Joshua Graves > Quotes

“It is my heart’s desire to connect to others, to love others, from a place of fulfillment and not from a place of lack. I can only do this if I believe I am worthy of loving myself as much as God loves me and others. The journey to loving well starts with the face staring back at me in the mirror.”
― Joshua Graves, The Simple Secret: Choosing Love in a Culture of Hostility

“It is powerful when we choose to live into the truth that we do not have to agree with a person to love or respect said person. Don’t burden’s your daily experience with the lie that you are obligated to agree with someone in order to be a friend to someone. Generosity, kindness, and hospitality are forever. Agreement is temporary and fleeting.”
― Joshua Graves, The Simple Secret: Choosing Love in a Culture of Hostility

“We are people of worship and work in service to God and to each other. It’s that simple. It’s that hard. While many run from Islam, or from poverty, immigration, AIDS, third-world debt relief, the church runs toward them all. It is a dangerous mission. But it is the mission to which God has called us. In our baptism, he calls us to a life of search and rescue. Each time we gather, we do so with the full knowledge that we are being sent. Sent to usher in the shalom of God, to bring shalom to every person, space, and place. The first step in not killing your Muslim neighbor is to join a church that reads the gospels (particularly Luke 10) and puts those words into action. We’re moving beyond stereotypes. The future depends upon it. Beyond fear. Beyond anger. Beyond rage. Beyond caricatures. So be bold. And do not be afraid.”
― Joshua Graves, How Not to Kill a Muslim: A Manifesto of Hope for Christianity and Islam in North America

“Love the strangers in your midst as best you can. Just in case. You never know. They might be angels. Better yet, they might be Jesus incognito.”
― Joshua Graves, The Simple Secret: Choosing Love in a Culture of Hostility

“As insignificant creatures, the vastness of the universe is bearable only because of our experience of love; love is all we need. Love is all that matters. Love is ultimately our legacy.”
― Joshua Graves, The Simple Secret: Choosing Love in a Culture of Hostility

“The all-consuming and inclusive love of God is best displayed when I choose to love someone who might be an enemy in such a way that they are transformed into a neighbor.”
― Joshua Graves, The Simple Secret: Choosing Love in a Culture of Hostility

“Tenderness. Time. Attention. Sameness. Difference. Safety. Affection. Affirmation. Action. These are the ingredients of courage. And all courage is love which has decided to get up in the morning, walk outside, and do something about the brokenness of the world we love.”
― Joshua Graves, The Simple Secret: Choosing Love in a Culture of Hostility