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Valiant for Truth Dustballs. As a child I was fascinated by them. It seemed as if I had just cleaned my room when my mother was admonishing me to clean again. And if I took the easy way out, those pesky dustballs always gave me away. "Where did they come from anyway?" I wondered. "Were there little people or monsters under my bed who made them just to get me into trouble?" But they could just be cleared away—if I swept the floor they were gone. As I enter 2003, I can see the dustballs in my inner life, too. They aren't in obvious places like under the bed, but are tucked away in the corners of my being. And it's still a mystery how they get there when it seems as if I have just swept them away. How about the dustball of doing—wanting to do more even though my plans may not be God's plans? Or the dustball of fear—fear of letting go and letting God take control? Or the dustball of impatience—I am still gaining strength after my illness this summer and I am tired of naps? There are others too, some just dim shapes in a far corner. Like the dustballs under my bed, the only way to keep ahead of them is to regularly clean and bring order into my life. The typical New Year's resolutions never remain for long—you know, all those "I'll do..." declarations. It isn't long before they too are forgotten under the bed, gathering themselves into a giant dustball. So what is the answer? How can we avoid the mystery of the ever-gathering dustballs? Instead of listing desired results, the key is to focus on cooperating with God this year, opening ourselves to Christ to listen to His voice and follow His leading. Jesus said, "Remain in me and I will remain in you." John 15:4 It sounds quite simple really, yet I know that distractions will come and new dustballs will form. But God's power is more than sufficient to regularly bring order into my life, to energize me through inspired reading and music, through fellowship with others, through daily conversation with God. Won't you join with me in 2003 as I sweep aside the dustballs and focus on God's mighty power and presence? "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 Blessings in Christ, Trish Edwards-Konic

COVER STORIES Listening Spirituality—A simple faith that transforms lives. This phrase has been used by FUM for the past few years to describe Friends faith relationship with Christ and the outward testimonies that follow. This issue focuses on the components of waiting and discernment that are foundational to Friends listening spirituality. 10 To Wait On the Lord Considering eight definitions of waiting, Terry Wallace describes how each one of them has a place in waiting worship. 11 Understanding God's Leading Requires Waiting Mary Lee Comer looks at differences in decision making between her secular work as a former judge and her work now as the new Western Yearly Meeting Clerk. 12 Alert For God The discernment of a Concern led Gerard Guiton on a journey requiring individual silence and listening, plus corporate assistance from Friends. 14 Justifying God Amidst the Ruins Current events have caused some people to feel immobilized in their prayer life. But Ron Selleck challenges us that true prayer comes during times of great need so that we, like Job, can justify God amidst the ruins. 17 Openings Special insights from God—openings—have come to Dick Hendricks in many ways throughout his 93-year-old life. But first you need a listening heart.   FEATURES 4 News from Friends United Meeting 8 News 16 Salt and Light The Quaker Testimony of a Changed Life Jack Kirk 18 Bible Study Doing the Impossible Sara Beth Terrell 19 Turning Points A Seed in Winter Joan Voss 20 Ideas That Work 22 Passages 28 Booknotes 30 Viewpoints 32 Classifieds 34 Meeting Directory 38 The Back Bench Communication Styles and Quakers Nancy Thomas   ON THE COVER The interior of Flushing Friends Meetinghouse, New York. The waiting benches invite us to sit in the stillness to become alert to God. Photo courtesy of Rosalie Graff.

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