Inspiration

The pastor had been disturbed by a person who was a fast reader.

"We shall now read the Twenty-third Psalm in unison," he announced.

"Will the lady who is always by 'the still waters' while the rest of us are in 'green pastures,' please pause until we catch up?"

I recall a time when my son was about 18 months old. I had him strapped into a backpack and was rushing to catch the bus. Apparently I missed my step and fell down an entire flight of stairs (13 to be exact). I was bruised and bleeding and had torn my jeans ... but my main concern was, naturally, for my child.

My fears were alleviated, though, when from behind me I heard a gleeful giggle followed by, "Again!"

"When he called his society together, Jesus gave its members a new way of life to live.
He gave them a new way to deal with offenders - by forgiving them;
He gave them a new way to deal with violence - by suffering;
He gave them a new way to deal with money - by sharing it;
He gave them a new way to deal with problems of leadership - by drawing upon the gift of every member, even the most humble;
He gave them a new way to deal with a corrupt society - by building a new order, not smashing the old;
He gave them a new pattern of relationship between man and woman, between parent and child, between master and slave, in which was made concrete a radical new vision of what it means to be a human person."

- Stanley Hauerwas

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever."

- unknown