Our Spiritual Parents

Joy and sorrow are never separated.
When our hearts rejoice at a spectacular view, we may miss our friends who cannot see it, and when we are overwhelmed with grief, we may discover what true friendship is all about.
Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy.
If we try to avoid sorrow at all costs, we may never taste joy, and if we are suspicious of ecstasy, agony can never reach us either.
Joy and sorrow are the parents of our spiritual growth.

-- Henri Nouwen

Expecting A Surprise

Each day holds a surprise.
But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us.
Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy.
It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.

-- Henri Nouwen

In Group

Today the planet is the only proper "in group."

Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world.

We cannot cure the world of sorrows,

but we can choose to live in joy.

Joseph Campbell

Beginning Of Wisdom

I really need prayer in sorrow of heart,
more humble thought of how to go
about saying and doing what I say and do.
I try to act as if I were wise,
but I do not have the fear of God
without which there is no beginning of wisdom.
-- Thomas Merton, A Search for Solitude