tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265511791146423221.post6782825682758846935..comments2023-10-28T02:59:37.028-07:00Comments on E m e r g i n g ...Q u a k e r i s m ..L i t e r a t u r e ..R e l i g i o n ... L i f e: The Saga ContinuesDianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396312339372162866noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265511791146423221.post-52398250870189795402011-01-04T01:39:38.028-08:002011-01-04T01:39:38.028-08:00Thanks for the update Diane. I am glad things seem...Thanks for the update Diane. I am glad things seem to be looking up for that family. <br />One of the things that springs out for me is kowing each other. Are we actually a church if we don't know who is struggling to pay their bills and get good nourishing food on the table? If we are a spiritual community we work and pray together over and about the daily stuff. That is how we know each others' needs. Without the intertwining of lives, it is much harder to know each others' situation. I think what we really need - what Jesus invites us into - is intimate community, where we know and join each others' struggles and sorrows. Pretty countercultural in this age of fossil-fueled individualism and isolation.<br />Perhaps this situation can bring light and air to those others who have also been ground down by the struggle to live and who have not yet been relieved. God is bringing the issue to light in the meeting: I hope that everyone who is struggling will be relieved, as God lifts up those who are downtrodden and rebukes the proud. Blessings to all of you.Alice Y.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16267449289432878102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265511791146423221.post-31566167449391004042010-12-23T06:23:11.159-08:002010-12-23T06:23:11.159-08:00Such a good reflection, Diane, as well as good que...Such a good reflection, Diane, as well as good question at the end. Yes, we act individually, but also as community. I see that in your thoughts here. We need each other to really know how to best help someone or some family. Deb and I have tried to help and wasted time and resources in doing so, because we did not act with the best wisdom. <br /><br />And I agree it should not be an either/or. The problem here is that there is such division, that a good safety net for those in need is not easy to come up with. So churches and private organizations will have to keep working at helping the inevitable human fallout which will only increase.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.com