--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pay attention to the things that bring a…" description: "\"Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.\" — Frederick B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png" --- # Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye… ![“Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png) > “Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.” [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emotional moments signal spiritual presence and deeper meaning. **In simple terms:** Strong feelings show the sacred is close. Key Takeaway Notice and honor emotional cues. Themes spirituality emotion mindfulness Mood reflective reverent Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief - joy - art appreciation - religious ceremony Key Concepts sacredness intuition human experience Questions to Reflect On - What feelings reveal your deepest values? - How do you differentiate sacred from fleeting emotion? A Different Perspective Emotions can be misread or over‑interpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-drawing-3079708/) [Lumps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lumps/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [Signs Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signs-holy-3079706/) [Tear Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tear-eye-442088/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Throat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throat/) [Throat Signs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throat-signs-3079707/) ## Related quotes > [Faith is homesickness. Faith is a lump in the throat. Faith is less a position on than a movement toward, less a sure thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/faith-is-homesickness-faith-is-a-lump-in-the-throat-faith-is-less-a/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [At first he thought he felt bad because he was afraid of leading an army, but it wasn't true. He knew he'd make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-first-he-thought-he-felt-bad-because-he-was-afraid-of-leading-an/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [A lump in the throat is worth two on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-kelly/a-lump-in-the-throat-is-worth-two-on-the-head/) [Walt Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-kelly/) > [It's that tingle in my stomach, that lump in my throat and that smile on my face that tell me I am part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-lilly/it-s-that-tingle-in-my-stomach-that-lump-in-my-throat-and-that-smile/) [Kristine Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-lilly/) > [For thirty years now, in times of stress and strain, when something has me backed against the wall and I'm ready to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/for-thirty-years-now-in-times-of-stress-and-strain-when-something-has/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [The ambition of the greatest men of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/the-ambition-of-the-greatest-men-of-our-generation-has-been-to-wipe/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [If I were a tear in ur eye I wood Roll dowl on2 ur lips.Bt if u Were a tear in my eye I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/if-i-were-a-tear-in-ur-eye-i-wood-roll-dowl-on2-ur-lips-bt-if-u-were/) [ZhatsPrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhatsprincess/) > [If you were a tear in my eye, I would not cry for fear of losing you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-were-a-tear-in-my-eye-i-would-not-cry-for-fear-of-losing-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It fell like a tear from my eye, flying machine so up high. Well... there goes the neighborhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/it-fell-like-a-tear-from-my-eye-flying-machine-so-up-high-well-there/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [If I was a tear in your eye I'd roll down your cheeks and stop at your lips, if you was a tearin my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-jogee/if-i-was-a-tear-in-your-eye-i-d-roll-down-your-cheeks-and-stop-at/) [Ismail Jogee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-jogee/) > [...not even the wind can bring a tear to my eye the way you do...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/not-even-the-wind-can-bring-a-tear-to-my-eye-the-way-you-do/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Always on your mind, Alive in your heart, The flame dosnt seem to die, cause when you think about it, theres still a tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levita-brahz/always-on-your-mind-alive-in-your-heart-the-flame-dosnt-seem-to-die/) [Levita BRAHZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levita-brahz/) > [Eyes open wide, looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/eyes-open-wide-looking-at-the-heavens-with-a-tear-in-my-eye/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [When God puts a tear in your eye, its because He wants to put a rainbow in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-god-puts-a-tear-in-your-eye-its-because-he-wants-to-put-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I were a tear in your eye, I would roll down on to your lips, But if you were a tear in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-a-tear-in-your-eye-i-would-roll-down-on-to-your-lips-but-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Frederick Buechner > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it didfor millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-impossible-to-conceive-how-different-things-would-have-turned/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [At least to look back over their own lives, as I have looked back over mine, for certain themes and patterns and signals that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/at-least-to-look-back-over-their-own-lives-as-i-have-looked-back-over/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Snobs are people who look down on other people, but that does not justify our looking down on them. Who can say what dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/snobs-are-people-who-look-down-on-other-people-but-that-does-not/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I could, of course, have done no more if no less than affiliated myself in one way or another with a particular church, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-could-of-course-have-done-no-more-if-no-less-than-affiliated-myself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/even-the-saddest-things-can-become-once-we-have-made-peace-with-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [A Christian isn't necessarily any nicer than anybody else, just better informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/a-christian-isn-t-necessarily-any-nicer-than-anybody-else-just-better/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“The things that the world fills time with are enough to turn the heart to stone, but the goodness of time itself is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-things-that-the-world-fills-time-with-are-enough-to-turn-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The pride that keeps us from forgiving is the same pride which keeps us from accepting forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-pride-that-keeps-us-from-forgiving-is-the-same-pride-which-keeps/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but a the same time you carry them with you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/you-can-kiss-your-family-and-friends-good-bye-and-put-miles-between/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [If the truth is worth telling, it is worth making a fool of yourself to tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-the-truth-is-worth-telling-it-is-worth-making-a-fool-of-yourself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I suspect that Jesus spoke many of his parables as a kind of sad and holy joke and that that may be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-suspect-that-jesus-spoke-many-of-his-parables-as-a-kind-of-sad-and/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“How Adewen stuffed her braid in her mouth at that! Or she'd cover her mirth with her hands and shake till you'd think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/how-adewen-stuffed-her-braid-in-her-mouth-at-that-or-she-d-cover-her/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/resurrection-means-that-the-worst-thing-is-never-the-last-thing/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) [Explore all 339 Frederick Buechner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. 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Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Buechner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a-tear-to-your-eye-or-a-lump/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a-tear-to-your-eye-or-a-lump/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/frederick-buechner-883_attention_pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a_328377.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs…” — Frederick Buechner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frederick Buechner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pay attention to the things that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a-tear-to-your-eye-or-a-lump/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/pay-attention-to-the-things-that-bring-a-tear-to-your-eye-or-a-lump/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```