We're all afraid of the same stuff. Mostly we're afraid that we're secretly not okay, that we're disgusting, or frauds, or about to be diagnosed with cancer. ... We want to teach you how to quiet the yammer ... how you can create comfort, inside and outside, how you can get warm, how you can feed yourself. And even learn to get through silence. ... There is a wilderness inside you, and a banquet. Both. [p. 253]
Anne LamottI'm all over the place, up and down, scattered, withdrawing, trying to find some elusive sense of serenity." The world can't give that serenity. The world can't give us peace. We can only find it in our hearts." I hate that." I know. But the good news is that by the same token, the world can't take it away.
Anne LamottThere is ecstasy in paying attention. You can get into a kind of Wordsworthian openness to the world, where you see in everything the essence of holiness.
Anne LamottGrief, as I read somewhere once, is a lazy Susan. One day it is heavy and underwater, and the next day it spins and stops at loud and rageful, and the next day at wounded keening, and the next day numbness, silence.
Anne LamottI do not have deep theological understanding or opinion, but I do not read the Bible as the literal word of God.
Anne LamottLetโs think of reverence as awe, as presence in and openness to the worldโฆTry walking around with a child whoโs going, โWow, wow! Look at that dirty dog! Look at that burned-down house! Look at that red sky!โ And the child points, and you look, and you see, and you start going, โWow! Look at that huge crazy hedge! Look at that teeny little baby! Look at the scary dark cloud!โ I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world โ present and in awe.
Anne Lamott