Quote

Nothing can fill the gap when we are away from those we love, and it would be wrong to try to find anything.....It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap he does not fill it, but keeps it empty so that our communion with another may be kept alive, even at the cost of pain.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Age: 39 †
Born: 1906
Born: February 4
Died: 1945
Died: April 8
Pastor
Philosopher
Poet
Resistance Fighter
Theologian
Breslau
Bonhoeffer
Even
Pain
Nonsense
Trying
Away
Fill
Would
Another
Keeps
Love
Doe
Kept
Anything
Empty
Fills
May
Cost
Grieving
Find
Alive
Communion
Nothing
Wrong
Gaps

More quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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...And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people, from a Christian community may actually mean the exclusion of Christ in the poor brother Christ is knocking at the door.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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The Church is the Church only when it exists for others...not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Once a man has truly experienced the mercy of God in his life he will henceforth aspire only to serve.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Nothing is so at odds with prayer as vanity.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Every sermon must contain a certain shot of heresy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, l honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning breakthrough to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men, but only in the sight of God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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A person who loves community tends to destroy it. But a person who loves people creates community wherever he goes.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Absolute seriousness is never without a dash of humor.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Good Friday and Easter free us to think about other things far beyond our own personal fate, about the ultimate meaning of all life, suffering, and events and we lay hold of a great hope.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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The essence of chastity is not the suppression of lust, but the total orientation of one's life towards a goal. Without such a goal, chastity is bound to become ridiculous. Chastity is the sine qua non of lucidity and concentration.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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A home is a kingdom of it's own in the midst of the world, a stronghold amid life's storms and stresses, a refuge, even a sanctuary.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Only the suffering God can help.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer