A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons In Simplicity, Service, And Common Sense (Paperback)

Robert Smith touches on the history of Quakerism, his grandparents and growing up in Moorestown, New Jersey. He wrote the book because he believes there is a need in the world today for what he calls the compassionate Quaker message.

The author voices his belief that "Quaker values of simplicity and silent contemplation, truth and conscience, seem more important now than ever before." He explains further. "To Quakers simplicity does not mean turning the clock back on progress or rejecting the benefits of modern science and conveniences of modern technology. Nor does it mean casting off one's possessions and embracing a life of poverty. And it certainly does not mean casting off joy."

With all the currently popular books on Simple Living and spirituality, Smith's book stands out, speaking briefly and clearly in chapters titled Silence, Worship, Truth, Simplicity, Conscience, Nonviolence, Service, Business, Education and Family. In these brief chapters, he covers more issues than I can fit into this review -- Quaker history, his own military part in World War II, intermarriage, the internet, and more are within these pages. He weaves in quotes from Jesus, Martin Luther King Junior, Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore, as well as those from Friends past and present.

The chapters fit together like quilt squares. Any one could be read and comprehended by itself, but as pieces of a whole, they reveal much more. A simple lifestyle, not necessarily "forsaking worldy goods" is connected with silent worship, bare walls, and simple folks. He tells us of his own childhood, of Quaker cousins who had more toys and possessions than he had, and of his own 'un-Quakerly jealousy." A trip to Toys 'R Us to buy a checker set with his grandson brings them down the action toys aisle, and leaves us to guess which his grandson found more appealing. He recognizes that there are increased difficulties these days when trying to sort out for children -- and for ourselves -- what is necessary from what is desired. The answer is the same as it has always been.

"'What do I need?' is simplicity's fundamental questions, a question that rubs against our natural proclivity for acquiring things, a question few of us feel ready to address. America's favorite weekend activity is not participating in sports, gardening, hiking, reading, visiting with friends and neighbors. It's shopping." (pg. 54)

He does not preach or focus on the Bible, but writes in an open and inclusive way about the variety within the Religious Society of Friends.

"But for all their differences, Meetings for Worship are fundamentally the same. At each Meeing, a group of individuals gathers and, open to the word of God, waits in attentive,expectant silence for a spark of the divine in their midst. Sometimes it comes in words; sometimes in silence. The language of truth can often be heard in silence, if only we know how to listen." (p. 29)

He closes the book with Ten Life Lessons, with explanations of each: Seize the Present; Love Yourself, whatever faults you have, and love the world however bad it is; Stop talking and listen to what you really know; Play soccer; Accept the fact that our lives are only partly in our hands; Believe in the perfectibility of yourself and society; Make your love visible in the world through your work; Seek justice in the world, but not in your own life; Look for the Light of God in everyone; Let your life speak."

I have long been fascinated by the Quakers, even before my association with a Friends school. Their belief that all people in the world are members of an extended family of equals appeals to me, as does their silent worship, which they call "the search for the truth within". They present "queries" at their meetings for worship and this author calls the queries "burrs under the saddle of the soul. "

Quakers believe that one's life should speak for oneself, that goodness is the most important part of that life. They have no written creed, no ministers, but there is a strong belief system. It is as much a movement as it is a religion, I guess.

One thing that I particularly like is the way the Quaker "service projects" are done. They go to places, often to foreign countries that are in need, and do not attempt to make any converts. They are there to work, much as those in the Peace Corps are. I learned that the Society of Friends was the first organization to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Some quotes from the book:

"The silence allows the opening of minds and listening to our best inner selves."

"So many of our young people are told that they must be good at something (math, music, sports) that they forget to pay attention to the primary command of the spirit: to be good at life."

"Simplicity is the cornerstone of Quaker faith and defines daily life. Simplicity has little to do with how much you own and everything to do with not letting your possessions own you."

While I would have liked to have learned a bit more about the Quaker religion, that was not really the intent of this author, and there are many other places to go for that information.