We who have turned our lives over to Christ need to know how very much he longs to eat with us, to commune with us. He desires a perpetual Eucharistic feast in the inner sanctuary of the heart. Richard J. Foster More Quotes by Richard J. Foster More Quotes From Richard J. Foster The spiritual discipline of simplicity is not a lost dream, but a recurrent version throughout history. It can be recaptured today. It must be. Richard J. Foster discipline spiritual dream When the poor farmer of India is unable to buy a gallon of gasoline to run his simple water pump because the world's demand has priced him out of the market, who is to blame? Richard J. Foster simple running water You will never have time for prayer; you must make time. Richard J. Foster making-time prayer Goals are discovered, not made. Richard J. Foster goal made motivational In intellectual honesty, we should be willing to study and explore the spiritual life with all the rigor and determination we would give to any field of research. Richard J. Foster honesty determination spiritual We must understand the connection between inner solitude and inner silence; they are inseparable. All the masters of the interior life speak of the two in the same breath. Richard J. Foster solitude silence two He is inviting you - and me - to come home, to come home to where we belong, to come home to that for which we were created. His arms are stretched out wide to receive us. His heart is enlarged to take us in. Richard J. Foster arms home heart Simplicity is freedom. Richard J. Foster simplicity But if we know that the people of God are first a fellowship of sinners, we are freed to hear the unconditional call of God's love and to confess our needs openly before our brothers and sisters. The fear and pride that clings to us like barnacles cling to others also. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied, but transformed. Richard J. Foster pride brother people It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most free, alive, interesting. Richard J. Foster hazards people interesting The person who does not seek the kingdom first does not seek it at all, regardless of how worthy the idolatry that he or she has substituted for it. Richard J. Foster kingdoms doe firsts Owning things is an obsession in our culture. If we own it, we feel we can control it; and if we control it, we feel it will give us more pleasure. The idea is an illusion. Richard J. Foster giving culture ideas Spiritual direction involves a process through which one person helps another person understand what God is doing and saying. Richard J. Foster process spiritual helping To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change. Resentments cannot be held with the same tenacity when we enter his gracious light. Richard J. Foster resentment light christian Prayer is the human response to the perpetual outpouring of love by which God lays siege to every soul. Richard J. Foster siege soul prayer Simplicity, then, is getting in touch with the divine center Richard J. Foster simplicity divine Conformity to a sick society is to be sick. Richard J. Foster sick-society conformity sick Graciousness, courtesy, compassion-this is hesed. Hesed is a quality that extends even to the animals and the land. The sabbath rest principle of Hebrew law included the needs of the livestock (Exod. 23:12). After seven years of planting and harvesting, the land itself needed "a year of complete rest" (Lev. 25:5). Even the soil of the vineyards was not to be overtaxed by planting other crops between the rows (Deut. 22:9). The oxen that trod out the grain were not to be muzzled so that they could eat while they worked (Deut. 25:4). And so on. Richard J. Foster oxen compassion animal In the context of Quaker worship, it is perfectly appropriate for any person in the congregation to speak a timely word from the Lord. Richard J. Foster speak lord worship Supremely, spiritual directors/mentors/pastors are persons who have a sense of being established in God. Otherwise they are too dangerous to be allowed into the soul space of others. Richard J. Foster space soul spiritual
