“For some reason, religious people tend to confuse the means with the actual goal. In the beginning, you tend to think that God actually really cares about you exact posture, the exact day of the week for public prayer (and worship), the authorship and wordings of your prayers, and other such things. Once your life has become constant communion, you know that all the techniques, formulas, sacraments, and practices were just a dress rehearsal for the real thing–life itself–which can actually become a constant intentional prayer. Your conscious and loving existence gives glory to God.”
(Richard Rohr, “Falling Upward”, pp xxviii)

Sittser on Redemption
“Redemption promises to transform us…Once broken, we become whole again; once selfish and insecure, we become stately and serene and self-giving; once