“We are, by our human natures, foolish. We engage in all manner of nonsense and create all sorts of problems for ourselves—some of them quite serious. There may be times in our lives when we find our world crumbling around us and see that we are losing that which we value most. In these circumstances, when the voices of our forthright friends are urgent, it would be more prudent to consider their warnings than complain about the tone of their voices or assert that they are not diplomatic. Real friends serve us best when they call out dangers that we cannot perceive. Plainspoken friends, particularly those who may have experienced the things we now suffer, may see and understand more than we can see and understand ourselves. It would be wise to listen to their counsel, even—perhaps especially—when our first instinct is to insist that our circumstances are different, that they do not understand us, or that they have hurt our feelings. Forthright friends are rare. If you have such friends, listen humbly and keep them close: you have discovered treasure.” FeelingsHuman NatureHumilityFriendsNonsenseProblemsFoolishnessPlainness Author:Jean-Michel Hansen
“So why am I so reluctant to surrender to God? Why so slow to yield? Perhaps it is because I am not only in enemy-occupied territory, but because I am enemy-occupied territory.” GodHumilityPrideMoral Agency Author:Jean-Michel Hansen