Scripture quotations are taken from:
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Thank you, Mike. What you say resonates very closely with my own experience. In my case, the Prayer came to me, unbidden, many years ago. I have frequently found it uncomfortable, and still do, but all attempts to escape and find another contemplative practice have been largely unsuccessful. Seems I’m stuck with it! I often think of the words of St. Silouan ‘Keep your mind in hell and do not despair’. I very much liked your quote from Quaker faith and practice. Quakerism is often seen as a kind of religiously inspired social activism, but that is to underestimate its depth and breadth, in my opinion.
Thank you, Tom! This seems to be a pattern with us…
I was thinking about your comment regarding Quakers, Tom and I remembered that years ago I wrote something on just this point. It’s here: https://silentassemblies.wordpress.com/2016/07/28/to-stand-still-listening/. (I hope it linkifies – sorry for the copypasta required if not!)
The link worked, and I quite agree.