How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I heard Natalie Goldberg, the author of Writing Down the Bones, speak on writing once. Someone asked her for the best possible writing advice she had to offer, and she held up a yellow legal pad, pretended her fingers held a pen, and scribbled away. I think this was some sort of Zen reference—the Buddhist disciple remembering Buddha's flower sermon, in which all Buddha did was hold up a flower and twirl it, in silence, sitting on the mountain. Me, I'm a nice Christian girl, and while I wish I could quote something kicky and inspirational that Jesus had to say about writing, the truth is that when students ask me for the best practical advice I know, I always pick up a piece of paper and pantomime scribbling away. My students usually think this is a very wise and Zenlike thing for me to convey. Mostly, I forget to give Natalie Goldberg credit. (5.14)
Lamott is definitely a little tongue-in-cheek here, but she's also giving us something more general about her approach to spirituality and religion: she believes that a lot of different belief systems might have something to teach her about writing and life. Just like there are lots of books out there that can teach you something, so are there lots of religions, philosophies, spiritualities, belief systems—you name it.
Quote #2
I told her I thought she'd been very honest, and that this was totally commendable, but that you don't always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it, too. (21.14)
Lamott says this to someone at a writing conference, but it seems to be true of her approach to religion and spirituality (and life), too. She's often more interested in pointing to things she believes to be true than in chopping at things she doesn't.
Quote #3
I got to church and my committee had not yet assembled, but four of the church's elders—all women—three African Americans and one white, were having a prayer meeting. They were praying for homeless children. "Can we discuss my personal problems for a moment?" I asked.
They nodded and I told them all about my airline fears and how many moving parts there were to this trip east. They nodded again. They seemed to believe that between Jesus and a travel agent, things could probably be worked out. (17.12-13)
Apparently, you can be both spiritual and snarky. One reason Lamott doesn't come off as preachy when she writes about religion is that she has a sense of humor about it, and she's honest about her own quirks and flaws.