Dear Dr. Bruce: My quilting cirle members are not Quaker or plain. It is the only guild in my area I found to be the least offensive, the least aggressive, less in-guild battling and so forth. Surprisingly, regular women can be very harsh. The longer I am a member the more I see harshness and aggression in my guild and I often think of removing myself from it . . but I do so love quilting women. . although these are fast becoming less lovely as beings. That is why they find me strange. . I don't hold their values for consuming, doing combat or taking on useless responsibilities. I see people as sacred and quilting as sacred. . . working with our hands as sacred and so on. . . tis a beautiful thought. But I'm (unfortunately) not surrounded by anyone who cares about the sacred but for myself. . . its very sad to me. That is why this forum is so tremendously important to me; to hear beautiful words spoken is as a lovely balm, soothing to the soul.
Just a brief explanation for why they find me strange.. . and why I could be the rogue member.
Dear Dr. Bruce, I read your Blog posts and most especially appreciated the paragraph you wrote that I have copied below.
most humbly,
Chris
In Quaker Plain I, I noted that for me plainness has more to do with being humble than it does with being good. The problem of spiritual materialism is a good example of why. Being good can very easily lead to self-righteousness, one of the most unlovely forms of spiritual materialism. Humility never does. You have to stop practicing humility in order to fall into spiritual materialism. There is no greater safeguard against it.
I use lots of scraps in my quilting so that I do not waste. Perhaps I will call myself the rogue quilter.. from now on, among my quilt guild as they already think me strange. I would rather make light of it than quit the guild that I've been a member of for 20 + years.
They have somewhat shunned me for not taking on more of their - - what I call - - "plastic responsibilities". I prefer the social connectedness of quilting women - - not the "another meeting, another responsibility, another typing project" mentality. They have eliminated only the social connectedness and added in all the other nonsense responsibilties.
Pardon my sharing this and beg your forgiveness. You probably care not about the issues of a quilting woman. . . but your 'rogue' comment made me laugh and helped me to see beyond my desire for their companionship when that is not what they can offer me.
It takes many hours a month to sift through hundreds of websites to come up with this daily curated list of the best of the Quaker web. If you learn more about Friends and find joy and spiritual growth in the conversations these links provide, please consider supporting the ministry with a monthly subscription.
QuakerQuaker is a community of Friends exploring Primitive Christianity Revived: plain witness, ministry, beliefs. Quaker blogs, photos, videos & gatherings. Learn More.
Dr. Bruce R. Arnold's Comments
Comment Wall (6 comments)
You need to be a member of QuakerQuaker to add comments!
Join QuakerQuaker
Thanks, Dr. Arnold, for sending the invitation. I look forward to further interaction here at QuakerQuaker.
Thy Friend Jim
Thanks for the welcome!
Thank thee for accepting our Friendship invitation.
Peace be to thee.
Timothy
Dear Dr. Bruce: My quilting cirle members are not Quaker or plain. It is the only guild in my area I found to be the least offensive, the least aggressive, less in-guild battling and so forth. Surprisingly, regular women can be very harsh. The longer I am a member the more I see harshness and aggression in my guild and I often think of removing myself from it . . but I do so love quilting women. . although these are fast becoming less lovely as beings. That is why they find me strange. . I don't hold their values for consuming, doing combat or taking on useless responsibilities. I see people as sacred and quilting as sacred. . . working with our hands as sacred and so on. . . tis a beautiful thought. But I'm (unfortunately) not surrounded by anyone who cares about the sacred but for myself. . . its very sad to me. That is why this forum is so tremendously important to me; to hear beautiful words spoken is as a lovely balm, soothing to the soul.
Just a brief explanation for why they find me strange.. . and why I could be the rogue member.
Dear Dr. Bruce, I read your Blog posts and most especially appreciated the paragraph you wrote that I have copied below.
most humbly,
Chris
In Quaker Plain I, I noted that for me plainness has more to do with being humble than it does with being good. The problem of spiritual materialism is a good example of why. Being good can very easily lead to self-righteousness, one of the most unlovely forms of spiritual materialism. Humility never does. You have to stop practicing humility in order to fall into spiritual materialism. There is no greater safeguard against it.
Rogue. . I love it. .
I use lots of scraps in my quilting so that I do not waste. Perhaps I will call myself the rogue quilter.. from now on, among my quilt guild as they already think me strange. I would rather make light of it than quit the guild that I've been a member of for 20 + years.
They have somewhat shunned me for not taking on more of their - - what I call - - "plastic responsibilities". I prefer the social connectedness of quilting women - - not the "another meeting, another responsibility, another typing project" mentality. They have eliminated only the social connectedness and added in all the other nonsense responsibilties.
Pardon my sharing this and beg your forgiveness. You probably care not about the issues of a quilting woman. . . but your 'rogue' comment made me laugh and helped me to see beyond my desire for their companionship when that is not what they can offer me.
Blessings,
Welcome to
QuakerQuaker
Sign Up
or Sign In
Or sign in with:
Tip Jar
It takes many hours a month to sift through hundreds of websites to come up with this daily curated list of the best of the Quaker web. If you learn more about Friends and find joy and spiritual growth in the conversations these links provide, please consider supporting the ministry with a monthly subscription.
You can also make a one-time donation.
Latest Activity
Friendly book discussion
Epi-nasty To The Hypo-chondriac
Part-time job opening at ProNica's St. Petersburg, Florida office
ProNica at Southeastern Yearly Meeting Annual Gathering
Top Site Content
Biblical Inerrancy Watch: the Evangelical Free Church of America
Confronting Mental Illness in Monthly Meetings
A New Association of Friends Is Born
What of God's Law?
What Divides Us and What Unites Us
About QuakerQuaker
QuakerQuaker is a community of Friends exploring Primitive Christianity Revived: plain witness, ministry, beliefs. Quaker blogs, photos, videos & gatherings. Learn More.
Advertise:
Learn about QQ Advertising
Place an Order
The QuakerQuaker Audience
Quakers