I discovered a version of the sinner's prayer that increased my faith far more than the one that I had said years earlier...In this version, there were no formulas, no set phrases that promised us safe passage across the abyss. There was only our tattered trust that the Spirit who had given us life would not leave us in the wilderness without offering us life again.

When I forget the power of the word, I read Frederick Buechner. When I forget the deep relief of telling the truth, I read Frederick Buechner. When I forget to look for the holiness all around me, I read Frederick Buechner. When I forget why the gospel matters, I read Frederick Buechner.

I can't help but note that God is being useful to a lot of people trying to do harm to one another.

I think my idea of God was much more directive than my idea of God now, that is, a God who had one plan in mind for me, perhaps, and my job was to find out what it was and obey.

There was no time anymore to be quiet or still or pray. So, in many ways, that's what led to my downward spin.

I don't have time for a job that doesn't leave me time to be quiet or still or to pray.

I love being alone. I learned that from my father, I think, who loved his own company.