Sue Laidlay
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17th November Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:26:27 GMT
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Latest Thought! From 23/08/2010
Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.
Original Thought from 17/11/2009
In order to be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once you doubt, as far as possible, all things. Descartes
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John Spencer
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Response Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:51:07 GMT
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I will think on that thought. At the moment I see it as 'not knowing', rather than 'doubt'.
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Sue Laidlay
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doubt/not knowing Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:14:09 GMT
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It's a subtle distinction. I suppose Descartes means to question all things he held as 'known', which is where he started from with his philosophy, and didn't exclusively apply it to spiritual 'things'. Although I think that is a good place to start from and I like the built-in proviso 'at least once' which allows a return, once questioned.
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Sue Laidlay
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Thought for this week Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:47:49 GMT
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Heaven must be in me before I can be in heaven. Charles Stanford (Nov 24 in the Quaker Daily Readings)
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Sue Laidlay
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first week of advent thought Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:38:58 GMT
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Truth without love is cruelty, love without truth is sentimentality
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Sue Laidlay
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Phil Cousineau, The Art of Pilgrimage Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:26:18 GMT
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I am convinced that pilgrimage is still a bona fide spirit-renewing ritual. But I also believe in pilgrimage as a powerful metaphor for any journey with the purpose of finding something that matters deeply to the traveller. With a deepening of focus, keen preparation, attention to the path and respect for the destination at hand, it is possible to transform the most ordinary journey into a sacred journey, a pilgrimage.
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Sue Laidlay
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From; Prayer, by Carol Anne Duffy Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:07:30 GMT
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Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.
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Sue Laidlay
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Between Christmas and New Year Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:06:46 GMT
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'Old things are past away: all's become new. Strange! he's another man, upon my word...' John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress (the ending)
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Sue Laidlay
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New Year, New Decade Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:43:33 GMT
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And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.
Minnie Hoskins
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Sue Laidlay
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1 Kings 19:11-12 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:38:13 GMT
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And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord: but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
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Sue Laidlay
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Ephesians 6:14 (Good News Bible) Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:45:15 GMT
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So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight round your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.
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Sue Laidlay
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30.1.10 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:23:37 GMT
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"I am standing at the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. . . . And just at the moment when someone at my side says: 'There, she is gone!' there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!' And that is dying."
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Sue Laidlay
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Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'ullah 66,127 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:45:52 GMT
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Lay not on any soul a load which ye would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things ye would not desire for yourselves.
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Sue Laidlay
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From Christine Parker Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:55:10 GMT
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Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.
~Stephen Covey
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Sue Laidlay
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22nd Feb Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:41:29 GMT
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Love is a state of being. Your love is not outside; it is deep within you. You can never lose it, and it cannot leave you. It is not dependent on some other body, some other external form.
Eckhart Tolle
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John Spencer
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22nd Feb Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:10:52 GMT
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These simple words are at the heart of everything. I look outward and inward for inspiration. Recently I realise how looking inward is the priority, which George Fox realised so clearly.
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Sue Laidlay
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Contributed by Christine Parker Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:32:52 GMT
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"But sometimes, unexpectedly, a quiet moment finds us and we drop down into
the life we have beneath all the rushing and the trying and the endless
daily details, sinking into the fertile soil of the sometimes neglected
inner life, where the seeds of remembering what matters are planted. What
comes from that place when we give it half a chance flowers in our lives and
the world, creating unexpected changes in the direction of our journey and
offering unanticipated blessings to us and those around us."
~Oriah Mountain Dreamer
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Sue Laidlay
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3rd day of Spring Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:42:30 GMT
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When you cease trying to control and manipulate your experience, meditation spontaneously happens.
~Adyashanti
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Sue Laidlay
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Live adventurously Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:27:23 GMT
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Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7
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Sue Laidlay
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Giving up after all Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:44:01 GMT
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I don't think anyone reads this!
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John Spencer
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Support Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:26:35 GMT
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If you do read the 'Thought for the Week' please email me john@westkentquakers.org.uk and I will pass the comments on to Sue.
A website only works if it is seen by others and its contributors are confident.
Even if you are a passing observer it would be good to receive an email. I will not use your email address to contact you.
John Spencer Administrator
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Sue Laidlay
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other contributors are very welcome too Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:13:51 GMT
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Path of Love
"And how you ask are we to walk the spiritual path? We answer: Say little;
love much; give all; judge no-one; aspire to all that is pure and good-and
keep on keeping on."
~White Eagle
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Sue Laidlay
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From Jenny Diski's webpage Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:54:22 GMT
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“Memory is continually created, a story told and retold, using jigsaw pieces of experience. It's utterly unreliable in some ways, because who can say whether the feeling or emotion that seems to belong to the recollection actually belongs to it rather than being available from the general store of likely emotions we have learned? Memory is not false in the sense that it is willfully bad, but it is excitingly corrupt in its inclination to make a proper story of the past."
Jenny Diski
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Sue Laidlay
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Easter Monday Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:37:21 GMT
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Truth does not always need to be spoken, but what is spoken needs to be true. Roland Carn
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Sue Laidlay
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Food for thought Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:03:31 GMT
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To the hungry, God comes in the form of bread.
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Sue Laidlay
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Volcanic ashday Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:59:45 GMT
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God comes disguised as our lives. Etty Hilessum
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Sue Laidlay
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Almost May day Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:56:33 GMT
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Where there is no vision, the people perish Proverbs 29:18
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Sue Laidlay
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Coalition? Sat, 08 May 2010 00:42:45 GMT
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Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:24
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Sue Laidlay
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Shinsho Thu, 13 May 2010 09:13:25 GMT
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Does anyone really have to fret
About Enlightenment?
No matter what road I travel,
I’m going home.
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Sue Laidlay
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After my JW friend's visit... Tue, 18 May 2010 10:40:15 GMT
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The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
~Terry Pratchett
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Sue Laidlay
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Faith Tue, 25 May 2010 02:47:55 GMT
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When I took the leap,
I had faith I would find a net;
instead I learned I could fly.
John Calvi
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Sue Laidlay
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Lengthening days Mon, 31 May 2010 09:49:27 GMT
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Ye have no time but this present time; therefore prize your time for your soul's sake
George Fox 1652
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Sue Laidlay
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What World Cup? Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:11:37 GMT
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The best revenge is to live well. Nietzsche
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Sue Laidlay
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Rainy Friday Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:39:03 GMT
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"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned in life: It goes on."
-Robert Frost
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Sue Laidlay
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Summer Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:24:16 GMT
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To see the world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
William Blake
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Sue Laidlay
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Friday Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:50:07 GMT
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Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives.
Henri Nouwen
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Sue Laidlay
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July already Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:12:35 GMT
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"When it comes to interacting with others - and everything you do requires interaction - relinquish technique. Release your need to do it right. There is no right. Open your heart and be yourself. You are never more vibrant than when you are vulnerable, never more genuine than when you are humble, never more trustworthy than when you are completely open."
Aman Motwane
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Sue Laidlay
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Don't worry Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:10:48 GMT
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Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:24
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Sue Laidlay
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Faith Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:58:11 GMT
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Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark. Tagore
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Sue Laidlay
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Anger Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:35:27 GMT
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Anger comes from holding a model of how you think the world ought to be but isn’t. Ram Dass
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Sue Laidlay
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Goals Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:30:20 GMT
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We put a lot of effort and struggle into accomplishing our goals, but we fulfill only half of them. If we accomplish even as much as that, we consider ourselves lucky. In reality, the fact that we cannot do even half of what we want to do is a sign of our lack of freedom.
Gehlek Rimpoche
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Sue Laidlay
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Sad Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:32:41 GMT
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But (when so sad thou canst not sadder)
Cry; and upon thy so sad loss
Shall shine the traffic of Jacob’s ladder
Pitched betwixt Heaven and Charing Cross.
Francis Thompson, In No Strange Land
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Sue Laidlay
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King James version Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:11:55 GMT
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Romans 8:38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
8:39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Sue Laidlay
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From Prayer, Carol Ann Duffy Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:18:36 GMT
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Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.
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Sue Laidlay
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from A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:40:32 GMT
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The most important, the primordial relationship in your life is your relationship with the Now, or rather with whatever form the Now takes, that is to say, what is or what happens. If your relationship with the Now is dysfunctional, that dysfunction will be reflected in every relationship and every situation you encounter.
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Ian Holliday
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The Power of Now Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:48:51 GMT
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I have found this business of living in the now, very hard, very hard! Of late, after a long time in chronic pain and various medical interventions, I "fell over" mindfulness meditation, which has a similar approach to life.
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Sue Laidlay
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September sunshine Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:12:01 GMT
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It is our tender and Christian advice that Friends take care to keep to truth and plainness, in language, habit, deportment and behaviour; that the simplicity of truth in these things may not wear out nor be lost in our days, nor in our posterity's; and to avoid pride and immodesty in apparel, and all vain and superfluous fashions of the world.
Yearly Meeting in London, 1691
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Sue Laidlay
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no title Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:01:19 GMT
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The wind blows hard among the pines
Toward the beginning
Of an endless past
Listen: you’ve heard everything.
Shinkichi Takahasi
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