It may be chopping wood and it may be running a corporation. Whatever it is, perhaps you will hold open the possibility that doing it is one way to learn what it means to become more fully human, as you press beyond being good to being good for something.

— Barbara Brown Taylor (b. 1951), Episkopale Priesterin, Autorin

Source: An Altar in the World, Kap. 7

Topics: Work & Vocation, Meaning & Identity, Service & Love of Neighbour

Occasions: Encouragement, For Reflection

Barbara Brown Taylor

Barbara Brown Taylor (* 1951) ist eine US-amerikanische episkopale Priesterin, Theologin und Autorin, die als Gemeindepfarrerin und Hochschullehrerin in Georgia wirkte. Sie wurde durch Veröffentlichungen über Gotteserfahrungen im Alltag und den spirituellen Wert von Zweifel und Dunkelheit bekannt, stieß jedoch in konservativen Kreisen wegen ihres pluralistischen Religionsverständnisses auf Kritik. Für Bibelleser eröffnet ihr Ansatz Zugänge zu biblischen Texten, die menschliche Verwundbarkeit und Glaubensfragen jenseits dogmatischer Gewissheiten thematisieren.

All quotes by Barbara Brown Taylor (17)

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

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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