Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.

I can choose to grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly.

Your life is not going to be easy, and it should not be easy. It ought to be hard. It ought to be radical; it ought to be restless; it ought to lead you to places you'd rather not go.

My writing has developed drastically . The Return of the Prodigal Son is the most important thing I've done, and my most mature book.

I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over. But depression is real.

The world is evil only when you become its slave.

When suddenly you seem to lose all you thought you had gained, do not despair. You must expect setbacks and regressions. Don't say to yourself "All is lost. I have to start all over again." This is not true. What you have gained you have gained....When you return to the the road, you return to the place where you left it, not to where you started.