One of the most emblematic and powerful values of the Quaker faith is nonviolence. From our earliest days in England, Quakers stance against physical violence as a means of solving disputes has put us in jeopardy and difficulties both with the local government and others in the community. Quakers have at great personal inconvenience and…
Living the Quaker Values: Simplicity
The Quaker value of Simplicity is probably the one that I struggle with the most. Traditionally, Quakers have sought to live simple lives of devotion to God in everything that they do. This manifests in a number of outward forms, from Quakers former distrust of the arts for "exciting the senses" to the "Plain Dress"…
Living the Quaker Values: Service (video)
Here's a video post that's part of my ongoing series ruminating about the different Quaker values and how I've integrated them into my life. This one focuses on Service. I hope you like it.
Tango Series in 2010 World Press Photo Winners
Yesterday I got to see a beautiful exhibit of the winners of the 2010 World Press Photos competition, showing at the old church in central Amsterdam. The annual contest highlights the best news photography from around the world in various categories. I was astounded and moved by so many of the winning photos, which are…
Living the Quaker Values: Truth
Today I am considering the all-important Quaker value of Truth. Speaking Truth is one of the bedrock principles of Quakerism that undergirds much of our actions in the world. Quakers have traditionally refused to take oaths, even when required by law, because we believe that swearing upon a Bible pre-supposes two different standards for telling…
(Re-)visiting the Anne Frank House Museum
This morning, I popped over the Anne Frank House museum, which I haven't visited for a long time. In the intervening years, the curators have built a whole new multimedia wing of the museum and just recently acquired from another Dutch archive the actual physical diaries of Anne Frank. So I was looking forward to…
Dancing with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Cheryl’s Inspiring Story (video)
I've been meaning to blog this up for awhile, but here it is. Seattle-based Lindy Hopper Cheryl Crow shares this inspiring video about her own experiences as a dancer with rheumatoid arthritis. I have several uncles and aunties who have trouble walking down the street because of various pains and disabilities. But when the music…
Mickey Mouse… in Dutch (video)
I'm loving being in Holland, and in general have a fondness for Dutch people and their culture. That said, their language just still sounds so weird to me. And double-plus weird coming out of Disney characters. Enjoy. I just wish this video had a bit more Donald Duck in it. Maybe he's been speaking Dutch…
Living the Quaker Values: Worship
The Quaker form of worship is one of the most unique aspects of the Religious Society of Friends. Our practice is so simple as to barely qualify as a religious service at all. A Quaker worship service ("Meeting for Worship") is composed of two of more Friends sitting together in silence for typically an hour. …
Living the Quaker Values: Silence
I'm spending a few days in Amsterdam on holiday, with no particular itinerary. So I think I'm going to treat it like a mini-retreat and do some reflective work I've been meaning to do for awhile. I recently read Robert Lawrence Smith's sweet little book A Quaker Book of Wisdom. The book reminded me of…