A meditation: “On the evening of the 18th I was at their meeting,
where pure gospel love was felt, to the tendering of some of our
hearts. The interpreters endeavoured to acquaint the people with
what I said, in short sentences, but found some difficulty, as
none of them were quite perfect in the English and Delaware tongues,
so they helped one another, and we laboured along, divine love
attending. Afterwards, feeling my mind covered with the spirit
of prayer, I told the interpreters that I found it in my heart
to pray to God, and believed, if I prayed aright He would hear
me; and I expressed my willingness for them to omit interpreting;
so our meeting ended with a degree of divine love. Before the
people went out, I observed Papunehang (the man who had been zealous
in labouring for a reformation in that town, being then very tender)
speaking to one of the interpreters, and I was afterwards told
that he said in substance as follows: — ‘I love to feel where
words come from.’” —John Woolman’s Journal, Chapter VIII,
1762
Do I listen with the open heart of Papunehang, or do I judge
and assume and presume? Am I open to God’s lesson where ever it
comes from, or can I only hear those who talk like me, think like
me, see like me? Bend me, Divine Teacher, to your will. Help me
listen to your word no matter where it comes from, no matter the
words used, no matter the voice. Help me listen when it comes
from the other, the stranger. Help me when it comes from my sister
and my brother. —cdw
Weekly devotional and prayer requests
for August 27-September
2, 2010.
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