Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God, either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God, too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there will be nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words... never really speaking to others.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together

There's an old Gestalt theorem: the way out is through. Defining what we could do, and what we are doing right now instead -- managing the triage strategically with ourselves and others, is a lot of what our work needs to be these days. You can only feel good about what you're not doing when you know what you're not doing. We have to loosen the grip of unclear agreements with ourselves to be free to follow the intuitive hunch and the creative focus.

There is no catching up. There is only catching on.

David Allen from To the Tune of Too Much To Do

It is better to train ten people, than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder.

D. L. Moody

Are we a model to others in our church community, particularly its young people? Are they irresistibly drawn to the service of our Lord because of the excitement and dynamic that characterizes our efforts? Or are they repelled from becoming involved because they have been watching us and are convinced there must be a better way to invest one’s life? How attractive and inviting are we?

Howard G. Hendricks

Writing is not just jotting down ideas. Often we say: "I don't know what to write. I have no thoughts worth writing down." But much good writing emerges from the process of writing itself. As we simply sit down in front of a sheet of paper and start to express in words what is on our minds or in our hearts, new ideas emerge, ideas that can surprise us and lead us to inner places we hardly knew were there.

One of the most satisfying aspects of writing is that it can open in us deep wells of hidden treasures that are beautiful for us as well as for others to see.

Henri Neouwen