Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

— Howard Thurman (1899–1981), Theologe, Autor, Bürgerrechtler

Source: zitiert in Gil Bailie, Violence Unveiled (1996), S. xv

Topics: Work & Vocation, Guidance & God's Will, Meaning & Identity

Occasions: Encouragement, For Reflection

Howard Thurman

Howard Thurman (1899–1981) war ein US-amerikanischer Theologe, baptistischer Universitätsprediger und Autor, der unter anderem in Washington, D.C., Boston und San Francisco wirkte. Er verband christliche Mystik mit der Idee des gewaltfreien Widerstands, gründete eine der ersten interkulturellen Gemeinden der USA und galt als geistlicher Mentor Martin Luther Kings Jr. Für Bibelleser heute eröffnet sein Ansatz eine Perspektive auf das Evangelium aus der Sicht gesellschaftlich Entrechteter und zeigt die Verbindung von innerer Kontemplation und sozialer Gerechtigkeit.

All quotes by Howard Thurman (12)

More on this topic

God has not called us to success, only to faithfulness.

Mother Teresa

Jenny, God has made me for a purpose – for China; but He has also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure

Eric Liddell

The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.

Brother Lawrence

Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The bow cannot be always bent without fear of breaking. Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body… Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It may be that the Last Day will dawn tomorrow; if so, we will gladly lay down our work for a better future, but not before.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.

Tim Keller

Our Lord's example is our example, not only on Calvary but in the workshop, on the road, in the crowd, amid interruptions, amid opposition, amid the lack of quiet and privacy, amid constant demands.

C.S. Lewis

All quotes · lumen.bible