We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies–

The Heroism we recite
Would be a daily thing,
Did not ourselves the Cubits warp
For fear to be a King–

Not all, even today, are of that supine sort that must have their life values given them, cried at them from the pulpits and other mass media of the day. For there is, in fact, in quiet places, a great deal of deep spiritual quest and finding now in progress in this world, outside the sanctified social centers, beyond their purview and control: in small groups, here and there, and more often, more typically (as anyone who looks around may leam), by ones and twos, there entering the forest at those points which they themselves have chosen, where they see it to be most dark, and there is no beaten way or path.

– Joseph Campbell

“Winter’s just the curtain, Spring will take the bow…”
~ Richard Shindell

Christianity’s view is: forgiveness is forgiveness; your forgiveness is your forgiveness; your forgiveness of another is your own forgiveness; the forgiveness which you give, you receive, not contrariwise, that you give the forgiveness for which you receive. – Soren Kierkegaard

The psyche knows how to heal, but it hurts. Some times the healing hurts more than the initial injury, but if you can survive it, you’ll be stronger, because you’ve found a larger base. Every commitment is a narrowing and when that commitment fails, you have to get back to a larger base and have the strength to hold to it.

Nietzsche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called “the love of your fate.” Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment-not discouragement-you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. – Joseph Campbell

Henri Nouwen:

Your true identity is not in the hands of other people. Your identity can never be what some other person may think about you. You were fashioned by God in your mother’s womb. God knew you intimately before you were born. You are God’s beloved child. That is who you truly are.

If we spend all day controlling and blocking others, why would we change when we kneel to pray? – Richard Rohr

The society is the enemy when it imposes its structures on the individual.

On the dragon there are many scales. Everyone of them says “Thou Shalt.”

Kill the dragon “Thou Shalt.”

When one has killed that dragon, one has become The Child.

– Joseph Campbell