Amy Stohs
https://charmedbychallenge.com
“If I were to invent a sin to describe what that was—for how I lived—I would not say it was simply that I didn’t stop to smell the roses. It was the sin of arrogance, of becoming impervious to life itself. I failed to love what was present and decided to love what was possible instead.”
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
“But I don’t want ice cream, I want a world where there is no need for pediatric oncology, UNICEF, military budgets, or suicide rails on the top floors of tall buildings. The world would drip with mercy. Thy kingdom come, I pray, and my heart aches. And my tongue trips over the rest. Thy will be done.”
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
“Life is a privilege, not a reward.”
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
“God is here. We are loved. It is enough.”
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
“That feeling stayed with me for months. In fact, I had grown so accustomed to that floating feeling that I started to panic at the prospect of losing it. So I began to ask friends, theologians, historians, pastors I knew, nuns I liked, *What am I going to do when it's gone?* And they knew exactly what I meant because they had either felt it themselves or read about it in great works of Christian theology. St. Augustine called it "the sweetness." Thomas Aquinas called it something mystical like "the prophetic light." But all said yes, it will go. The feelings will go. The sense of God's presence will go. There will be no lasting proof that God exists. There will be no formula for how to get it back.
But they offered me this small bit of certainty, and I clung to it. When the feelings recede like the tides, they said, they will leave an imprint. I would somehow be marked by the presence of an unbidden God.”
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
But they offered me this small bit of certainty, and I clung to it. When the feelings recede like the tides, they said, they will leave an imprint. I would somehow be marked by the presence of an unbidden God.”
― Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved
Our Shared Shelf
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OUR SHARED SHELF IS CURRENTLY DORMANT AND NOT MANAGED BY EMMA AND HER TEAM. Dear Readers, As part of my work with UN Women, I have started reading ...more
Happier Podcast Book Club
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Nothing makes me happier than reading a great book -- unless it's the chance to talk to other people who've loved that book as well. Elizabeth and I ...more
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This is an offshoot group for CR Podcast patrons. This group isn't meant to replace our wonderful group on Facebook, but to be another easy place to c ...more
Amy’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Amy’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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