To Swim in The Life

Instructions

Instructions: 

Distribute the four quotations to volunteers who are comfortable reading in front of the group.

Settle the group into centering silence.  Ask the volunteers to read their quotation out of the silence, leaving space for worship and reflection between each.

After the fourth quotation is read, invite everyone to think of a recent experience of living in God’s life and power, of living “life in its fullness.”  Allow for 5-10 minutes of continued worship as people reflect upon the question.

Divide the group into pairs or triads and ask them to share this experience of “Swimming in the Life” with their partners.  Encourage respectful and prayerful listening. 

After everyone has had a chance to share, invite the groups to consider these questions:

“Going forward, how would I like to experience a life with God?  Do I have particular yearnings or desires for connecting with divine life and power in the future?”

After a time for discussion, return the group to a circle and ask Friends to reflect on what they heard, felt, or sensed during their conversations.

Quotations

Mary Penington

“Oh! the joy that filled my soul in the first meeting ever held in our house at Chalfont.  To this day I have a fresh remembrance of it.  It was then the Lord enabled me to worship… God in that which was undoubtedly… God’s own, and I give up my whole strength to swim in the life which overcame me that day… long had I desired to worship God with acceptation, and lift up my hands without doubting, which I witnessed that day in that assembly.  I acknowledged… God’s great mercy and wonderful kindness; for I could say, ‘This is it which I have longed and waited for, and feared I never should have experienced.’”

Acts 2:28

“You have shown me the paths that lead to life, and your presence will fill me with joy.” 

John 10:10

“I have come in order that you might have life, life in its fullness.” 

Romans 8:5-6

“Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires… the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Additional Materials

Reading List: 

This exercise is adapted from Light, Seed, Life from the Quaker Spiritual Formation project of Baltimore Yearly Meeting and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.