QUERIES FOR JULY: SIMPLICITY
Life is meant to be lived from a Center, a divine Center . . . a life of unhurried peace and power. It is simple. It is serene. It takes no time, but occupies all our time. --Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion.
A life centered in God will be directed toward keeping communication with God open and unencumbered. Simplicity is best achieved through a right ordering of priorities, maintaining humility of spirit, avoiding self-indulgence, resisting the accumulation of unnecessary possessions, and avoiding over-busy lives.
Simplicity, beauty, and happiness go together if they are a by-product of a concern for something more important than our selves.
--Elise Boulding, My Part in the Quaker Adventure
Do I center my life in an awareness of God's presence so that all things take their rightful place? Do I live simply and promote right sharing of the world’s bounty? Do I keep my life uncluttered with things and activities, avoiding commitments beyond my strength and light? How do I maintain simplicity, moderation, and honesty in my speech, my manner of living, and my daily work? Do I recognize when I have enough? Is the life of the Meeting so organized that it helps us to simplify our lives?
With thanks to the Reno (Nevada) Monthly Meeting.
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