A Pause In Lent #3

Isn’t it strange how things all seem connected ? I hadn’t thought about Malawi for ages, then…

Last week I met a Bishop who had worked in Malawi, a family whose son is currently doing mission work in Malawi – and Steph phoned to say she had found some Malawi currency in a drawer [she visited in 2008]

But the other subject that has been surrounding me like a cloud in the past couple of weeks is the whole topic of “People who settled in the USA to escape religious persecution” Sorry – that’s an awfully long definition, but I cannot come up with a tidy précis.

There’s been the whole Amish thing – the Plain Folk – that book, and the recent TV programme, and then ElizabethD blogging about her beautiful cross stitch “Amish Wedding”. And the soft colours on that piece reminded me of the fabulous Quaker Tapestry in Kendal

I have this postcard beside my desk as I work – George Fox, founder of the Quakers [or Society of Friends, as they prefer to be known] This term I have spent every Wednesday working at a school less than 15 minutes away from GF’s birthplace.

The Quakers settled in Pennsylvania – and then on Thursday night, I listened to the bluegrass music and thought of those who settled in the Appalachians, and how the English folk music brought with them had contributed so much to the musical heritage of that region.

I have found myself comparing and contrasting these two groups, [great websites here and here btw] and have concluded that in many ways the Amish way of life is summed up by the word Simplicity, and the Quaker faith by Listening.

And in many ways, I do want to live more simply, and listen more.

One of my favourite Fox quotes is “Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit” I know I need to work harder at being still, and keeping cool!

BUT - and here is the thing – as much as I respect these people, and would not in any way wish to judge their lifestyles, in this past week, I have seen the aspects which just would not work for me personally.

Simplicity is great- one of my favourite magazines is called ‘real Simple’. But unlike the Amish, I have embraced modern technology, and I want to use electricity, computers, telephones, electronic sewing machines and cars. In the right context, these things have so much potential to bless others, and to make life more comfortable. Of themselves, these things are not sinful. I’m just too ‘techie’ to be Amish [and I’m certainly not submissive enough]

Listening is fine – we all need to do more of that. But having heard God’s voice, we need to go and act on it. Now I am not saying Quakers don’t act - historically, they have a rich heritage of social action [Elizabeth Fry with the prison reforms, Sophia Sturge with her anti-slavery campaign, war service in the Ambulance Corps etc] However I am a get-up-and-go-girl, the consummate multi-tasker. I really struggle to ‘just sit there’. So I can’t join the Friends either.

…but this past week, the main word has been HOLINESS. I have kept coming back to the need for my own personal holiness, being more like Jesus. I suppose this was the inevitable conclusion of my reflections last week about spending more time thinking about Him.

It isn’t enough just to wear a WWJD bracelet [although I frequently do]

Having asked myself the question, I need to act on it, and act like He would in each situation.

 

An old hymn about the importance of seeking holiness – and two phrases in it which bring me back to Amish and Quakers again…

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

[I am certainly not there yet, but I am working on it…]