"Jesus has many who love His Kingdom in Heaven but few who bear His Cross. Many follow Jesus to the Breaking of the Bread, but few to the drinking of the Cup of His Passion. They who love Jesus for his own sake, and not for the sake of comfort for themselves, bless Him in every trial and anguish of heart, no less than in the greatest joy."
Thomas a Kempis
"The difference between shallow happiness and a deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can't stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfigurationof suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope--and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend on it) disappoint us."
Walter Wangerin
Posted by mike at February 12, 2005 10:58 PMmike, do you know how much i love you for quoting wangerin? i've been thinking about writing blog entries based on each of his lent entries from Reliving the Passion.
Posted by: jeremy at February 13, 2005 01:56 AMthat wangerin quote is perfect for right now, so i stole it and emailed it. thank you mike.
(and i really like the new banner, well done.)
Posted by: steph at February 14, 2005 02:20 PM