An extravagant hope

Thanks to my good friend Colin for these words, especially the last line, which he passed on to me.  

Those who would transform a nation or the world
cannot do so by breeding and captaining discontent
or by demonstrating reasonableness and desirability
of the intended changes
or by coercing people into a new way of life.
They must know how to kindle and fan an extravagant hope.

(Eric Hoeffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, New York, 1951, p 18.)

To kindle and fan an extravagant hope seems to me a pretty good description of the task of pastoral ministry.

Comments

Anonymous said…
It's also not a bad description of the task of a cult leader. ;o)
Iola said…
This is gorgeous!

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