I am a minister, photographer, retreat leader, author and Quaker -- albeit one who's not always good at being a good Quaker. I am the author of "Awaken Your Senses," "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality," "Mind the Light: Learning to See with Spiritual Eyes" and "Sacred Compass: The Path of Spiritual Discernment" (foreword by Richard Foster).
This blog is a compendium of writing, photography, seriousness and silliness -- depending on my mood.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Quaker Wisdom for Today
Trouble of soul can teach us things that raptures never could - not only patience and perseverance, but humility and sympathy with others.
That's why I think he said "Trouble of soul..." -- which I read more as "the dark night of the soul", not so much things such as racism, cancer, et al - which are not, as you point out, gifts from God...
When I read these quotes I check them against my own experience. I don't think I can define or explain it, but there was something in my experience that confirmed the quote. Maybe some meditation on this one for a while...
Nice quote.
ReplyDeleteI find this kind of wisdom dangerous...
ReplyDeleteYes, pain can teach us things that we could never learn otherwise. Sometimes people turn that into "This pain is a gift from God."
Racism, genocide, hatred, greed, cancer...are not gifts from God.
That's why I think he said "Trouble of soul..." -- which I read more as "the dark night of the soul", not so much things such as racism, cancer, et al - which are not, as you point out, gifts from God...
ReplyDeleteWhen I read these quotes I check them against my own experience. I don't think I can define or explain it, but there was something in my experience that confirmed the quote. Maybe some meditation on this one for a while...
ReplyDelete