Of course love is never earned. It is a grace we give one another. Anything we need to earn is only approval.

People have the natural capacity to affirm and embrace life in the most difficult of circumstances.

Suffering shapes the life force, sometimes into anger, sometimes into blame and self-pity. Eventually it may show us the wisdom of embracing and loving life.

A shaman is someone who has a wound that will not heal. He sits by the side of the road with his open wound exposed.

My sense is that you can never teach anybody anything, or change anybody in ways that they don't already have in mind.

Life offers its wisdom generously. Everything teaches. Not everyone learns. Life asks of us the same thing we have been asked in every class: "Stay awake." "Pay attention." But paying attention is no simple matter. It requires us not to be distracted by expectations, past experiences, labels, and masks. It asks that we not jump to early conclusions and that we remain open to surprise.

When we listen, we offer with our attention an opportunity for wholeness.