Sayings on the Riches of Life by Rosemary May Wells

Author: May Wells. Review by Roger Knight

Rosemary May Wells is a prolific but gentle writer. I find her writings an inspiration. Sayings on the Riches of Life is a departure from her usual work, however. It is a wide-ranging collection of sayings drawn from a very broad compass. Some are paraphrases of well-known quotes, others are from a variety of sources, and quite eclectic. The author has dedicated the book ‘To Quakers who recognise the value of brief thought’, but I think the book will appeal to other readers, too.

Rosemary says the query in her mind has always been: ‘How does faith relate to life?’ Her concern is ‘to introduce those unfamiliar with Quaker worship to the freedom of thought, and also the questioning, that those who seek but cannot accept conventional answers, may express’. I shall certainly be sending copies to people of all persuasions.

She says she has a poor memory, so over the years has compensated by jotting down thoughts and sayings that interested her or she found thought-provoking. Some of these brief thoughts were offered as ministry in Meeting for Worship. The sayings fall into a variety of categories. Here are a few: laughter, kindness, belief, risk and protection, life lessons, friendship, ending with God and humanity.  Each section is introduced by Rosemary’s own thoughts on the topic, so for ‘My Life’, she writes: ‘Quakers say that “letting your life speak” matters more than formal belief. These indicate the importance of our individual lives although they cannot be fully realised apart from relationship to another or the group.’ This is echoed by Carl Jung: ‘I must become we before I can grow.’ Here are some other imperfectly-remembered examples – they should be digested slowly and thoughtfully: ‘He does not know his God who is afraid to laugh with him’ (George McDonald); ‘The best things in life just happen’ (Hugo Gryn); ‘Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian’ (Dennis Wholey); ‘The UN is not there to bring heaven to mankind but to save it from hell’ (Dag Hammarskjold); ‘He that plants trees loves others beside himself’ (Thomas Fuller); ‘Love your enemies. It will drive them nuts’ (a modern update of Oscar Wilde).

Rosemary’s love of words shines through, as does her love of music and poetry. The final section is ‘God and Humanity’, which includes George Fox who urged Friends to ‘take care of God’s glory’.

This is a slim volume (fifty-eight pages) that captivates and entices you to dip in and ponder. There is space to add your own favourite quotes at the end of every section.  If the title of the book implies that we are seekers, we can explore the world through its pages and be enriched.  Perhaps the tree of life on the cover, one jigsaw piece missing, suggests that often it is a single idea that can open a world of difference and enable us to grow. Thank you, Rosemary, for opening our hearts and minds once again.

Sayings on the Riches of Life is self-published and available from the author at £7.50 inc postage. Contact rosemarymaywells@gmail.com.

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