tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post1713272840540004824..comments2023-10-02T11:36:45.006-04:00Comments on A Passionate and Determined Quest for Adequacy: Support and AccountabilityAshley Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-36376597987497171512010-02-17T16:50:57.108-05:002010-02-17T16:50:57.108-05:00Thank you Ashley. You have offered a wonderful ex...Thank you Ashley. You have offered a wonderful example to be savored by others who may be those who doubt or distrust the process. I believe we need more examples like this to demonstrate to those who have not been long in the Friends' process how our time-honored method works.Linda J Wilkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04307531394723506106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-31017151411829907912009-02-18T22:51:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:51:00.000-05:00"QB raised the question of whether this would happ...<I>"QB raised the question of whether this would happen now. We both felt like it probably would not."</I><BR/><BR/>I have been on both sides of this experience--of offering counsel for a Friend to wait/discern/test/wait further, as well as being offered such counsel.<BR/><BR/>For me, this question speaks of a spiritual intimacy among Friends as well as having some knowledge and/or experience of the fruit that comes out of "waiting in the Light" when one is uncertain...<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>Liz Opp, <A HREF="http://thegoodraisedup.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">The Good Raised Up</A>Liz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-54060422095176696872009-02-17T15:22:00.000-05:002009-02-17T15:22:00.000-05:00I would expect that an enlightened community ackno...I would expect that an enlightened community acknowledges that wisdom, knowledge, and concerned intelligence resides in younger people as well as with elders. I think in some cases the problem resides more in lack of trust in the fellowship and family of Friends than in young people being too big for their own britches. Before people speak from the most tender areas of their hearts, they like to feel those who will hear them have been listening all along. How do we develop trust in our communities if we do not develop bonds of love? <BR/><BR/>I won't trust the advice of a Friend who has shown little interest in me as an individual no matter how weighty they are. Neither am I able to trust my own ability to discern whether or not a Friend (regardless of their age) is singing a discordant note if I am unfamiliar with their unique song.Hysteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02044678910937934731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-73708850311032453592009-02-17T11:22:00.000-05:002009-02-17T11:22:00.000-05:00This sort of thing does happen in some Quaker comm...This sort of thing does happen in some Quaker communities. I know it happens here in NCYM-C. What keeps it from happening more often is not any lack of the ability to listen deeply and discern what is from God and what is not. God hasn't changed and the needs and gifts of people haven't changed. What has changed and what often prevents this from happening now is that many individual Friends do not trust the process and don't ask for the advice from elders as Bownas did.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564152237574253857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-74671775829143083932009-02-17T10:45:00.000-05:002009-02-17T10:45:00.000-05:00Yes! Thank you for articulating this for me. Thi...Yes! Thank you for articulating this for me. This has been troubling me for some time but have struggled for balanced words to express it.Hysteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02044678910937934731noreply@blogger.com