Notice: We thank God for our newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, IL. I will say a few words about him before our song at the end of this reflection.
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The other day I came across a quote by writer Frederick Buechner. It was like running into an old friend of mine from the 1970’s and beyond. Allow me to introduce you or re-introduce you to this amazing writer who made a big impact on my own faith and writing.
Frederick Buechner (pronounced beek-ner) was born in 1926 in New York City. As a child, his family constantly moved while his father tried to find work. These were the days of the Great Depression. When Buechner was ten, his father took his own life, convinced he was a failure. Shortly after, the family moved to Bermuda until WWII when they were forced to evacuate the island. But it was there, says Buechner, that “I moved from the unmentionable sadness of my father’s life and death into the fragrance and greenness and light.” In 1955 he met his future wife Judith at a dance. They married a year later and eventually raised three daughters.
In 1958 Buechner was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church. After ordination, he served as a teacher and chaplain at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, a prestigious boys’ boarding academy. After nine very successful years at Exeter, Buechner moved to Vermont to become a full-time writer. He later said of himself, “I am a minister who writes books.” His writing career spanned six decades during which he authored 39 books while mastering five genres: poetry, novel, sermons, popular theology, and memoir. Although he wrote only one short story, that story won the O. Henry Award! His novel Godric was nominated for the Pultizer Prize. Buechner passed away in 2022 at the age of 96.
Buechner described his work as a writer in these words: “My job, as I saw it, was to present the faith as appealingly, honestly, relevantly, and skillfully as I could.” The popularity of his writing attests to the fact that he achieved this goal. I would add that his writing is also characterized by freshness and humor–two qualities that initially attracted me to his writing. Most theological writing I was reading in the 1970’s was “deadly” serious. But not his. In this regard, his writing is akin to that of C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton.
Today I’d like to share 15 quotes from this wise and holy man. I’ll begin with what is perhaps his most famous quote:
1) Your true calling or purpose in life “is found at the intersection of your deep gladness with the world’s deep hunger.” (For me, this quote has an Ignation ring to it. I’ve used his words for my own personal discernment as well as in spiritual direction.)
2) “The grace of God means something like this: ‘Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party would have been incomplete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the Universe. I love you.'”
3) “The world says, the more you take, the more you have. Christ says, the more you give, the more you are.”
4) “Where your feet take you, that is who you are.”
5) “If you don’t have doubts, you are either kidding yourself or alseep. Doubts are ants-in-the-pants of faith. They keep it alive and moving.”
6) “Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside someone else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”
7) “Principles are what people have instead of God. To be a Christian means among other things to be willing if necessary to sacrifice even your highest principle for God’s or your neighbor’s sake… Jesus didn’t forgive his executioners on principles, but because in some unimaginable way he was able to love them.”
8) “In his holy flirtation with the world, God occasionally drops a handkerchief. These handkerchiefs are called saints.”
9) “To be wise is to be eternally curious.”
10) “Go where your best prayer takes you.”
11) “One of the blunders religious people are particularly fond of making is the attempt to be more spiritual than God.”
12) “To confess your sins to God is not to tell God anything God doesn’t already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the Golden Gate Bridge.”
13) “The words you read become in the very act of reading them part of who you are… If there is poison in the words, you are poisoned; if there is nourishment in the words, you are nourished; if there is beauty in the words you are made a little more beautiful.”
14) “God speaks through the hieroglyphics of the things that happen to us. God also speaks through the fathomless quiet of the holy place within us, all which is beyond the power of anything that happens to us to touch.”
And I’ll conclude with one of my favorites:
15) Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and the pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because, in the last analysis, all moments are key moments and life itself is a grace.”
For reflection:
Was there any quotation that stood out for you today? Do you know why it stood out? Please share below which quote(s) stood out it even if you would prefer not to say why.
Quotes #14 and #15 underscore Buechner’s belief that our daily life can be a form of Divine Revelation. He says, “Listen to your life.” What are some of the ways we listen to our lives?
Quote #4 says, “Where your feet take you, that is who you are.” Where have your feet taken you in the past or now that reveal who you are?
What stands out to you about the election of our new Pope Leo XIV?
PS: I ask your prayers for a retreat I will be facilitating at Assisi Heights in Rochester, MN from May 15 to May 21. Your prayerful support means much to me and to the retreatants! Thank you!
For many of us, the election of a pope from the United States came as a shock. It shows again that our God continues to be a God of surprises. I like what one Vatican commentator said about Pope Leo: He is not just a pope from America; he is a pope from the AmericaS, with his dual citizenship and his 20 years of ministry in Peru. May the video today be our prayer to the Holy Spirit for him and for our church. It’s called “Spirit Move, Keep on Moving” by Porter’s Gate. The video was produced by Sister Susan Rose Francois, CSJP. I am devoting a blog to her in a few weeks. May the refrain “Spirit move… keep on moving” be our mantra during these days that include Pope Leo’s formal installation on May 18th and our upcoming celebration of Pentecost on June 8.
I invite you to share a thought below on the reflection, the quotes, the pictures, or the song…
21 Responses
Good morning, Melannie…
Good morning, all…
Well, you’ve done it again! I now want to read ALL of Frederick Buechner’s books! I have, in fact, read his novel Godric and loved every page of it! And so that leaves thirty-eight more to go! You posted a picture of Wishful Thinking. Would that be a good next one? Onto the quotes: All of them! But if I had to choose one, it would be: “The World says, the more you take, the more you have. Christ says, the more you give, the more you are.”
How good is that!
Go where your best prayer takes you was my favorite quote. We almost lost my brother to a significant heart attack. Our best prayers brought him back home to us.
Just wonderful quotes! Thank you for an inspirations read this morning, Sister Melanie!
Having just celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday the final photo of the two Lambs with the Amen in response to the “Spirit moving” in so many ways, forms, elements…
Along with the quote, “If there is poison… If there is nourishment… if there is beauty… Lean into the nourishment and the beauty. Peace-Pat
#13 – the pauses on the scrolls through our screens become part of who we are.
Giddy up and God Bless Pope Leo XIV and your retreat in Rochester.
While it’s hard to choose a favorite, this one struck me today: “In his holy flirtation with the world, God occasionally drops a handkerchief. These handkerchiefs are called saints.” I might have to start a handkerchief collection and begin naming them for all the saints, past and present, who have been and are a part of my life. Like John Hopkins, I now feel that I need to explore Buechner’s writings. Prayers for your retreat and the retreatants.
Love these quotes. I think the one I liked best is.
13) “The words you read become in the very act of reading them part of who you are… If there is poison in the words, you are poisoned; if there is nourishment in the words, you are nourished; if there is beauty in the words you are made a little more beautiful.”
“Listen to your life …” is my favorite. How lucky we are when we have time to listen and enjoy what God gives us. Thank you for these Monday morning messages; they are always inspiring. Will pray for your upcoming retreat.
Praying for your forthcoming retreat to Assisi Heights is as rewarding as was ours in Summer of 2008. It is a beautful placem the former motherhouse of the St. Francis order that founded St.,Mary’s Hospital at the request of the Mayo brothers .
My cousin, Sister Mariella Hinkly , gave us a tour and explained Mayo Clinic bought it and restored it for them. The lower floors are used by the clinic for various purposes.
Rochester is a healing place in many ways. God bless your time there!
Marilyn
Thank you for leading us to another inspiring writer. I loved all the quotes and thinking about where I can use them with OCIA!
I liked all the quotes but #5 was my favorite: “ants-in-the-pants” faith.
I was shocked and elated that Pope Leo XIV was elected. At first, I was happy that he is American born. Then the more I read, and it’s becoming a bit of an obsession, the more I liked: his ministry in Peru, the languages that he speaks, and his Creole roots to name a few. I love his emphasis on peace the most. I’m happy that his first trip will be to Turkey in an act of Christian unity. My late husband’s confirmation name was Augustine. I think he would be thrilled to have an Augustinian pope.
Hello Sister Melanie,
My favorite quotes are #2 “The grace of God….” and #5 “If you don’t have doubts….”
This is such a beautiful time of year with flowers, and bushes blossoming (especially lilacs), and birds coming back (in the last few minutes I have had a pair of Baltimore Orioles, and a red-bellied woodpecker at the feeders outside my window). I remember that last year you were trying to grow tomatoes and some other plants in pots. Are you going to try again this year? Have a wonderful Day!
Good Monday to all and thank you Melannie for sharing the inspiring words of Buechner’s quotations. I especially love#12 & #14. They each speak volumes of God’s mercy and movement in the quiet of our lives, if we listen. I am amazed and joyful with the election choice for our new Pope. I also feel very hopeful with anticipation of what his leadership will bring to our troubled world.
I will offer prayers for you Melannie and your retreatants in Rochester.
Several quotes stand out. The pain caused by hard, hostile words must be taken back.
The song is sweet, with a swirling refrain like easy dancing. The Spirit is attractive, playful, inviting the slow of foot to try a step or two. The going and coming back of breeze in the long grass of the last pictures suggests the movement of a light breeze over water, always moving and never standing still, for if it did it wouldn’t be breeze. Or, still breeze, its absence from me would concern me.
Two quotes stood out for me:
2) “The grace of God means something like this: ‘Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party would have been incomplete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the Universe. I love you.’” and 10) “Go where your best prayer takes you.”
We are here because God intended it to be so and he loves us unconditionally. Yes, that adorable pansy is a grace and also a beauty to behold! Prayers for a successful retreat ahead, Sr. Melannie.
Sr. Melannie,
Each quote could be a meditation in itself. I especially liked #2: “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing could ever separate us……I love you.”
I also like #14 & 15. We listen to our lives by finding God in unexpected places.
#12 Confession removes the abyss and becomes the golden gate bridge. A great way to think of confession and self knowledge. Thank you SIster!
Thank you for this post. Frederick Buechner’s books have walked with me since before I was called into ministry. I especially love his books of sermons: Hungering Dark/Magnificent Defeat and his essay on words in “A Room to Remember.” Then there is the delightful biographies of Bible characters in “Peculiar Treasures.”
He was a peculiar treasure! Thank you for reminding me of his words and insights. His way of seeing God, the church and his fellow humans was both down to earth and always with a voice of compassion. God bless you as you prepare to lead, listen and learn on your retreal.
#8 quote.
Will be seeking more on F. Buechner.
Thank you for sharing his quotes.
God bless
Thank you Sr Melannie,
Be assured of my prayers for your retreat
Dear Sr. Melannie,
Thank you for the quotes from Frederick Buechner; I’ve never read him before, but will read more of him soon. I saved quote #2 & will share it with our granddaughter who will be graduating from high school soon. Grateful for you and your blog!