Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul.

It is hard to remember that you are a cherished spiritual being when you're burping up apple fritters and Cheetos.

...most of the time, all you have is the moment, and the imperfect love of the people around you.

Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived. Clutter is wonderfully fertile ground - you can still discover new treasures under all those piles, clean things up, edit things out, fix things, get a grip. Tidiness suggests that something is as good as it's going to get. Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation, while writing needs to breathe and move.

When hope is not pinned wriggling onto a shiny image or expectation, it sometimes floats forth and opens.

Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or to pay attention, stomp away to brood when people annoy us, and then eat a big bag of Hershey's Kisses in bed?

Or you might shout at the top of your lungs or whisper into your sleeve, "I hate you, God." That is a prayer too, because it is real, it is truth, and maybe it is the first sincere thought you've had in months.