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Quaker Life
November 2001

 

Valiant for Truth

We Will Not Be Greatly Shaken

Shaken. As I write this, one week has passed since the events in New York and Washington, D.C. that have left not only us, but many people in the world, shaken. Anger, sorrow, distress and uncertainty flow within us. The words of Psalm 62 have been my lifeline during this tragedy:

For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly, my hope is in him. God alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
(verses 1-2)

Most of us, who have lived in relative security for many years, are asking "Why?" Like the psalmist who paused in his song of trust to complain of those who threaten him, we learn to accept the fact that not everyone wishes us well.

Our efforts to create security for ourselves are illusory and can often be ripped apart in a moment's events. But if God is our stronghold, we will not be greatly shaken. What a comfort to me to know that "yes, we will be shaken at times in our lives, but we won't be greatly shaken." Our only safety is in God who is our stronghold and our refuge.

Put your trust in God always, O people, pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
(verse 8)

Pouring is not half-hearted, not dripping, just a generous flow. To pour out our hearts, we must hold nothing back when we come to God in prayer, pouring out our negative feelings as well. God's love is so expansive it fills the voids left as we release negative emotions.

Trusting God, pouring out our hearts, seeking God as our stronghold and refugeÑall these enable us to "overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

Being centered in God's love enables us then to reach out to our neighbors. In this issue, outreach to our neighbors takes several turnsÑministry to disabled veterans and Hispanics, those who are homeless and in prisons, those with physical challenges, those living out the peace testimony in diverse situations and youth (see the new column Fox Pix).

May we be valiant for truth in these challenging days as we remember we will not be greatly shaken.

Blessings in Christ,
Trish Edwards-Konic

COVER STORIES

10 Ministry with Vets at Camelot Farm
Margaret Hawthorn
Margaret and Bruce Hawthorn have ministered to disabled veterans since 1978 at their farm, Camelot, in central Massachusetts. Their children have grown up there as months passed into years, years of challenging and rewarding ministry.

12 Good Friends and Neighbors
Dr. David Byrne
The Coalition for Hispanic Ministries (CHM) began in 1994 with a vision among Friends to reach the rapidly growing Hispanic population in North America. David Byrne, the first Director, shares the progress made as Friends reach out to their Hispanic neighbors.

16 I Sing Because I'm Happy
George Bert McCleskey

UMOJA Men's Chorus at Warren Correctional Institution
Catherine Roma

Prison ministry takes many forms. Recording a CD for a men's chorus in prison, Catherine Roma shares the how-to of the project. A chorus singer writes, "I Sing Because I'm Happy" even though his body is behind bars for many years to come.

 

FEATURES

4 Commitments
Retha McCutchen

4 News from Friends United Meeting

8 Peace Notes

18 Turning Points
What Constitutes Healing?
Stephanie J. Landaas

20 Bible Study
What Will You Meet in the Wilderness?
Jan Hoffman

21 Salt and Light
Hearing the Prophetic in the Familiar
Thomas Jeavons

24 News

25 Fox Pix

26 Reviews

30 Book Notes

31 Passages

34 Classifieds

36 Meeting Directory

40 Viewpoints

42 The Back Bench
The Many Uses of Spit
Nancy Thomas

   


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Copyright (c) 2001 Friends United Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

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