Scripture is given for our  instruction and edification. In its totality Scripture presents the God revealed in Jesus and whom we seek to follow. The story of his pursuit of humankind despite our unfaithfulness is a story of grace. Biblical revelation aids our attunement to God by helping us encounter the Lord God of heaven and earth, not simply the god of our imagination, childhood experience, or previous religious instruction.

David G. Benner

When we are not propelled and impelled by one ultimate attraction, we are pulled by multiple desires.

-Kenneth Boa

The Value vs Results of work. Parker Palmer reflects on Thomas Merton words….

“History is full of tragically failed visions of possibility, and the more profound the vision, the more likely we are to fall short of achieving it. But even here, Merton has a word of hope for us, a paradoxical word, of course:

“…do not depend on the hope of results. …you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself.”

Pain is meant to be listened to and addressed, not denied or simply numbed.  This is true of emotional pain probably more than physical.