Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Spirituality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

Experiencing the present purely is being emptied and hollow; you catch grace as a man fills his cup under a waterfall. (6.13)

Dillard's belief is that grace is always there, just waiting to be found, but it's as elusive as a muskrat. We can only experience it if we shut up and wait.

Quote #5

What I call innocence is the spirit's unself-conscious state at any moment of pure devotion to any object. (6.18)

Passion means being so into something you're unafraid to dork out in public.

Quote #6

I have never understood why so many mystics of all creeds experience the presence of God on mountaintops […] It often feels best to lay low, inconspicuous, instead of waving your spirit around from high places like a lightning rod. (6.35)

To expose yourself, whether physically or emotionally, is to subject yourself to danger. It's also totally worth it, though—vulnerability can foster true connection.