My Quaker Spiritual Path

 

Hello Friends, and welcome back to my blog,

Today I wanted to share something that I have not shared on my blog before, but is an important part of my everyday life - my Quaker faith and practice.

Let your lives preach.

- George Fox

To begin, here's a brief history and introduction of the Quakers. The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, was founded by George Fox in 17th century England. In 1682, due to religious persecution in England, William Penn established an American Quaker colony in Pennsylvania. Ironically, these Quakers would later be persecuted again by the Puritans. The early Quakers, and conservative Quakers today, believe they are personally guided by the Light of Christ in their largely silent (unprogrammed) meetings. Vocal ministry from individuals in the meeting is given, as the Holy Spirit or Inward Light leads.

 Quakers typically have no paid clergy or require tithing, and children are welcome in their meetings for worship. Although, some meetings today provide a separate First Day (Sunday) School for children, and may have some paid clergy (programmed meetings). But all Quakers today, whether conservative, liberal, or evangelical, strive to live according to the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, which are outward expressions of their inward faith.

 I've been a Quaker for almost 30 years, and for 24 of those years, as an "isolated" or "solitary" Quaker. An isolated Quaker means that I do not live near a local Quaker meeting for worship, so I worship alone, seeking spiritual guidance from the Holy Spirit through prayer, the Bible, and Quaker books and other online resources.

A few favorite Quaker books.

In addition to daily prayer, and reading my Bible and other spiritual books, the online Advices in The Book of Discipline of Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative), has been very helpful on my path. Quaker Advices are a directive, and not a set of rules.

 Here are several Advices from The Book of Discipline of Ohio Yearly Meeting, 2008:

- Carefully maintain truthfulness and sincerity in your conduct, and encourage the same in your families. In your style of living, in your dress, and in the furniture of your houses, choose what is simple, useful, and good.

- Be vigilant in reading of the Bible and other spiritually helpful writings. Gather daily in your families for worship. Such times have a special value in bringing little children especially into the experience of united worship, and so preparing them for the larger meetings for worship, as they learn in the silence to bow to the power of God. 

- Follow steadfastly after all that is pure and lovely and of good report. Be prayerful. Be watchful. Be humble. Let no failure discourage you. When temptation comes, make it an opportunity to gain new strength by standing fast, that you may enter into that life of gladness and victory to which all are called.

- Seek for all your children that full development of God's gifts which true education can bring about. Remember that the service to which we are called needs healthy bodies, trained minds, high ideals, and an understanding of the laws and purposes of God. Give your best to the study of the Bible, and the understanding of the Christian faith. Be open-minded, ready constantly to receive new light.

A complete list of Advices can be found at www.OhioYearlyMeeting.org. 

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Until next time,

 Peace and blessings, 

Kim

Be patterns, be examples, in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them: then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one.

- George Fox, 1656