Centring Down with Compassion

Approach old age with courage and hope. As far as possible, make arrangements for your care in good time, so that an undue burden does not fall on others. Although old age may bring increasing disability and loneliness, it can also bring serenity, detachment and wisdom. Pray that in your final years you may be enabled to find new ways of receiving and reflecting God’s love.

Advices and Queries 28: 1. Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Responding to divine guidance, try to discern the right time to undertake or relinquish responsibilities without undue pride or guilt. Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness. Come and explore how to "attend to what love requires of you" with this gentle meditation.

1. Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Let your life speak. When decisions have to be made, are you ready to join with others in seeking clearness, asking for God’s guidance and offering counsel to one another?

Drop into the wisdom of the body with this short practice.

Do you recognise the needs and gifts of each member of your family and household, not forgetting your own? Try to make your home a place of loving friendship and enjoyment, where all who live or visit may find the peace and refreshment of God’s presence.

This beautiful advice invites to recall to mind our needs and to "try softer" to create loving friendship.

This advice and query looks so honestly at how relationships can give great joy but also be full of tensions. How do we let in the joy and allow that to nourish our lives AND explore the difficulties with discernment. Do get in touch if you would like to be a part of these podcasts on Farnham.quakermeeting.org

Centring Down is a term Quakers sometimes use to describe the process of "becoming still and cool in heart and mind". In this Advice and Query we explore what are the blockages to "love and stability" in our own minds; so that we can open more fully to the flow of love for children and their carers. If you would like to join one of these meetings please contact us on Farnham.quakermeeting.org.

If you would like to join these sessions live please email [email protected], you would be very welcome. This evening explores the blockages to understanding each other in close relationships and the meaning of a religious commitment in a quaker marriage.

A Quaker’s approach to meditation; this exploration of Advices and Queries 22 explores cultivating an appreciation of diversity as well as forgiveness of ourselves and others.

Advices And Queries 21 by Carolyn Baynes