We must stop protecting ourselves.  We lock not only the doors of
our houses in fear, but our souls as well.  We are not only suspicious
of strangers, but we keep our friends at arm's length.  We are afraid
to let our souls play.  We are cautious lest we be taken for fools.
We are on guard lest we be surprised.  We keep the checkreins taut
upon our souls lest they carry us beyond ourselves.  We fear too much
joy; our laughter is uncertain; our affection hesitates.  We open our
hand but our heart is covered.  Our pride holds us back from life,
strange in its newness, lest it be embarrassed.  We are anxious about
the future and, therefore, we cannot enjoy the present.  Our reputation
teaches us to see nothing but the outside of people, lest their souls
see ours.  We fear failure more than we love life, so we refuse the
great ventures.  We are careful to do only what we have always done and
know how to do well, so we never break the dull repetition of the old
routine for the new creation in God.  Crawl out of these tombs and
prisons--there is a world of light and freedom waiting!  Stop riding
the brakes on the heart.  The soul will never grow, tied down in bed,
with the shades drawn.

				-- Samuel H. Miller
				   Former Dean, Harvard Divinity School