This is the first in what will (hopefully) become a regular “feature” of the blog…quote of the week. I’ll give a quote (maybe with some context) and then leave it for your reflection.
This first one is a bit long as it is cribbed from an earlier blog attempt. but I love the quote so much I thought I’d share again. Enjoy!
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One of my favorite thinkers, pastors, writers of all time was St. Augustine, featured in the following pic:
Sure, he was somewhat heavy with the guilt and a bit long winded–but he was a man WAY ahead of his time. (Which is saying something for a guy who died right around the time the Roman Empire fell.)
He just has so many great quotes about life, love, and our relationship to God. To wit:
“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are..”
“Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.”
“Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.”
My favorite though is this one:
“Love, and do what you will.”
When I first heard it I was flummoxed. Flabbergasted. And maybe other “f” words as well. What did that even mean? It seemed like a justification for doing whatever we want, because, hey, you say you love, and heck, maybe even what you love is God, so, yeah, that let’s you do whatever you want!
The friend who shared the quote with me, smiled when I expressed this concern.
“Ben, look at it the other way. If we love in the way God desires us to love, what we will…”
“Is to live how God wants us to live,” I said filling in the blank. ”Oh,” I added. (Profoundly.)
The idea has stuck with me and strikes me as a pretty good summation of what sabbath-keeping may be about as well–loving God and others in such a way that everything we do–consciously and unconsciously– is about dwelling in God’s presence
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Share any thoughts or even your favorite quotes below!
