THE VIDEOS
My project became the recording of people's responses to the question "Who Are You?". Inspired by the poem The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer and the Soul Biography videos produced by Nic Askew
The videos can also be viewed on the YouTube channel Tapestry of Faith Anne ponders on change, healing, patience and being a sunflower. The very sunflower Anne speaks of. Floe's words remind me of the song Woodstock performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young written by Joni Mitchell ************ I came upon a child of God We are stardust He was walking along the road We are golden And I asked him, where are you going And we've got to get ourselves And this he told me... Back to the garden I'm going on down to Yasgur's farm I'm going to join in a rock 'n' roll band I'm going to camp out on the land I'm gonna try and get my soul free ************* Then can I walk beside you We are stardust I have come here to lose the smog We are golden And I feel to be a cog in something turning And we've got to get ourselves Well maybe it is just the time of year Back to the garden Or maybe it's the time of man I don't know who l am But ya know life is for learning *************** By the time we got to Woodstock We are stardust We were half a million strong Billion-year-old carbon And everywhere there was song We are golden and celebration Caught up in the devil's bargain And I dreamed I saw the bombers And we've got to get ourselves Riding shotgun in the sky Back to the garden And they were turning into butterflies Above our nation *************** |
The first video
Gill goes deep into the darkness and finds light A Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Seamus contemplates how to be open hearted and know compassion. Caro speaks of her celtic essence, being a nosy cow and living truthfully! The reference made to the sword, George Fox and William Penn is from Quaker Faith and Practice reproduced below. 19.47 Corporate testimony depends on individual faithfulness. An individual will be faithful through a recognition of the testimony and a searching of the heart to see what steps are required. The following anecdote depends on oral tradition, but it has played so large a part in Quaker thinking that it is included here:When William Penn was convinced of the principles of Friends, and became a frequent attendant at their meetings, he did not immediately relinquish his gay apparel; it is even said that he wore a sword, as was then customary among men of rank and fashion. Being one day in company with George Fox, he asked his advice concerning it, saying that he might, perhaps, appear singular among Friends, but his sword had once been the means of saving his life without injuring his antagonist, and moreover, that Christ had said, ‘He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.’ George Fox answered, ‘I advise thee to wear it as long as thou canst.’ Not long after this they met again, when William had no sword, and George said to him, ‘William, where is thy sword?’ ‘Oh!’ said he, ‘I have taken thy advice; I wore it as long as I could.’
Samuel Janney, 1852 |
I have been a friend of the Hussain Family for 11 years. I first met them when I went to help Sulaiman's wife improve her English. At the time they had one delightful 4 year old daughter who is now 15 and now has 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
They are my family as I am theirs. It was such a privilege to film Sulaiman reciting the Qur'an. What follows is a translation from "The Qur'an. A new translation" by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem published by Oxford World Classics. The Qur'an - Sura 19 - MARY (part) A Meccan sura which takes its name from the story of Mary. It recounts the grace given by God to a number of prophets and tells aspects of their stories. The claim that Jesus is the son of God is firmly denied, as is the assertion of the pagans of Mecca that the angels are God’s daughters. In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy Kaf Ha Ya’ Ayn Sad This is an account of your Lord’s grace towards His servant, Zachariah, when he called to his Lord secretly, saying, ‘Lord, my bones have weakened and my hair is ashen grey, but never, Lord, have I ever prayed to You in vain: I fear [what] my kinsmen [will do] when I am gone, for my wife is barren, so grant me a successor—a gift from You— to be my heir and the heir of the family of Jacob. Lord, make him well pleasing [to You].’ ‘Zachariah, We bring you good news of a son whose name will be John—We have chosen this name for no one before him.’ He said, ‘Lord, how can I have a son when my wife is barren, and I am old and frail?’ He said, ‘This is what your Lord has said: “It is easy for Me: I created you, though you were nothing before.”’ He said, ‘Give me a sign, Lord.’ He said, ‘Your sign is that you will not speak to anyone for three full [days and] nights.’ He went out of the sanctuary to his people and signalled to them to praise God morning and evening. |
[We said], ‘John, hold on to the Scripture firmly.’ While he was still a boy, We granted him wisdom, tenderness from Us, and purity. He was devout, kind to his parents, not domineering or rebellious. Peace was on him the day he was born, on the day of his death, and on the day he is raised to life again.
Mention in the Scripture the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place to the east and secluded herself away; We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a normal human. She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him [do not approach]!’ but he said, ‘I am but a Messenger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’ She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me? I have not been unchaste,’ and he said, ‘This is what your Lord said: “It is easy for Me—We shall make him a sign to all people, a blessing from Us.”’ And so it was ordained: she conceived him. She withdrew to a distant place and, when the pains of childbirth drove her to [cling to] the trunk of a palm tree, she exclaimed, ‘I wish I had been dead and forgotten long before all this!’ but a voice cried to her from below, ‘Do not worry: your Lord has provided a stream at your feet and, if you shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, it will deliver fresh ripe dates for you, so eat, drink, be glad, and say to anyone you may see: “I have vowed to the Lord of Mercy to abstain from conversation, and I will not talk to anyone today.”’ |
She went back to her people carrying the child, and they said, ‘Mary! You have done something terrible! Sisterb of Aaron! Your father was not a bad man; your mother was not unchaste!’ She pointed at him. They said, ‘How can we converse with an infant?’ [But] he said: ‘I am a servant of God. He has granted me the Scripture; made me a prophet; made me blessed wherever I may be. He commanded me to pray, to give alms as long as I live, to cherish my mother. He did not make me domineering or graceless. Peace was on me the day I was born, and will be on me the day I die and the day I am raised to life again.’ Such was Jesus, son of Mary.
[This is] a statement of the Truth about which they are in doubt: it would not befit God to have a child. He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is.d ‘God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him: that is a straight path.’ But factions have differed among themselves. What suffering will come to those who obscure the truth when a dreadful Day arrives! How sharp of hearing, how sharp of sight they will be when they come to Us, although now they are clearly off course! Warn them [Muhammad] of the Day of Remorse when the matter will be decided, for they are heedless and do not believe. It is We who will inherit the earth and all who are on it: they will all be returned to Us.
Mention too, in the Scripture, the story of Abraham. He was a man of truth, a prophet. He said to his father, ‘Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way? Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so follow me: I will guide you to an even path. Father, do not worship Satan—Satan has rebelled against the Lord of Mercy. Father, I fear that a punishment from the Lord of Mercy may afflict you and that you may become Satan’s companion [in Hell].’ His father answered, ‘Abraham, do you reject my gods? I will stone you if you do not stop this. Keep away from me for a long time!’ Abraham said, ‘Peace be with you: I will beg my Lord to forgive you—He is always gracious to me— but for now I will leave you, and the idols you all pray to, and I will pray to my Lord and trust that my prayer will not be in vain.’ When he left his people and those they served beside God, We granted him Isaac and Jacob and made them both prophets: We granted Our grace to all of them, and gave them a noble reputation.
Mention too, in the Qur’an, the story of Moses. He was specially chosen, a messenger and a prophet: We called to him from the right-hand side of the mountain and brought him close to Us in secret communion; out of Our grace We granted him his brother Aaron as a prophet. Mention too, in the Qur’an, the story of Ishmael. He was true to his promise, a messenger and a prophet. He commanded his household to pray and give alms, and his Lord was well pleased with him. Mention too, in the Qur’an, the story of Idris. He was a man of truth, a prophet. We raised him to a high position.
[This is] a statement of the Truth about which they are in doubt: it would not befit God to have a child. He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is.d ‘God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him: that is a straight path.’ But factions have differed among themselves. What suffering will come to those who obscure the truth when a dreadful Day arrives! How sharp of hearing, how sharp of sight they will be when they come to Us, although now they are clearly off course! Warn them [Muhammad] of the Day of Remorse when the matter will be decided, for they are heedless and do not believe. It is We who will inherit the earth and all who are on it: they will all be returned to Us.
Mention too, in the Scripture, the story of Abraham. He was a man of truth, a prophet. He said to his father, ‘Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way? Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so follow me: I will guide you to an even path. Father, do not worship Satan—Satan has rebelled against the Lord of Mercy. Father, I fear that a punishment from the Lord of Mercy may afflict you and that you may become Satan’s companion [in Hell].’ His father answered, ‘Abraham, do you reject my gods? I will stone you if you do not stop this. Keep away from me for a long time!’ Abraham said, ‘Peace be with you: I will beg my Lord to forgive you—He is always gracious to me— but for now I will leave you, and the idols you all pray to, and I will pray to my Lord and trust that my prayer will not be in vain.’ When he left his people and those they served beside God, We granted him Isaac and Jacob and made them both prophets: We granted Our grace to all of them, and gave them a noble reputation.
Mention too, in the Qur’an, the story of Moses. He was specially chosen, a messenger and a prophet: We called to him from the right-hand side of the mountain and brought him close to Us in secret communion; out of Our grace We granted him his brother Aaron as a prophet. Mention too, in the Qur’an, the story of Ishmael. He was true to his promise, a messenger and a prophet. He commanded his household to pray and give alms, and his Lord was well pleased with him. Mention too, in the Qur’an, the story of Idris. He was a man of truth, a prophet. We raised him to a high position.
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I am OK
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Mary speaks of 'Simply Being Me'.
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Margaret speaks on being a Quaker a seeker and a thinker.
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