Minute of Exercise on Simplicity
Query: We live in a fast paced, cluttered, complex 20th century world. What would your life be like if we were to consider what God is asking of us in each moment?
Our life in this place in the 21st
Century gives us many privileges, which we generally enjoy. Despite those privileges, in many ways
we are captives of this world. We
see new shiny things and we want them, encouraged by many forces in our western
society. We sense we need to step
back personally, but God may be asking us for more than personal decisions,
personal morality, personal faithfulness.
How do we as a people live faithfully in captivity, in Babylon, in the
belly of the whale?
We think about what it would have been like here 200 years ago, and see that life as being much simpler: no radio, no TV, walking all day behind a horse in the field, and talking quietly as we go to bed by candlelight. Sometimes we have tasted that kind of early life, as when a blizzard cuts us off for a few days from the rest of our world. We notice that then we feel closer to the Living Spirit. Is living a "simpler" life the way to reach hour-by-hour faithfulness?
We suppose it was easier for Friends of the past to find time and space for God, but although the kinds of things people had to do then were different, they were no less pressing than our commitments today. John Woolman intentionally made frequent time in his life to listen to God. So did Rufus Jones's parents. To be open to God and able to hear God's voice, we have to have a certain amount of discipline. The choice is no different now than ever it was. It's up to us to make it.
St. Benedict said, "The challenge is to respond immediately to whatever it is time for." Thus there are two parts to learning to be faithful: learning to listen and learning to respond. We need to allow ourselves to be made into and used as the instruments of God's love. I love to hear God's call, but I love even more the joy that comes when I am faithful. I believe that the love and joy I feel is a reflection of God's love and joy when I am faithful.
Other voices among us give us similar encouragement to faithful hearing and responding:
I have spent a lot of energy trying without success to solve some problem, only later to find that it was a spirit other than Christ's leading me on. When I have listened carefully to God, I have found myself freed up to do what is important, what God really wants me to do, and I have plenty of energy for the task.
At once time of family difficulty, I was asking God every moment what I should do. I thought if I did that, life would be simple and sweet. But it wasn't. I was still brought to tough places and hard challenges, but in addressing those challenges I was forced to grow spiritually, and I then felt very blessed.
I've lived a fast-paced life as a teacher in communities that endorse Friends' principles. I have experienced the joys of fast-paced simplicity, spending all day doing the many things that God asked of me, with abundant energy to the end of each day. I've been given strength to go about each activity with love.
How much better my life goes when I take the time each morning to ask God for guidance and strength for that day.
If my plans are clearly made, I find it much easier to change them when God presents an unexpected opportunity.
It was the practice among Quakers in the 18th Century to record a Friend's final words. One Friend said on his deathbed: "Let self be of no attribution, but trust in the Lord and He will carry you through." Trust is not an easy matter, individually or corporately. It is hard to be content to pray "Give us this day our daily bread." Nevertheless, as it is recorded in Lamentations, "God's steadfast love will provide. Each morning the mercies of the Lord will be provided."
This query challenges us to discern which of our many activities and commitments should be set aside. "Friends are advised not to be encumbered, so that we are available to God to be used as God wills." That is hard to do. The query also implies that we need to be open to knowing to what new things God is calling us to devote our time and energy. We need each other's prayers, love, encouragement, and support. We need to do this together. We need to hear your voice, O God, saying "Comfort ye, my people." Please heal us and take care of us, even when we are not paying attention. Please guide us in the way of your Truth.
- Clerk: Susan Zeichner, Recording Clerk: Susan Smith