The ancient Hebrews had a word for this awareness of the importance of things. They called it kavod. Kavod originally was a business term, referring to the heaviness of something, which was crucial in weights and measures and the maintaining of fairness in transactions. Over time the word began to take on a more figurative meaning, referring to the importance and significance of something.

That may sound a big vague, but what has struck me in city after city is that despite our differences and diversity, there's a common humanity we all share. In many ways we're all searching and longing for the same things.

I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man.

To me some of the greatest writing is when somebody puts something in words that you felt and experienced and you go, that's it.

The life that you want begins the moment you embrace the life you have because all of it is a miracle.

Swords appear strong, but they're actually quite weak. Jesus appears weak, but he's actually quite strong.

Suffering, it turns out, demands profound imagination. A new future has to be conjured up because the old future isn't there anymore.