The Power of a Sentence (or Two)

What I have learned from about twenty-years of serious reading is this: It is sentences that change my life, not books. What changes my life is some new glimpse of truth, some powerful challenge, some resolution to a long-standing dilemma, and these usually come concentrated in a sentence or two. I do not remember 99% of what I read, but if the 1% of each book or article I do remember is a life-changing insight, then I don’t begrudge the 99%. (Dr. John Piper)

Such was my experience at the Abbey last week.  My Bible, journal and favorite pen (a Bic four-color fine tipped instrument) accompanied me just about everywhere I went.  Much time was spent at a dining table between the hours of 4:30 a.m and 7:00 breakfasts, and outdoors in a chair overlooking the gardens throughout the morning and again in the early evenings.  A library of reading material was available and many of my sentences came from the books I read.  Here are only a few of the jottings from my journal pages.

• Vacare Deo - totally free to the Lord today.
• "Lord, let me seek you by wanting you, and let me want you by seeking you.  Let me find you by loving you, and by loving you, find you."  (Anselm)
• Don't pray for water.  Pray for thirst.
• Christians are not entitled - but endowed.
• Compassion is to suffer with--NOT give solutions!
• Learn to do a common thing in an uncommon manner (George Washington Carver, I think)
• Saints are those who judge possibilities and choices by asking, "What is this in reference to eternal life?"
• Nequid nemis - "Nothing in excess."  (Terence)
• "There is nothing as out of place in a Christian as excess."  (St. Benedict)