Language Quote by Lawrence Kushner
““We seek a metaphor for holy words that will return them to us once again as an ayfz hayim, a tree of life (Prov. 3:18). One that yields heightened self-awareness and God's Word. One that permits sustained intellectual inquiry and Scripture's holiness. One that preserves clarity, but not at the expense of mystery. One whose playfulness does not dilute piety. One whose public objectivity tolerates personal intimacy. In the spiritual code words of our generation: a holy text.””
About This Quote
The quote calls for a metaphor that captures the sacredness of holy words, balancing clarity with mystery, intellectual rigor with playful piety, and public objectivity with personal intimacy.
In simple terms: A metaphor that honors sacred text while embracing mystery and intimacy.
Key Takeaway
Seek a balanced metaphor for holy words.
Themes
spirituality
language
mystery
intellectual inquiry
piety
Mood
reverent
thoughtful
inspired
Type
philosophical
theological
poetic
When to use this quote
- theological study
- personal devotion
- academic discourse
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
metaphor
holy words
clarity
mystery
Practical Applications
- designing religious education curricula
- creating contemplative meditation practices
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a metaphor preserve both clarity and mystery?
- In what ways does playfulness enhance reverence?
![“As any good teacher of dreams will tell you, you are all the people in your dream. Fritz Perls taught, "[All] the different parts, any part in the dream-is yourself, is a projection of yourself."22 And to ask why we made our story this way and not that way is to reenter our sacred text once again…” quote by Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da1/lawrence-kushner-14033_dream_as-any-good-teacher-of-dreams-will-tell_694174.jpg)
