Maidstone Quakers
The Quaker Testimonies - Simplicity
Last Monday saw the third in our series of Meetings on the Quaker Testimonies. This time we were considering the testimony to Simplicity.
Firstly we read an extract from North Carolina Yearly Meeting 1983 found in the section of Quaker Faith and Practice, Living faithfully today 20.27. We also read Advices and Queries 41 and 28.
We then embarked on an exercise designed to encourage us to explore which aspects of our lives enrich us and which are less important, even acting as a hindrance to our spiritual growth.
We were asked to write down on pieces of paper provided for the purpose:
- 10 objects of importance to us which we own
- 8 tasks or activities that we regularly do
- 6 roles or responsibilities that we have
We were encouraged to write these down quickly whatever occurred to us first, but if we struggled to find examples we could vary the number in each category by one or two. After this we were invited to reflect on what we had written, asking ourselves:
What do we enjoy or draw strength from?
What we felt was an encumbrance?
What brought us closer to God?
What comes between us and our truth?
We then had to imagine that we were suddenly presented with some wonderful and dramatic once in a lifetime opportunity that could not possibly be missed. HOWEVER, this new opportunity was going to mean giving up half the things we had written. So we had to choose what to give up. After doing this, we reflected together.
Did we give up objects, tasks or responsibilities?
How did it feel to give things up?
What did we learn about ourselves?
We all found the experience enlightening, at times surprising, quite challenging, somewhat liberating, if only for that evening, and definitely thought provoking.
How about you?
Helen Nicholls