Morning Briefings

It is very easy to forgive others their mistakes. It takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.

– American author Jessamyn West

There’s some things that I regret, some words I wish had gone unsaid, some starts that had some better endings. Been some bad times I’ve been through, damage I cannot undo. Some things I wish I could do all over again. Some pages turned, some bridges burned but there were lessons learned.

– Carrie Underwood
Lessons Learned

Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we not be judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. The Almighty has His own purposes.

– President Abraham Lincoln
Second Inaugral Address, March 4, 1865

Pray for our enemies. I’m telling you it really works. You’ve got some guy busting your chops day after day, you can’t stand it any longer. Start praying for them because I swear it’s about a 90% chance that they’re coming right up to you in about a month and saying, ‘hey you know, I don’t disagree with you as much as I thought I do.’

– Fr. Robert Spitzer
from a November 2009 speech before Orange Coast Legatus

One of the greatest arrows in any leader’s quiver is the ability to say these words: ‘I was wrong.’ ‘Forgive me.’ ‘Thank you for challenging me.’ Be wary of resenting those who dare to sit down, look you in the eye, and call you to account.

– Richard D. Phillips
The Heart of an Executive: Lessons on Leadership from the Life of King David

Abigail Van Buren once wrote that, ‘a church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.’ As important as history and tradition is to our Church, our faith is not a museum exhibit filled with long-dead specimens, stuffed and propped up to show what the ‘real thing’ looks like. Our Church is and must be alive and real, and that means filled with fragile, weak and sinful humans.

– Steve Givens
Living Faith

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) points to a great host of people, Jews and Gentiles, who will be saved when Jesus physically returns to earth.

– christcenteredmall.com

Forgive me Lord. Please, those years when I ignored you. Forgive them Lord. Those that feel they can’t afford you.

– George Harrison
Hear Me Lord

Because it goes against human nature, forgiveness must be taught and practiced as one would practice any difficult craft.

– Philip Yancey
What’s So Amazing About Grace?

I struggle to love my enemies, and I suppose you do too. May I suggest you take ten minutes and read the Book of Jonah? It is good enemy-loving therapy.

– Fr. James McKarns
Living Faith