The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust

In every encounter we either give life or we drain it; there is no neutral exchange.

To affirm a person is to see the good in them that they cannot see in themselves and to repeat it in spite of appearances to the contrary. Please, this is not some Pollyanna optimism that is blind to the reality of evil, but rather like a fine radar system that is tuned in to the true, the good, and the beautiful.

Reality, truth, and Jesus Christ are incredibly open-ended

The engaged mind, illuminated by truth, awakens awareness; the engaged heart, affected by love, awakens passion. May I say once more - this essential energy of the soul is not an ecstatic trance, high emotion or a sanguine stance toward life: It is a fierce longing for God, an unyielding resolve to live in and out of our belovedness. - pg. 152

Childlike surrender and trust, I believe, is the defining spirit of authentic discipleship.

There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.