"To take the holy scriptures and read them is the first thing

we have to do to open ourselves to God's call.

Reading the scriptures is not as easy as it seems ...

We tend to make anything and everything

we read

subject to analysis and discussion.

But the word of God should lead us first of all to contemplation

and meditation.

Instead of taking the words apart,

we should bring them together

in our innermost being;

instead of wondering if we agree or disagree,

we should wonder which words are spoken directly to us

and connect directly with

our personal story.

Instead of thinking

about the words

as potential subjects for an interesting dialogue ...

we should be willing to let them penetrate

into the most hidden corners of our hearts,

even to those places where

no other word has found entrance."

(Henri Nowen)