SNOW ON THE SUMMITS
If we saw the Church as she is in the most generous souls who live most truly the life of the Church, she would appear most beautiful in our sight, despite the human imperfections which are mingled with the activity of her children. We rightly lament certain blots, but let us not forget that if there is sometimes mud in the valley at the foot of the mountains, on the summits there is always snow of dazzling whiteness, air of great purity, and a wonderful view that ever leads the eye to God.
– Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, in
“The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life”
SAFE BUT STERILE
Christian literature, to be accepted and approved by evangelical leaders of our times, must follow very closely the same train of thought, a kind of “party line” from which it is scarcely safe to depart. A half-century of this in America has made us smug and content. We imitate each other with slavish devotion. Our most strenuous efforts are put forth to try to say the same thing that everyone around us is saying—and yet to find an excuse for saying it, some little safe variation on the approved theme or, if no more, at least a new illustration.
– A. W. Tozer in
“The Pursuit of God”
LIFE TODAY IS OVERRATED
I think we have lost the old knowledge that happiness is overrated—that, in a way, life is overrated. We have lost somehow a sense of mystery- about us, our purpose, our meaning, our role. Our ancestors believed in two worlds, and understood this to be the solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short one. We are the first generation of man that actually expected to find happiness here on earth, and our search for it has caused such unhappiness. The reason: if you do not believe in another, higher world, if you believe only in the flat material world around you, if you believe that this is your only chance at happiness- if that is what you believe, then you are more than disappointed when the world does not give you a good measure of its riches, you are in despair.
– Peggy Noonan in
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”
OUR FATHER KNOWS BEST
Contrary to popular opinion, sin is not what you want to do but can’t; it is what you should not do because it will hurt you- and hurt you bad . …
God is not a policemen; He is a Father concerned about His children. When a child picks up a snake and the father says, “Put that down right this minute!” the child thinks he’s losing a toy. The fact is, he is not losing a toy; he is losing a snake.
-Steve Brown in
“Key Life” (July-August 1994)
DISPOSABLE PEOPLE
When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we wish.
– Elizabeth Cady Stanton, quoted in
“Good News” (July-August 1994)
POOR BEDFELLOWS
The world and the Cross do not get along too well together, and comfort and holiness do not share the same room.
– Carlo Carretto in
“Letters to Dolcidia”
WORLD LOVE ISN’T REAL LOVE
Christians state glibly that they love the whole world, while they permit themselves animosities within their immediate world. World love is a philosophical credo. But loving the world at large can only be done by loving face to face the world that is not so distant. It is foolish to say we love humanity; it’s people we can’t stand.
– Calvin Miller in
“The Taste of Joy”
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