"If you look into your own heart, in utter honesty, you must admit that there is one, and only one, reason why you are not, even now, a saint... You do not wholly want to be."

-- William Law

I was listening to some Dr. Peter Kreeft lectures last night while delivering some pizzas and this quote came up and it hit me all at once the truth to it. I have heard this quote several times, because I am a Kreeft nut, and had wished to memorize it but I never got to it.

I like this quote because of its dimensions, it is very shallow when read one way and quite deep when read another way. On first look, Mr. Law seems to be judging people and one's reaction is that of defense, "who are you to tell me that I'm not doing what I need to do to be a saint?" Beyond that the quote is terrifying, "he's right, I'm not sure if I really want to be a saint, and maybe there's no hope for me." And the quote is seen as negative and even terrifying when looked only at the surface.

The reason this quote is deep when reexamined is the hope that it gives. Yes, hope, completely contradictory to the surface interpretation. When seeing the deeper meaning of the quote, Mr. Law is giving us hope. Hope that we can be saints, we only have to do it. There is no process, no "how to," no "Saints for Dummies" we just have to take Nike's slogan and apply it.

May God bless you and love you.

Matt Hudson