Mythic Truth of Fiction

Books, Reading, Truth 0

Why else do we read fiction, anyway?  Not to be impressed by someone’s dazzling language — or at least I hope that’s not our reason.  I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not “true” because we’re hungry for another kind of truth:  The mythic truth about human nature in general, the particular truth about those life-communities that define our own identity, and the most specific truth of all:  our own self-story.  Fiction, because it is not about somebody who actually lived in the real world, always has the possibility of being about oneself.

— Orson Scott Card, Introduction, Ender’s Game, 1991 Tor edition

A Greater Truth

Forgiveness 0

It’s not that there is never a mistake or an evil motivation, but that there is something else as well.  Forgiveness is the door to experiencing that something else.

Forgiveness doesn’t excuse behavior; it looks past it to a greater truth.

— Hugh Prather, Spiritual Notes to Myself, p. 18

Choosing Happiness

Joy 0

We need to make the choice to be happy in a particular situation, just as it is, and at a given moment.  It might not be a perfect moment, but it is ours; we are breathing; we are alive.  We choose our happiness incrementally, moment by moment, hour by hour.  Now.

— Alexandra Stoddard, Choosing Happiness:  Keys to a Joyful Life, p. 1

Someone Wonderful

Life 0

I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life.  It never crossed my mind that person could be me.

— Anna Quindlen, quoted in This Is Not the Life I Ordered, by Deborah Collins Stephens, Jackie Speier, Michealene Cristini Risley, and Jan Yanehiro

Perspective

Forgiveness, Guidance, Healing, Trials 0

Remember to ask Jesus to stand between you and your spouse, and to say only things you would say to Jesus and to listen to everything through the heart of Jesus.  When I have felt discouraged, thinking all this was unfair, I often hear Jesus from the cross saying, “And me, what have I done to deserve this?”  Bear your cross with humility, patience, and confidence in the Lord.

— testimonial in Your Father Knows Best, compiled by Bob and Charlyne Steinkamp, p. 71

Generosity

Compassion, God, Gratitude 0

The heart expands not by taking more in, but by giving more away.

We can be generous people because we have been given generous gifts.

We’re greedy because we think there’s a limited supply.

There is an unlimited supply of the things our hearts really long for.

Live with expanding hearts.

— Pastor Ed Allen, December 2, 2007

God’s Guidance

Guidance, Trust 0

Here I am moving from point A to point B to point C — in a fog.  I turn to God and say, “How do I get to point D?”  But God gently replies, “Take my hand and I will lead you out of the fog.”  Then I get stubborn and say, “You didn’t answer my question!”

— Hugh Prather, Spiritual Notes to Myself, p. 10