The first Quakers often referred to God as a fountain of divine life and love, and they learned practices that allowed the transforming power of that fountain of Spirit to flow through them. Their common experience of being immersed in God’s presence, within themselves, created deep spiritual bonds that empowered them to support the leadings of the Spirit that rose among them. They were guided to many acts of love and service, both among themselves and beyond their local sphere, which often had significant social impacts. Today that kind of wholehearted, Spirit-filled faithfulness can help us face our tremendous contemporary challenges and choose a hopeful future. Such faithfulness requires both deep inward immersion in the Spirit and courageous risk-taking action in the world.

To nourish radical faithfulness in following the leadings of the Spirit, we have continued to build on the practices and community structures the first Friends discovered. We have used these practices and structures to help one another discern leadings of the Spirit, to remove inner obstacles to faithfulness, to witness to alternative ways of life, and to participate in God’s work in the world. If we take these time-honored practices seriously – and make good use of them – we can surrender more intentionally to the inward-springing fountain of Life and Love. Drawing deeply from that source, we an be more effective at creating a culture of faithfulness in the society around us. We can be an increasingly powerful spiritual force today for justice, healing, and a restored earth.

–Marcelle Martin in Pendle Hill Pamphlet 462: A Culture of Faithfulness