Taking a moment to reflect about deeper matters, such as teen identities as persons of faith, as men or women, or as citizens, is not only distracting, it can be downright “dangerous.” That’s because such reflection can lead teens to an unpopular choice about one of these deeper identities, which in turn puts teens out of step with the American cultural mainstream, if not in jeopardy of never attaining one’s desired standard of living. In short, mainstream American life has become a relentless work-spend-borrow-consume cycle that discourages all questioning or reflection...

Derek Melleby. Life after high school: The first year

Only when we know that developing our gifts is intimately related to our spiritual development and only when we've made the commitment to do something about that in our lives will we have the dedication to make the time we need to develop our art.

Janice Elsheimer. THE CREATIVE CALL: AN ARTIST'S RESPONSE TO THE WAY OF THE SPIRIT.

A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.

....The individual must realize that his hours of aloneness react upon the community. In his solitude he can sunder and besmirch the fellowship, or he can strengthen and hallow it. Every act of self-controll of the Christian is also a service to the fellowship. On the other hand, there is no sin in thought, word, or deed, no matter how personal or secret, that does not inflict injury upon the whole fellowship.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer. LIFE TOGETHER.