Joyce Rupp > Quotes

“if I wait to be
perfect
before I love myself
I will always be
unsatisfied
and ungrateful

if I wait until
all the flaws, chips,
and cracks disappear
I will be the cup
that stands on the shelf
and is never used”
― Joyce Rupp

“No matter how much light I carry within me, there will always be times of feeling lost, being confused, seeking direction. It is the way of the human heart.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Star in My Heart : Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom

“I heard a wise saying once that has helped me: "Negative feelings are like stray cats. The more you feed them, the more they hang around.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Star in My Heart : Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom

“By the light of your stars, heal me.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Star in My Heart : Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom

“Wisdom is a unique manifestation of God, a catalyst for transformation of the human person's life into one of fight and goodness.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Star in My Heart : Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom

“No matter how hard I fight to stay "in the light," I will have some darkness in my life. This is as sure as the patter of sunrise and sunset in the natural course of the day.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Star in My Heart : Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom

“Too many of us consent, or are forced, to spend time doing things for which we have no heartfelt reason. If we were asked, “Why are you doing this?” we would not know how to answer. —Parker Palmer”
― Joyce Rupp, The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth

“You do not always have to be producing, creating, harvesting. Learn to be idle. Learn to rest.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Circle Of Life: The Heart's Journey Through The Seasons

“Life moves so fast that I can easily forget they have happened to me unless I take time to record them.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Star in My Heart : Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom

“will not criticize or find fault with myself or others.”
― Joyce Rupp O.S.M., The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth

“Mary Jo Meadows defines compassion as “the quivering of the heart in response to another’s suffering” and notes that “compassionate beings . . . cannot bear to see suffering and remain unengaged.”
― Joyce Rupp, The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth

“SOUL CONTRACTIONS My mother ages
all too quickly now,
the latest illness
claiming more chunks
of her vitality each day.
This beloved woman
whose womb held my body,
I now hold
in the chalice of my vigilance. Sadness and sorrow
pulse inside my spirit,
a kindred soul-contraction
resonating with her spiritual gestation
as she prepares
during these final years
for her birth into eternity. Dear mother,
I, who burst forth from
your womb
on a sunny morning in June,
embrace you now with gratitude,
praying to let you go freely,
to encourage your spirit to wing forward peacefully
into the mystery
of the One Great Womb,
where there is space
enough
to embrace us all.”
― Joyce Rupp, Joyce Rupp: Essential Writings

“the difference between confusion and ‘don't know’ is that confusion can only see one way out and that way is blocked, while ‘don't know’ is open to miracles and insights.”
― Joyce Rupp, Dear Heart, Come Home: The Path of Midlife Spirituality

“The true essence of humankind is kindness. There are other qualities which come from education or knowledge, but it is essential, if one wishes to be a genuine human being and impart satisfying meaning to one's existence, to have a good heart. —The 14th Dalai Lama”
― Joyce Rupp, Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino

“Thich Nhat Hanh said: “I am not running anymore; I have run all my life; now I am determined to stop and really live my life.”
― Joyce Rupp, Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino

“a”
― Joyce Rupp, Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems and Reflections for Every Season

“Keep a Strong Network of Prayer Guardian of my soul,
guide me on my way today.
Keep me safe from harm.
Deepen my relationship with you,
your Earth, and all your family.
Strengthen your love within me
that I may be a presence of your peace
in our world. Amen”
― Joyce Rupp, Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino

“The Ache of Autumn in Us There is a season for everything, a time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for dancing. . . . —Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,4 The trees grow more restless; October wind weaves through them; they shake their arms in dismay as if to fight the coming cold and the grief of leaves going. Autumn air does a heart-dance on branches already gone barren; the misty air clings to golden leaves,”
― Joyce Rupp, Praying Our Goodbyes: A Spiritual Companion Through Life's Losses and Sorrows

“Quiet”
― Joyce Rupp, Fragments of Your Ancient Name: 365 Glimpses of the Divine for Daily Meditation

“as I step into another Lenten season, I bring to you what requires your graced touch. You know what will further my well-being. I open my mind and heart to you with confidence that you will tend with care what troubles me.”
― Joyce Rupp, Jesus, Companion in My Suffering: Reflections for the Lenten Journey

“They say in old stories that you can't discover new lands without losing sight of the shore for a long time. —Laurie Gough”
― Joyce Rupp, Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino

“Renew My Strength God of Strength, who calls forth eagles to bend wings in adoration, who sends forth eagles to wing wide in praise, I am in need of your strength. Carry me on your loving wings. Renew my strength. Give me the energy for the going and create in me an openness to future flying. Great God of eagles’ hearts, I want to trust that you will bear me up, that you will support me. I look to you to renew my strength just as surely as eagles’ wings are wide in the sky.”
― Joyce Rupp, Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance

“Showing love and concern as a caring teacher Teaching how to live into the fullness of his message Testifying to sacred realities invisible on the surface Pointing to what one needs to learn and trust Forgiving those who stumble and fall off of the path Encouraging the effort to go an extra mile for others Explaining what human minds find difficult to perceive Leading into the depths of being where the true self resides Extending compassion for sorrows, defeats, and struggles Attending a desire to be a truly loving individual Understanding how challenging it is to absorb his teachings Cautioning to stay alert and appreciate life to the utmost Influencing the decision to be generous and self-giving Finding the lost when they wander far from the Way Inviting to accept with faith what is not fully perceived Midwifing the ongoing process of transformation”
― Joyce Rupp, Jesus, Guide of My Life: Reflections for the Lenten Journey