The Engaged Mind, Illuminated By Truth, Awakens

Childlike In Faith Means The Daily Acknowledgment Of Utter Dependence And That I Owe My Life And Being To Another.

The Conversation Of Most Middle-class Americans, We Are Told, Revolves Around Consumption: What To Buy, What Was Just Bought, Where To Eat, The Price Of The Neighbor's House, What's On Sale This Week, Our Clothes Or Someone Else's, The Best Car On The Market This Year, Where To Spend A Vacation. Apparently We Can't Stop Eating, Shopping, Or Consuming. Success Is Measured Not In Terms Of Love, Wisdom, And Maturity But By The Size Of One's Pile Of Possessions.

There Is The "you" That People See And Then There Is The "rest Of You". Take Some Time And Craft A Picture Of The "rest Of You." This Could Be A Drawing, In Words, Even A Song. Just Remember That The Chances Are Good It Will Be Full Of Paradox And Contradictions.

If Asked Whether I Am Finally Letting God Love Me, Just As I Am, I Would Answer, 'no, But I'm Trying.

For Those Who Feel Their Lives Are A Grave Disappointment To God, It Requires Enormous Trust And Reckless, Raging Confidence To Accept That The Love Of Jesus Christ Knows No Shadow Of Alteration Or Change. When Jesus Said, "come To Me, All You Who Labor And Are Heavy Burdened," He Assumed We Would Grow Weary, Discouraged, And Disheartened Along The Way. These Words Are A Touching Testimony To The Genuine Humanness Of Jesus. He Had No Romantic Notion Of The Cost Of Discipleship. He Knew That Following Him Was As Unsentimental As Duty, As Demanding As Love.