As Way Opens
A good friend recently sent me a book called The Book of Hours, a compilation of Thomas Merton’s writings, prayers and psalms. Book of hours became popular as a Christian devotional book in the Middle Ages. This is a prayer guide and helps create a discipline of prayer throughout the day. Each book of hours was unique and often they were beautifully illustrated and almost works of art. Tens of thousands of the book of hours have survived and are in libraries and private collections all over the world.
I became quite fascinated by this way of prayer during a class at seminary that I took exploring different methods of prayer. Merton’s book of hours is organized by the day of the week as well as a reading for dawn, day, dusk and night. I have not worked up to reading all of them 4 times a day, but first thing every morning I am reading the dawn passages and often the dusk passages at night. This simple practice has deepened my devotional time and also made me realize that during this crazy time of the pandemic, I lost some of my practices. I became less focused, less disciplined and let some of my practices fade away. Reading Merton and spending time alone in prayer has brought this into a sharper focus and I am becoming intentional on re-establishing some of my practices so they become habits.
Merton’s writings have a transcendence to them as well as an appreciation for every part of nature. Here is an excerpt from Monday’s dawn passage:
“We are warmed by the fire, not by the smoke of the fire . We are carried over the sea by a ship, not by the wake of a ship. So too, what we are is to be sought in the invisible depths of our own being, not in our outward reflection in our own acts.
“When I speak of the contemplative life I do not mean the institutional cloistered life, the organized life of prayer. I am talking about a special dimension of inner discipline and experience, a certain integrity and fullness of personal development, which are not compatible with a purely external, alienated, busy-busy existence. This does not mean that they are incompatible with action, with creative work, with dedicated love. On the contrary, these all go together. A certain depth of disciplined experience is a necessary ground for fruitful action. Without a more profound human understanding derived from exploration of the inner ground of human existence, lo e will tend to be superficial and deceptive. Traditionally, the ideas of prayer, meditation and contemplation have been associated with this deepening of one’s personal life and this expansion of the capacity to understand and serve others.”
May we all seek a deeper connection to our Spirit life and prioritize that above our busyness and activities.
Beth
Quaker-Affiliated Organizations
IFCL -- Indiana Legislature Kicks Off Redistricting
It's almost kick-off time for the long awaited legislative redistricting process in Indiana. Thanks to hundreds of calls and emails from Hoosiers all across the state, the Senate and House Elections Committees have scheduled meetings to take public testimony on redistricting. This is not just a spectator sport where citizens passively watch as legislators draw the district maps that will be with us for the next ten years. If we want fair maps that favor neither political party and instead serve our communities, it is critically important that we turn out for these meetings and demand an open and fair process.
The Senate Elections Committee will be holding four meetings and the House Elections and Apportionment Committee will also hold four meetings, in different locations around the state. For us in the Indianapolis/Central Indiana area, there will be a joint committee hearing of both committees on Wednesday, August 11th, at 1 p.m. in the House Chambers of Indiana State House at 200 W. Washington in Indianapolis. (This is the one that most of us at First Friends would attend.)
Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting. You do not need to testify--although anyone is welcome to. You do not need to understand the ins and outs of redistricting. Just by showing up on August 11th, you will send a clear message to legislators: we are watching them, and expect maps that serve the public interest, not their partisan interests.
For an excellent overview of redistricting and further motivation to get involved, here is a recent op-ed from The Republic newspaper in Brown County, co-written by Sunny Leerkamp. http://www.therepublic.com/2021/07/23/fair_redistricting_needed_in_indiana/ Sunny is a Quaker; she was long an active member at Noblesville Friends. She is playing a key role in trying to ensure a fair and transparent redistricting process in 2021, and we are fortunate to have a Friend involved in this effort.
For more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. Thank you.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Mini Urban Homestead Tour & Artful Meditation ~ The Connections Program Meeting is offering two new events:
The Mini Urban Homestead Tour offers tips on raising chickens, beekeeping, growing flowers and creating edible landscaping throughout the yard. Carrie Sample answers questions and takes participants on a guided tour of her urban homestead. It will take place at 6:30pm TONIGHT, Wednesday, August 4th. Snacks will be provided. Please RSVP to the host at carriesample1974@gmail.com. She will respond with the address where the tour will take place. (The rain date will be Monday, August 9th at 6:30pm.)
ARTFUL MEDITATION is a workshop guided by ART THERAPIST Shawn Haymaker. It will take place on Saturday, August 28th from 10-11:30am at First Friends in Fellowship Hall. Participants of all ages are invited to join in and experience. Shawn will introduce alcohol ink processes to adults and youth and conduct watercolor exercises for young children. No experience is necessary. (Please note: this is art meditation, not art therapy.) More details will be announced closer to the date.
Looking for WYM Volunteers! Friends, we are looking for volunteers to fill two roles for Central Area representation for Western Yearly Meeting. See below for information on the roles. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact the office at 317-255-2485 or office@indyfriends.org!
Quaker Men Representative - meets twice a year, once during the annual sessions and again in the spring. Objectives include bearing witness to Christ’s way of life in fellowship, business dealings, and social actions, and engaging in Christian service projects.
Peace & Christian Social Concern Board Member (term 2021-2023) – Responsibilities include promoting and supervising the raising of funds for the Yearly Meeting budget and the FUM Goal, recommend to the Yearly Meeting the names of persons to serve as Treasurer, Benevolence Treasurer and Financial Trustees of Western Yearly Meeting, and provide a fidelity bond for persons handling Yearly Meeting funds.
For more information or to volunteer for either of these positions, please contact the office at 317-255-2485 or office@indyfriends.org. Thank you for your consideration.
Meditational Woods
Bird of the Month for August
Barred Owl: Too Late for this Friend
Pastor Bob called me this week to let me know that on the church grounds he had found a bird that might interest me. It did! After not having observed any new species here for more than a year, I had wondered what the 93rd species would be. This was it: a Barred Owl! Of the eight or nine owls that regularly appear in Indiana, five or six are rare and found in habitats much different than our woods and grassy yard. The three remaining are screech owls, which prefer more trees and less grass, great horned owls, which frequent open areas like our north meadow, but more likely ones with scattered mature trees, and barred owls, which can be found in wooded neighborhoods, but usually denser than ours. Barreds are known by their rounded head, apparent black eyes, and dark streaks…or bars…on their neck and chest. It is this last characteristic that gives the species its name.
I had often thought of coming down to the meeting house on a late spring evening, just after sunset, to imitate a barred owl, with a call of “Who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all,” just to see if one would respond, but I had never gotten around to it. Now it was TOO LATE!! Too late at least for this individual. You see, Bob had gotten out of his car, and noticed nearby what he thought was an item of striped clothing. It turned out to be a dead Barred Owl! Birders familiar with keeping a birdlist know that although I saw this bird, I cannot count this on my personal list for the woods. It does count on the historical list of birds “observed” on the property. So thanks to Bob, it is #93.
I wondered about this “too late” business as it applies to people. Many is the time a Friend has said, “Do you remember (so-and-so) who used to be a member here…?” Although I know our paths had crossed at one time, I had never gotten to know that person, even his or her name. For most, it is indeed, too late! This even applies to asking grandparents about family history! Don’t put it off! No time like the present!!
Note: I DID examine the owl, and found no signs of trauma or injury as if it had been hit by a car on an adjacent street. It could be the malady that is affecting the bird world, or simply old age. ~Brad J
Western Yearly Meeting Mission Project ~ The 2021 annual mission project for Western Yearly Meeting is to provide technology (e.g. laptops, desktop computers, internet services) to several Quaker groups. The Kisumu Kenya Office (which is the hub of all Quaker activities in Africa), Friends Theological College, and Belize Friends School will all benefit from the funds raised during this campaign. The WYM goal is $15,000. Checks should be made to First Friends with a notation “WYM Mission Project”. Or you can donate securely on our website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support. Just choose “WYM Project” as the fund. Or text “WYMProject” to 317-768-0303. Please examine your hearts and give as you are led.
Queries for the Week
· What are the stories that have shaped my understanding of my life as a Quaker?
· How might communicating my story help create better communication with those at First Friends and within our Yearly Meeting?