Living Deeply

Embracing Brokenness (Alan Nelson)

Brokenness is like manure in our lives. At first it seems anything but appealing, but it fertilizes our souls so that they will bear fruit for serving the Lord. In the context of fruitfulness, Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The Scriptures are teeming with similar verses, mandating the death of the old self land the deeds of the flesh. Fruist of the Spirit grows out of soil fertilized by the decaying old nature. The very source of our frustration with a self-centered lifestyle actually becomes the humus for spiritual growth.

A Spirituality of Imperfection (Ernest Kurtz & Katherine Ketcham)

A spirituality of imperfection suggests that spirituality’s first step involves facing self squarely, seeing one’s self as one is: mixed-up, paradoxical, incomplete, and imperfect. Flawedness is the first fact about human beings. And paradoxically, in that imperfect foundation we find no despair but joy. For it is only within the reality of our imperfection that we can find the peace and serenity we crave.

Marriage By Email (Wall Street Journal)

My husband and I navigate our personal and professional lives in cyberspace. I call it marriage by email.

We manage everything — our schedules, two daughters (ages 8 and 15), obligations to family and friends — by email. We even argue (and make up) by email. Some days, as we rush through various family and sports commitments, we email far more than we have face-time conversations or phone calls. Read it all.

Between You and God, Anyway (Mother Teresa)

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.