When this old sanctuary is full of silence and prayer.

"And my heart rose up within me- that's exactly what it felt like-

and I said, 'I have heard any number of fine sermons in my life,

and I have known any number of deep souls.

I am well aware that people find fault,

but it seems to me presumptuous to judge the authenticity of anyone's religion,

except one's own. And that is also presumptuous.'

And I said, 'When this old sanctuary is full of silence and prayer,

every book Karl Barth ever will write

would not be a feather in the scales against it

from the point of view of profundity,

and I would not believe in Barth's own authenticity

if I did not also believe he would

know and recognize the truth of that, and honor it, too.'"

-from Gilead

I get to go to church this morning.