We do learn and develop when we are exposed to those who are greater than we are. Perhaps this is the chief way we mature. Madeleine L'Engle More Quotes by Madeleine L'Engle More Quotes From Madeleine L'Engle Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it. Madeleine L'Engle uplifting work inspirational For the things that are seen are temporal, but things that are unseen are eternal. Madeleine L'Engle bible-verse unseen-things scripture An infinite question is often destroyed by finite answers. Madeleine L'Engle finite infinite answers But there is something about Time. The sun rises and sets. The stars swing slowly across the sky and fade. Clouds fill with rain and snow, empty themselves, and fill again. The moon is born, and dies, and is reborn. Around millions of clocks swing hour hands, and minute hands, and second hands. Around goes the continual circle of the notes of the scale. Around goes the circle of night and day, the circle of weeks forever revolving, and of months, and of years. Madeleine L'Engle stars moon rain To be a witness means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist. Madeleine L'Engle walking-on-water mean way Deepest communion with God is beyond words, on the other side of silence. Madeleine L'Engle communion silence sides If I'm not free to fail, I'm not free to take risks and everything in life that's worth doing involves a willingness to take a risk. Madeleine L'Engle failing risk ifs There is no way that you can read the entire Bible seriously and take every word literally. Contradictions start in the first chapter of Genesis. There are two Creation stories, two stories of the making of Adam and Eve. And that is all right. The Bible is still true. Madeleine L'Engle stories two way A new year can begin only because the old year ends. Madeleine L'Engle old-year new-year years It isn't always the middle-aged who refuse to listen, who will not even try to understand another point of view. One boy would not get it through his head that for all adults God is not an old man in a white beard sitting on a cloud. As far as this boy was concerned, this old gentleman was the adult's god, and therefore he did not believe in God. Madeleine L'Engle men boys believe Just because we don't understand doesn't mean that the explanation doesn't exist. Madeleine L'Engle understanding attitude mean Sometimes when we aren't looking, the holiness comes breaking through like a rainbow. Madeleine L'Engle holiness rainbow blessing Schooling, instead of encouraging the asking of questions, too often discourages it. Madeleine L'Engle teaching asking education Artists of all disciplines must be willing to go into the dark, let go control, be surprised. Madeleine L'Engle artist dark letting-go It might be a good idea if, like the White Queen, we practiced believing six impossible things every morning before breakfast, for we are called on to believe what to many people is impossible. Instead of rejoicing in this glorious "impossible" which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his might actions comprehensible to our finite minds. Madeleine L'Engle queens morning believe If we accept that we have at least an iota of free will, we cannot throw it back the moment things go wrong. Like a human parent, God will help us when we ask for help, but in a way that will make us more mature, more real, not in a way that will diminish us. Madeleine L'Engle parent real way I love my mother, not as a prisoner of atherosclerosis, but as a person; and I must love her enough to accept her as she is, now, for as long as this dwindling may take. Madeleine L'Engle family-love mother long In the evening of life we shall be judged on love, and not one of us is going to come off very well, and were it not for my absolute faith in the loving forgiveness of my Lord I could not call on him to come. Madeleine L'Engle loving-life evening forgiveness Friends do everything they can to protect each other." --Polly Madeleine L'Engle protect Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to the work. Madeleine L'Engle inspiration inspirational jobs