..the true test of spirituality [is] in the freedom to live among people compassionately....Prayer frees us to be controlled by God.

Grace saves us from life without God-even more it empowers us for life with God.

Countless people pray far more than they know. Often they have such a "stained-glass" image of prayer that they fail to recognize what they are experiencing as prayer and so condemn themselves for not praying.

We have real difficulty here because everyone thinks of changing the world, but where, oh where, are those who think of changing themselves? People may genuinely want to be good, but seldom are they prepared to do what it takes to produce the inward life of goodness that can form the soul. Personal formation into the likeness of Christ is arduous and lifelong.

It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most free, alive, interesting.

reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.

When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God's work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight.