Animal instinct: Howard Grace’s Thought for the Week

‘More humility might be appropriate.’

by Howard Grace 5th June 2026

One experience that stays with me was when, newly interested in Quakers, I visited Sunday Meeting for Worship. About twenty chairs were arranged in a circle. But it so happened that one, with a cushion on it, had already been occupied – by a cat. During our hour of silent reflection, this unexpected visitor spent much of its time purring contentedly. The cat clearly resonated with whatever spirit – a loving spirit – it detected in
that room.