Fresh Start
3/20/2026
Let your life speak
‘…be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your life and conduct 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 1652
I am being led to re-evaluate how I work for justice now. Kind of scary, to change the habits I’ve developed over many years.
The acute trigger for these reflections is suddenly not being able to publish on my WordPress blogs, which has been the main way I’ve shared my writings.
My usual workday begins by researching trusted sources and listening to the Spirit for guidance on what to write about that day. As I am doing now. I’m being led to write more about the Spirit. As a Quaker, I’ve had spiritual experiences that are the heart of my faith. But I’ve always had this tension about how much I should say about the Spirit. Many people are uncomfortable with discussions about spirituality. And it’s difficult because we don’t have the language to express spirituality. Spirituality is ineffable, meaning unable to be described with words. There isn’t a way to measure spirituality.
Despite that, I feel we need to try to express spirituality. I’ve long felt there is a deep spiritual poverty. But maybe that needs a fresh look. Perhaps that is true of the culture I’m embedded in. But I have the impression that isn’t the case for other communities I’ve been connected with.
One of the wonderful things about being a Quaker is the principle that how we live our daily lives is how we express our spirituality.
Seeds of War
War and peace are on the minds of everyone around the world, with the shock of a new, unexpected attack on Iran by this country and Israel. We are so weary of war, death and destruction.
Most of us are paralyzed in the face of such relentless, overwhelming atrocities. In the past many of us believed that once the truth is known, the injustices would end. Today the atrocities, the reduction of Gaza to rubble, for example, have become old news.
Still, most of us continue to feel the moral pain. Battered and bruised. Having trouble feeling any hope.
The rising up of a desire to obtain wealth is the beginning; this desire being cherished, moves to action; and riches thus gotten please self; and while self has a life in them it desires to have them defended. Wealth is attended with power, by which bargains and proceedings contrary to universal righteousness are supported; and hence oppression, carried on with worldly policy and order, clothes itself with the name of justice and becomes like a seed of discord in the soul. And as a spirit which wanders from the pure habitation prevails, so the seeds of war swell and sprout and grow and become strong until much fruit is ripened. Then cometh the harvest spoken of by the prophet, which “is a heap in the day of grief and desperate sorrows.” O that we who declare against wars, and acknowledge our trust to be in God only, may walk in the light, and therein examine our foundation and motives in holding great estates!May we look upon our treasures, the furniture of our houses, and our garments, and try whether the seeds of war have nourishment in these our possessions. Holding treasures in the self-pleasing spirit is a strong plant, the fruit whereof ripens fast. A day of outward distress is coming, and Divine love calls to prepare against it.
“A Plea for the Poor”, by John Woolman, 1720-1772
Bear Creek Friends meetinghouse near Earlham, Iowa