Photographer-lecturer Skip Schiel presented
"Quakers in Palestine/Israel (or John Woolman
in the Land of Troubles) in Miami Meeting's
Sunday Morning Forum, 11-1-09.
Here is the reaction of Co-clerk Warren Hoskins, who wrote: Skip, ... Thank you so
much. And I'm already thinking about your next visit, so please don't let me forget--this
time, you tapped on the doors of many people, and I truly expect far more to
open in the future.
Before I forget, you are also now always able to say that you were the first speaker
brought to South Florida by the Quaker Peace Center of Miami Friends Meeting. As
such, you set a suitably high standard for future guests to bring talks, published books or
other writings, multimedia programs and projects and other works for peace and social
justice to South Florida. Thank you so much for that, too. And for the Woolman quotes-by any chance do you have your excerpts in a file you could share? Very helpful to
Quaker sensibilities. [QPI note: See below.]
Peacefully,
--Warren
QPI Note:
Skip Schiel's southern tour is: "On the road in the USA south, with new photos from
Palestine & Israel" until November 23, 2009.
<http://teeksaphoto.org/Pages/PublicPresentations.html>http://teeksaphoto.org/Pages/Pub
licPresentations.html
To join Skip's email list about his summer 2009 experiences in Palestine-Israel, along
with postings related to that issue, contact Skip Schiel <skipschiel@gmail.com> with
SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Skip's photo blog has vivid images of Palestine and Israel and includes his travel journal.
See: skipschiel.wordpress.com
Website with Skip's multi-faceted photo gallery is: teeksaphoto.org
John Woolman quotes from
Quakers in Palestine/Israel
(Or John Woolman in the Land of Troubles)
Slide Show by Skip Schiel
Many Groans arise from dying Men, which we hear not.
Many Cries are uttered by Widows and Fatherless Children, which reach not our ears.
Many Cheeks are wet with Tears, and Faces
Where Blood hath been shed unrighteously, and remains unattoned for, the Cry thereof is
very piercing.
Under the humbling Dispensations of Divine Providence, this Cry hath deeply affected
my Heart, and I feel a Concern to open, as I may be enabled, that which lieth heavy on
my Mind. sad with unutterable Grief, which we see not.
…to turn all we possess into the channel of universal love becomes the whole business of
our lives.
… I have often been sorrowfully affected with thinking on the unquiet spirit in which
wars are generally carried on, and with the miseries of many of my fellow-creatures
engaged therein…
…I was led into a close and laborious inquiry whether I, as an individual, kept clear from
all things which tended to stir up or were connected with wars…My heart was deeply
concerned that in future I might in all things keep steadily to the pure truth, and live and
walk in the plainness and simplicity of a sincere follower of Christ.
Love was the first motion, and thence a concern arose to spend some time with the
Indians, that I might feel and understand their life and the spirit they live in, if haply I
might receive some instruction from them, or they might be in any degree helped forward
by my following the leadings of truth among them…
When I told my dear wife [about violent conflicts with local Indians], she appeared to be
deeply concerned about [my plans to visit local Indians]; but in a few hours' time my
mind became settled in a belief that it was my duty to proceed on my journey, and she
bore it with a good degree of resignation. In this conflict of spirit there were great
searchings of heart and strong cries to the Lord, that no motion might in the least degree
be attended to but that of the pure spirit of truth.
After a hard day's journey [into Indian country] I was brought into a painful exercise at
night, in which I had to trace back and view the steps I had taken from my first moving in
the visit; and though I had to bewail some weakness which at times had attended me, yet
I could not find that I had ever given way to willful disobedience.
Full of [doubts about the journey], I lay great part of the night, while my beloved
companion slept by me, till the Lord, my gracious Father, who saw the conflicts of my
soul, was pleased to give quietness. Then I was again strengthened to commit my life,
and all things relating thereto, into His heavenly hands, and got a little sleep towards day.
Believing I had, under a sense of duty, come thus far [into Indian country], I was now
earnest in spirit, beseeching the Lord to show me what I ought to do. In this great distress
I grew jealous of myself, lest the desire of reputation as a man firmly settled to persevere
through dangers, or the fear of disgrace from my returning without performing the visit,
might have some place in me.
In visiting people of note in the society who had slaves, and laboring with them in
brotherly love on that account, I have seen, and the sight has affected me, that a
conformity to some customs, distinguishable from pure wisdom, has entangled many; and
the desire of gain to support these customs greatly opposed the work of truth…
I have sometimes felt a necessity to stand up, but that spirit which is of the world hath so
much prevailed in many, and the pure life of truth hath been so pressed down, that I have
gone forward, not as one traveling in a road cast up and well prepared, but as a man
walking through a miry place in which are stones here and there safe to step on, but so
situated that one step being taken, time is necessary to see where to step next.
I saw that a humble man, with the blessing of the Lord, might live on a little, and that,
where the heart was set on greatness, success in business did not satisfy the craving; but
that commonly, with an increase of wealth, the desire of wealth increased. There was a
care on my mind so to pass my time, that nothing might hinder me from the most steady
attention to the voice of the true Shepherd.
In a time of sickness…I was brought so near the gates of death that I forgot my name.
Being then desirous to know who I was, I saw a mass of matter of a dull gloomy color
between the south and the east, and was informed that this mass was human beings in as
great misery as they could be, and live, and that I was mixed with them, and that
henceforth I might not consider myself as a distinct or separate being…
I then heard a soft melodious voice, more pure and harmonious…I believed it was the
voice of an angel who spake to the other angels; the words were, "John Woolman is
dead."…[awakening the next morning, he said:] "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless
I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in men. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Then the
mystery was opened and I perceived there was joy in heaven over a sinner who had
repented, and that the language "John Woolman is dead," meant no more than the death
of my own will.
Now I find that in a state of pure obedience the mind learns contentment in appearing
weak and foolish to that wisdom which is of the world; and in these lowly labors, they
who stand in a low place and are rightly exercised under the cross will find nourishment.
The gift is pure; and while the eye is single in attending thereto the understanding is
preserved clear; self is kept out. We rejoice in filling up that which remains of the
afflictions of Christ for his body’s sake, which is the church.
—John Woolman (1720-1772, Mt Holly NJ)