Quotes About Surrender

You must be emptied of that with which you are full, so you may be filled with that whereof you are empty. Augustine

Humility means accepting reality with no attempt to outsmart it.

once we understand that what happens beyond our control may be just what we need, we see that acceptance of reality can be our way of participating in our own evolution.

there is nothing to take over if you are not putting up any resistance.

an unconditional yes to whatever is, was, or will be.

When faced with one of life's givens, we might ask: "Why did such a terrible thing happen to a good person like me? I deserve better." The mindful version of that question is: "Yes this happened. Now what?" We will notice we are happier when we accept what we do not like about life as a given of life. Our mindful yes is an entry into this sheltering paradox. When

The unconditional yes, with its implicit trust of the givens' usefulness to our growth, cuts through that fear-based view of life. Saying yes to reality—to the things we cannot change—is like choosing to turn around and sit in the saddle in the direction the horse is going.

We do not let go of control on our own. Usually, something has to happen that shows us incontrovertibly that we are not in control. From this condition of bankrupt ego, we finally let go. Great losses are thus necessary losses like the discarded sandbags that lighten a balloon so it can ascend higher.

we cannot tolerate them, we add stress to our lives by fighting a losing game.

success in managing fear prevents us from ever facing it fully. Surrender to it ventilates our souls so that fear becomes an old pickpocket who has lost his skill to steal from us. How ironic that our ego lives in dread of such a surrender! Avoiding it annuls its arrival today, but it keeps coming back, subpoena in hand. Here we fear what would free us. So we lose when we win. The same applies to the Void. To avoid is to win but lose. Facing our Void is all that will free us from it. One

The fact that things do not always go according to plan means that many powers beyond ego are at work in our lives—powers that lead us to our destiny by a path we might have neglected.

The path to a higher power than ego is saying yes to the predicament

Faith is real when it hails life's terms with no entitlement to an exemption and no guarantees they will be reversed beyond the grave.

The message of the cross is not only that there is nothing you can do to oblige God to accept you, but nothing you need to do. It's all been done. But we have to have the humility to accept it, and luxuriate in it.

She closed her eyes and lifter her face to the

being altogether receptive; in letting the world do all, and suffering the spirit of the hour to pass unobstructed through the mind.

Our children live or die with or without us. No matter what we do, no matter how we agonize or obsess, we cannot choose for our children whether they live or die. It is a devastating realization, but also liberating. I finally chose life for myself.

I accept evil in order to participate in the miraculous.

I can try to protect my children, to help and guide them, and I can love them, but I cannot save them. Nic, Jasper, and Daisy will live, and someday they will die, with or without me.

Enough. These few words are enough. If not these words, this breath. If not this breath, this sitting here. This opening to life we have refused again and again until now. Until now.

THE BELL AND THE BLACKBIRD (excerpt) The sound of a bell still reverberating, or a blackbird calling from a corner of a field. Asking you to wake into this life or inviting you deeper to one that waits. Either way takes courage, either way wants you to be nothing but that self that is no self at all, wants you to walk to the place where you find you already know how to give every last thing away.

I pray, and I obey.

How can I live so that when someone sees me, they are pointed to Jesus? When I speak, is it the Messiah's truths they hear? How can I live that no power is seen to be mine, no authority, no crown, no glory. It all belongs to him. I am the willing, loving servant, providing hands, feet, voice, eyes, and ears for the Holy Spirit to use." "It is the challenge we all should accept," Alban said slowly. "Once again I am blessed by your words.

Forgive me for not being willing to hear your call until now, dear Lord. But I am here and I am ready. Direct me to where I should next go. Reveal to me how I should next serve you. Grant me the wisdom and the strength to trust you in all things. Wherever you lead. Whatever task you set. Help me, Lord.