Every Human Being is Precious
“Given the climate disaster that we are facing and the divisions that are happening politically, we have such an important role to play in highlighting that every human being is precious.”
— Quakers in Britain, 2020
Reader Responses
How do you balance between the activist and contemplative elements of your Quaker faith?
If you are an activist, how do you stay grounded and keep from burning out? How do you bring your faith into your activism? If you are a mystic, when has your spirituality led you to action?
"My spiritual director training is through the Jesuits. I honor their motto 'contemplatives in action.' I soak in the mornings through quiet time with coffee (of course), some pod casts that feed me to receive through the ear gate and then the Holy Bible and seeing the intention that is opened for me that day. I work with people in recovery from addictions (aren't we all on that journey?) and express and allow the Holy Spirit to lead me as I am a channel for life, encouragement and water to weary souls."
Jennifer L., Ohio, USA
Next Week’s Query
How do you know if you have a leading?
How can you tell when to act and when more discernment is needed? How do you lean on others in your faith community to help you come to clarity?
This Week’s Messages
Mon Sep 02
A Gift is a Summons to Service
“The man who can teach men has no right to raise turnips. Then, too, we all have special gifts and aptitudes which peculiarly fit us for some tasks rather than for other tasks. The very possession of a marked aptitude or gift is in itself a divine call and carries with it a summons to service – a noblesse oblige.” …
Tue Sep 03
We Were All Made Differently
“Those of us known as ‘activists’ have sometimes been hurt by the written or spoken implication that we must be spending too little time on our spiritual contemplative lives. I do know many atheists who are active to improve the lot of humankind. But, for those of us who are Friends, our attendance at meeting for worship and our silent prayerful times are what make our outer activity viable and effective – if it is effective.” …
Wed Sep 04
Exciting Our Endeavors to Mend the World
“True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it, and excites their endeavours to mend it; not to hide their candle under a bushel, but to set it upon a table in a candlestick.” …
Thu Sep 05
A Commitment to Moral Equality
“Most of us would like to believe that we have no outsized biases in favor of kith and kin, but research findings from neuroscience make that pretty unlikely. My commitment to moral equality is thus a commitment to be as sensitive as I can to areas where my biases might lead me to make unwarranted assessments. We are challenged, first, to notice unfair practices — and then to speak out against them.” …
Fri Sep 06
We Must Have Faith in Compassionate Motives
“The effects of our actions are largely beyond our control. Any happening they may influence has multiple causes that can never be unravelled; the contribution of what we did is as hard to assess as that of a single strand in a rope. We must have faith that if we purify our hearts, making our motives more compassionate, what we do will strengthen unimaginably the great forces that can save humanity.” …
Sat Sep 07
Love Was the First Motion
“Love was the first motion, and thence a concern arose to spend some time with the Indians, that I might feel and understand their life and the Spirit they live in, if haply I might receive some instruction from them, or they be in any degree helped forward by my following the leadings of Truth amongst them.” …
Banner art by Maggie Fiori
