Samuel

“Obedience follows trust as surely as disobedience follows distrust. But what does distrust look like? Distrust has two aspects: (1) Distrust is Adam disregarding God and saying, "I know better" and (2) distrust is the Israelites at Sinai saying "God, tell us what to do, and we'll do it" (see Exodus 19:8).
Don't be fooled by the Isrealites' desire to obey God. Their motives were rotten, and their hearts were faithless. If they trusted God they would not have asked for rules. They would've said, "God, remember your covenant with our father Abraham and bless us." Instead they basically said, "God, we don't believe your promises to Abraham. Tell us how we can bless ourselves." And God gave them what they asked for: rules for self-blessification.”
― Paul Ellis

“Extroverts are not superior to introverts, and vice versa. We are different personality types with different needs and motivations. In our culture, different is scary. Extroverts have laid claim on the definition of normal, leaving introverts to feel guilty for not fitting in.”
― Michaela Chung, The Irresistible Introvert: Harness the Power of Quiet Charisma in a Loud World

“We are an open mixing place for the general public, but we are strongly committed to bringing together people who may not normally spend time together in the hope that they will become friends, seeking deeper relationships with each other and with the community. A sign I once saw in an old café window proclaimed, "There are no strangers here, just friends who haven't met," and that pretty much captures what we're about.”
― Ray Oldenburg, Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories About the "Great Good Places" at the Heart of Our Communities

“What's the point of anything like this?" Aunt Sofia says. "You date. You enjoy each other's company. You have fun. Maybe you make out a little."
"Sofe!" Uncle Jake says, leaning back from the window to glare at her.
"Well," she says with a smile, but then her face rearranges itself to something more serious. "All I'm saying is that it doesn't have to be complicated. This is supposed to be the fun part, you know? So go have fun.”
― Jennifer E. Smith