In mid-2014, a blast of church schism fever blew into the three-century old North Carolina Quaker community like a line of summer tornadoes. At its annual conference, a purge was suddenly demanded to “purify” their ranks of meetings deemed theologically “liberal” or friendly to LGBTQ persons. The same wave had already shattered Quaker groups in … Continue reading Solving the Mystery of “Murder at Quaker Lake”
English-speaking Quakers today are in dire need of some new “spiritual” books, and I have a top candidate to recommend here. It is John Calvi’s How far Have You Traveled? Amid all the wonderful stuff that’s in it, some of what makes Calvi’s book so excellent is what’s not in it. For example — and … Continue reading John Calvi: Boon Companion for Spiritual Travel
In my experience, the work of overcoming racism and its sordid history has many aspects, and can be pursued in many ways. Some are loud and disruptive. Others are calmly persuasive. Different strokes for different folks. Here I want to pay tribute to a current worker, a friend of mine, and fellow Quaker, Ron Osborne. … Continue reading Ongoing: The Everyday Work of Facing a Racist History
Signs of the Times: > a crowded Colorado restaurant on Mother’s’ Day. > Jam-packed taverns in Wisconsin. > Dr. Fauci sidelined in the White House, as pundits speculate on when he’ll be fired. Upshot: the lockdown season is ending, not with a bang, but a whimper— many whimpers, if anyone will still listen to those … Continue reading The Viral Turning Point, and After
The Quaker Widow, By Bayard Taylor THEE finds me in the garden, Hannah,—come in! ’T is kind of theeTo wait until the Friends were gone, who came to comfort me.The still and quiet company a peace may give, indeed,But blessed is the single heart that comes to us at need. Come, sit thee down! Here … Continue reading “The Quaker Widow”: A diverting poem for our moment?