God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but because we have harmed ourselves.

The harrowing of the soul can be like the harrowing of the soil; to increase the yield, things are turned upside down.

Thus worshiping, serving, studying, praying, each in its own way squeezes selfishness out of us; pushes aside our preoccupations with the things of the world.

We are vulnerable if we can be taken by a wave of emotion, invaded by an invidious impulse, roughed up by resentment, or engulfed by a surge of selfishness.

We can hold to the iron rod even if others slip away and a few end up mocking us from "the great and spacious building."

Patience is...clearly not fatalistic, shoulder-shrugging resignation. It is the acceptance of a divine rhythm to life; it is obedience prolonged. Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing.

The dues of discipleship are high indeed, and how much we can take so often determines how much we can then give.