To make the ‘shadow’ the tree is to try and climb something that’s always flat and constantly moving. However, it’s something from which we’ll never fall. And maybe that’s why we live in the shadow of dreams rather than living out our lives actually climbing one.

Have we ever consider the boldness of Christmas? For to craft such a daring story and to do so in a manner that it is sufficiently sturdy to stand up under the relentless scrutiny that is certain to be brought to bear against such a story is boldness indeed. And when God pens a story He does so not fearing scrutiny, but inviting as much of it as any one of us can muster up, for God does nothing that is not bold. Such is God and such is Christmas.

It’s less that we’re missing the gift of vision and more that we have the tendency to obstruct it.

I think that what fear fears is that we’ll actually take the step.

If I’m conceited enough to believe I’m invincible, then maybe it will take me doing the very thing I swore I would never do to understand that I’m not as wonderful as I thought I was.

When we choose to stay down, we are in reality confusing wisdom with cowardice. When we choose to stand back up, we are using wisdom to overcome cowardice.

Comfort is the antithesis of growth.

Bravery is not found in getting knocked down. Rather, bravery is found is getting back up knowing that you’re going to get knocked down again.

Risk is the clue that our dreams are both real and great.