Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.

Five friends I had and two of them snakes.

You hear as many things as you would imagine. I hear voices of people I loved once. I hear moments that took place. I hear silences.

In New England, especially, [faith] is like sex. It's very personal. You don't bring it out and talk about it.

You can't be too careful what you tell a child because you never know what he'll take hold of and spend the rest of his life remembering you by.

The worst isn't the last thing about the world. It's the next to the last thing. The last thing is the best. It's the power from on high that comes down into the world, that wells up from the rock-bottom worst of the world like a hidden spring. Can you believe it? The last, best thing is the laughing deep in the hearts of the saints, sometimes our hearts even. Yes. You are terribly loved and forgiven. Yes. You are healed. All is well.

The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.