(This is the tenth in a series of 12 monthly queries developed by Pacific Yearly Meeting.)
Friends oppose all war as inconsistent with God’s will. Every person is a child of God. We recognize God’s Light also in our adversaries. Violence and injustice deny this reality and violate the teachings of Jesus and other prophets.
Friends challenge governments and take personal risks in the cause of peace. We urge one another to refuse to participate in war whether as soldiers, as arms manufacturers, or as taxpayers. We work to end violence within our own borders, our homes, our streets, and our communities. We support international order, justice, and understanding.
Become an instrument for peace. At every opportunity, be peacemakers in your homes, workplaces and communities. Steep yourself in the power of the universal Spirit. Examine your actions for the seeds of violence, degradation and destructiveness. Overcome the emotions that lie at the root of violence and nurture instead a spirit of reconciliation and love. In experiencing God’s unity, come to know the oneness of all creation and so to oppose the destruction of the natural world.
Do I live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars?
How do I nourish peace within myself as I work for peace in the world?
Do I confront violence wherever it occurs, even when my personal relationships are involved?
Where there is distrust, injustice, or hatred, how am I an instrument of reconciliation and love?
What are we doing to remove the causes of war and destruction of the planet, and to bring about lasting peace?
Do we reach out to all parties in a conflict with courage and love?
November: The Meeting Community
(Note: Some queries are intended for individuals. The italicized portion of the queries above is intended for the Meeting collectively.)