Bogwitch

We need not expect that life leads to sitting and possessing — in no sense, at no moment. We cannot remain standing; we may not; and we ought not even once wish to do so. Whatever awaits us on our way is under no circumstances our goal. Even the most important, the beautiful, the tragic moments of our lives, are only stations on the way, nothing more. Saying farewell: that is the great rule of this life. Woe to us if we reject this rule, if we want to remain standing, calling a halt, and attaching ourselves to a particular station. There is nothing left for us but to acknowledge this saying farewell, becoming obedient to it. “Here we have no lasting city.

—

Karl Barth, in a sermon on the final Sunday of 1913 (via Bruce McCormack’s Kantzer Lectures)

Reminds me of a favorite C. S. Lewis quote of mine, with shades of this little Marilynne Robinson quote as well.

(Source: wesleyhill)

People deal with trouble and pain in all sorts of twisted ways. Some boast of their pain. The reason is not hard to find. When you’ve lost your health, and your marriage, and your kids, and your dignity, and your job, and your friends – when you have nothing else, at least you have your pain. When you’ve lost everything, you can still cling doggedly to your precious loss. Pain sometimes seems to be the only thing we can call our own, but Paul won’t let us have even *that*. Whatever afflictions you suffer, whatever pain, whatever loss, whatever weakness, Jesus has claimed that too. It all belongs to Him. Jesus doesn’t just want the best parts of you, the strong and healthy members. Jesus claims every last bit of you, even – especially – your weaknesses. He claims them, so let Him have them, and know that your afflictions are Christ’s afflictions working out in your flesh.

— Peter Leithart (via wesleyhill)