QuakerQuaker

Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

Quaker Worship of Worldly Prudence

Life takes place in the tension between opposing goods, either of which is dangerous to pursue heedlessly.

Contemporary Quaker decision making veers dangerously towards putting our faith in worldly reason and prudence.

This is especially problematical given the fact that Life As Usual is no longer available, has been an illusion for some long time now, is rapidly moving towards pure mirage. We can expect -- soon -- to be called to continual deep discernment and strenuous action towards helping ourselves and others cope with challenging circumstances in which money in itself is likely to be far less helpful than whatever we can still buy with it.

We can not put our faith in any Process except continual turning to God. We can not depend on other people to "test" our leadings; we must however trust that God will provide other people to help us steer in the rapids ahead -- and to help us know when to trust, when to distrust conventional wisdom.

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Permalink Reply by Forrest Curo on 6th mo. 12, 2014 at 4:52pm

Olivia said:

"Forrest, what's up with this: "But God keeps raising our bets, keeps trying to jar us all into a greater perspective... Like a big Mother Bird telling her children to 'Fly or fall'? "

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"It wanted to be in there so I let it." It's a metaphor that came along suddenly and seemed to pull many things together.

What we were going over in emails re how to merge "Get out of Babylon" with "Consider the lilies of the field." The fact that many many things just aren't right.... "Poverty is the number one killer of children in America" [Theresa Funiciello ~ 1985?] while so much in our personal lives is utterly right.

The "apocalyptic" [as if the word meant "apoplectic"] acts of God in this time -- together with the incredible divine mercy that Jesus speaks of and that we've many times experienced ourselves.

It makes more sense if you change the context: not The Big Court Case, but a different kind of test, one that our Mother in Heaven gives us now because we're ready to pass it -- not like "You're in!" vs "Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth", but like "This is what you all need so you can learn to fly..."

So, your turn: What would this 'nest' be we need to leave? -- and what do we know of this sort of 'flying'?

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