“In our best moments, moments when we’re really creating it all, that’s pretty much what can happen. People running towards the light to become a part of it all. We were made for that light. You know, a city built on a hill. Designed to glorify God and be that transformation.”
“…there are those who know all the words of worship by heart
and those who fumble with the bulletins and books
some sit quietly while others squirm and wiggle
some of the youngest delight in running up and down the aisles
and their parents simply want a space to rest…”
“Jesus goes from the outside, the hidden place, to the inside, now the place of danger. In secret. And he can hear the muttering about him, pro and con, but all overshadowed by fear of the authorities.”
“I get angry, gossip and manipulate until I catch myself at it and stop. It is with struggle that I give up my grudges and ask God to forgive the grudges God could carry against me. I am only now, at age 68, beginning to see that noticing beauty, joy, and gratitude is seeing Christ present in the world.”
“Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, but not to be a total doormat either. We are to treat others as our neighbors, whether they are residents or aliens in our land. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, care for the ill, children, and elderly, and to follow God’s laws. If we encounter evildoing, we are to do our best to counter it and remove it, returning ourselves and the land to righteousness under God.”
“These are two extremes, between which lie all the ways that God is revealed in our lives. At work, with friends, doing various kinds of labor, in nature, in the deep sorrows and joys of our lives—in each one God reveals himself to us. We have only to stop for a moment and raise our heads, to open our hearts to this moment, to see his revelation.”
“O God, You cover the earth in snow like a blanket:
cover us with your wing as the storms pass,
both within and without.
The earth rests beneath the snow,
gathering itself to burst forth in new life:
enliven our spirits to take up our work
in your kingdom…”
“At the time, and as a new priest still youngish (any Episcopal priest under fifty is considered “young”), I watched Laura suffer and wonder about how a person in pain or suffering engages spiritually. Centering prayer, meditation, the Daily Office, reading Scripture, praying for others? What might one do to fortify the soul against the body’s attack? What might God ask of the person whose task in life has been reduced to pulling one additional tug of breath into the lungs? Is spirituality possible? Will engaging the spirit ease suffering?”
“Some days we may feel like our faith is covered by clouds. We don’t know which way is up and where to go. A broken relationship weighs heavy on our hearts. We feel dark and lonely. We don’t believe we can take one step forward. We can’t offer forgiveness. An addiction has taken hold. We’re afraid we’ve lost our way. God feels distant and silent.”
“In the Eucharist we are fed, and in faith we know we are all embraced in Jesus’ arms, adopted by his Father and cherished. It is done. It is over. We are saved. And the deeper we know this the greater our hearts turn to God, and the greater our hearts turn towards the world.”