tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222101907210941253.post5449675797099563505..comments2023-09-06T09:41:32.189-04:00Comments on Meeting Jesus / Finding Peace: Coming to Terms With the QueriesBillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063175711541546350noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222101907210941253.post-26991762261275358862011-03-23T10:32:56.549-04:002011-03-23T10:32:56.549-04:00Thank you for capturing why some Friends do not li...Thank you for capturing why some Friends do not like queries. I have often wondered about that.<br /><br />For Friends who do not like queries for the reasons you mention, I suppose your suggestions for choosing "positive thinking" about the queries might be helpful. Since I have a deep love of queries, I cannot really speak to this.<br /><br />The reason I am responding is that I want to illustrate how queries help on a spiritual journey. They are not memory jogs or "checklists." They help us explore our understanding of the world, and our place in it, as children of God. In our meeting, we recently wrote a response to our annual query that may capture this:<br /><br />"Members of our meeting use queries as an aid to contemplation. They are used to help with centering at Meeting for Worship and elsewhere. Individual Friends also use them to seek a closer experience of the Spirit and in contemplating right order in their lives."<br /><br />Two queries from Baltimore Yearly Meeting get at the heart of my spiritual journey, and help remind me what I need to do. I could never reduce them to "checklists." They are:<br /><br />What in my present life most distracts me from God?<br /><br />What am I ready to release so that I can give my attention to what matters most?<br /><br />"Always striving, never arriving" is not bad. It's the nature of spiritual practice.<br /><br />I appreciate the comment on the "constant string of 'Do you? ...Do you?'" An excellent point to consider among our committees writing queries. Thank you.<br /><br />~PaulaPaulanoreply@blogger.com