This blog has been created as a space for writings and reflections about Australia Quaker life. (Image: Pixabay)
Starting With Dying
Because I’ve worked with many groups of Friends internationally, it’s easy for me to see each one’s relative strengths. I think of these as the spiritual gifts of the community. It makes sense that our yearly meetings would have different spiritual gifts. We’re meant to be helping each other, all around the world. Read the full entry here.
Evidence of Children
When I’ve Zoomed into Australian meetings for worship, I’ve often looked for evidence of children. One of my favourite moments was watching a silent room before worship began…silent not because Friends were already in worship but because the microphones were malfunctioning. As adults fussed over the technology, a child dashed into the room, then back out, then in, then out. She hopped up in a chair and scribbled in a colouring book. Seconds later, back down, across the room to tug at a grown-up’s hand. Brought the grown-up to a library corner. Showed a picture book. Dashed back out of the room again. Ran in, crawled into the lap of a different grown-up. Waved to someone else. Cuddled. Then left. Read the full entry here.
A People
What makes Quakers in Australia a people? This is an honest wondering for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it. I’m at a disadvantage, of course, because I’m not physically in Australia surrounded by Australian Quakers and engaged in conversations every day. But it’s a thing I’m curious about. Read the entire entry here.
The Jeremiah Peace
Ask any stranger what they know about Quakers, and they’re likely to respond with something about peace. They might even say that Quakers are pacifistic. But that word is an oversimplification and inaccurate. What George Fox actually said in the first-ever written articulation of the Quaker peace testimony was, “We live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars." This implies a manner of day-to-day living that is neither reactive nor nonreactive but proactive. We are faithful to the Light so that the occasion of all wars can be prevented. Read the entire entry here.