The beauty in the losing is a loss finally of self-consciousness. There's a gorgeous moment that can happen in all kinds of places. It can happen with people, it can happen with nature, and it can happen with my eyes shut anywhere I am.

The great wisdom traditions of the world all recognize that the main impediment to living a life of meaning is being self-absorbed.

It's difficult for me to ignore how many conflicts locally and worldwide have religion tagged to them.

I have learned to prize holy ignorance more highly than religious certainty and to seek companions who have arrived at the same place.

The tradition piece is so embedded in me I don't know that I can see it any more, but the community piece is one I've been in danger of losing.

Wisdom is not gained by knowing what is right. Wisdom is gained by practicing what is right, and noticing what happens when that practice succeeds and when it fails.

With so much effort being poured into church growth, so much press being given to the benefits of faith, and so much flexing of religious muscle in the public square, the poor in spirit have no one but Jesus to call them blessed anymore.