"All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change. … As wind, as water, as fire, as life, God is change."  - Octavia Butler

The number of dead and injured in Israel and the Palestinian terrorites continues to grow in recent weeks. The violence is the result of brutal force used to maintain the occupation. In this piece Mike Merryman-Lotze reflects on the violence and the videos and images of that violence being circulated. He asks why such images are necessary for outrage and compassion to address the roots of the problem.

If you are a student of Christian theology, the concept of “already, but not yet” might be a familiar one. I first heard it in a class on the New Testament during my (very) brief time at Earlham School of Religion.

White Quaker singer-songwriter Sandy Robson reflects on fear and how it operates to maintain segregation and racial oppression in this moving piece about growing up in Baltimore and learning about the vulnerability and lack of safety her Black friends feel. This piece was originally published on Sandy's website (her singer-songwriter name is Letitia VanSant) in May. - Lucy

Sandy Robson is a Quaker singer-songwriter from Baltimore, Maryland. Until recently she worked for the Friends Committee on National Legislation. She performs under the name Letitia VanSant.

On September 1st an historic settlement was reached in California on the use of long-term isolation or solitary confinement. This win came after years of organizing in which AFSC staff were actively participating. This is a summary of the agreement reached and of all the work and actions that went into making the agreement possible by incarcerated men, their families, and other allies working together persistently and faithfully for change. - Lucy