery in this country. So many Quakers worked toward that goal but never saw the result. We do the work, knowing that we will likely never see “success,” understanding that our lives are part of a greater movement that continues on, guided by the spirit."

Lisa M.-S., Evergreen, CO, USA
"When I slow down and truly listen, I can see that of God in every person, even if I don’t see the world through the same lenses. The Quaker focus on listening with an open heart and mind can help us to bridge across differences and find common ground."

Victoria E., Portland, OR, USA
"One of the greatest gifts of Quakerism is that the activism to which we are called is rooted in worship and the recognition of the Spirit who works in and through us. In our world today, there are so many challenges to justice and peace and many Friends want to resolve them all (wouldn't that be wonderful!), but the truth is that we can only do so much individually and even collectively. This is where Quaker faith process can help. When we bring our concerns to worship and truly listen with heart-ear inclined to Spirit, way opens and we can walk the path given to us with integrity. If we 'run ahead of our guide,' we may be tempted to think we can solve problems on our own; Spirit is our guide and our Quaker community is that which carries us forward. This calls for humility in our work in the world. Though it is not one of the Quaker testimonies, humility gives us the grounding to plant seeds while not worrying about 'taking credit' for work that is Spirit-led. When Friends are moved to answer a concern, the efforts tend to be more 'successful' if we get out of the way and allow Spirit to use us as instruments to make our world better for all."

Lisa E., Gulfport, FL, USA
"To really 'Be still and know...God,' entering the inner room, centering before going to the next thing or before saying yes or no. The world (others) would most likely be more considerate, gentle, and kind. Also, people would make more reasonable and wise decisions. More than anything, the love of God, self, and others, including all of creation would be the practice of the world."

Joseph J., Milwaukee, WI, USA

This Week’s Messages

Mon Sep 23

Learn to Say No as Well as Yes

“My cosmic love, or the Divine Lover loving within me, cannot accomplish its full intent, which is universal saviourhood, within the limits of three score years and ten.* But the Loving Presence does not burden us equally with all things, but considerately puts upon each of us just a few central tasks as emphatic responsibilities. For each of us these special undertakings are our share in the joyous burdens of love.” …
Tue Sep 24

The Seeds of Concern Are Given for Planting

“In prayer, the seeds of concern have a way of appearing. Often enough a concern begins in a feeling of being liable, personally responsible for someone or some event. With it may come an intimation that one should do some little thing: speak to some person, make an inquiry into a certain situation, write a letter, send some money, send a book. Or it may be a stop in our minds about some pending decision, or a clear directive that now is not the time to rest, or an urge to stay home when we had been meaning to be away.” …
Wed Sep 25

Wear Thy Sword as Long as Thou Canst

“Young William Penn, a gentleman of high social status, had heard Quakers preach and had experienced an opening of the Spirit in his own life. After a few months he had the opportunity of meeting George Fox, the inspiring leader of the Religious Society of Friends. Penn was obviously troubled in his conscience about following the custom of his class of wearing a sword. So he asked Fox, ‘How long should I wear my sword?’ Fox replied in the Quaker language of that day, ‘Wear thy sword as long as thou canst.'” …
Thu Sep 26

Individuals Can Resist Injustice, but Only in Community Can We Do Justice

“As a faith practice, sanctuary brings back into focus our community’s covenant to serve the Peaceable Kingdom. First, sanctuary cannot be reduced to or dismissed as a matter of individual conscience. An individual may provide refuge to the violated and may even prophesy, but only a congregation can gather as a church and enter into the communion that is sanctuary. Second, the practice of sanctuary fuses the concerns that are separate and even competing issues when relegated to the faith practice of individuals.” …
Fri Sep 27

Praying for Those in Power

“Tim Buckley is the CEO of Vanguard, one of the world’s largest investment management firms. Vanguard holds about $300 billion invested in fossil fuels, with about $101 billion invested in coal. As such, he has incredible power and sway in the world of fossil fuel investment. We’re walking to his house today to hold Quaker-style Meeting for Worship. It is simultaneously a spiritual gathering for worship and a campaign action organized by Earth Quaker Action Team.” …
Sat Sep 28

The Quaker Approach to Service

“If there is an identifiable Quaker approach to service, we could hope that it is embodied in this: that as in worship we follow the leadings of the Spirit and the Light faithfully, we are prepared to be led where it takes us — to let go of comfortable certainties and be taken into new knowledge, and also into painful and difficult experiences.”  …

Banner art by Maggie Fiori

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Author

  • Maeve Sutherland

    Maeve Sutherland is a communications professional who never recovered from her wonderful childhood at a Quaker elementary school. She has spent her career helping nonprofits share their stories, from schools and universities, to museums, to radio stations. As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, Maeve spent a year living in “Peaceable Kingdoms,” pacifist intentional communities around the world, where she learned that everyone has a role to play in shaping a better world. She worked as a freelance social media manager before joining Thee Quaker Project. After returning to Quakerism as a young adult, Maeve now attends Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting in Philadelphia.

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