This Sunday’s readings: Psalm 14

Reflections

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main… Any man’s death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
~John Donne 1572-1631, English poet, scholar and cleric

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
~ Proverbs 26:4-5

Before a man speaks it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks, it is seldom necessary to assume it.
~ H.L. Mencken, 1880—1956, Essayist/Satirist

Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your ‘angels’ to sing.
~ August Wilson, 1945-2005, American Playwright

The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.
~ Pema Chödrön, 1936- , When Things Fall Apart, American Tibetan-Buddhist

If you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, then you don’t know where you’re going. And if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re probably going wrong.
~ Terry Pratchett, I Shall Wear Midnight

If every reference to faith in God were removed from the scripture, would it make any difference to how you live as a Christian?
~ Francis Schaeffer, Pastor, Founder of La Bri