the book is intended to show how it is possible to live in and be enlarged by loss, even as we continue to experience it.

I see now that my faith was becoming an ally rather than an enemy because I could vent anger freely, even toward God, without fearing retribution.

It is how we respond to loss that matters. That response will largely determine the quality, the direction, and the impact of our lives.

My prayer as you read this book is that you will find comfort for the disappointment of unanswered prayer, but also courage to continue on the epic journey that prayer is.

The good that may come out of the loss does not erase its badness or excuse the wrong done. Nothing can do that.

prayer is the one discipline in the Christian faith that makes us feel entirely dependent on God and thus sets us up for profound disappointment when God doesn’t respond to our needs and requests.

The central theme of the book is that prayer is best understood as a long, sometimes perilous, epic journey that eventually leads to triumph.

I had no way of anticipating the adjustments I would have to make and the suffering I would have to endure in the months and years ahead.

Although unanswered prayer is indeed a theme of the book, it is not the heart of the book, for unanswered prayer describes a problem but offers no solutions.

The prospect of change is a many-fanged beast, my dear.

Kids grow up connected to nothing these days, plugged in and living lives boosted to them from other people.

I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery.

We had so much fun together as friends that I suggested we [with Kate DiCamillo] write a book together.

One may go wrong in many different ways, but right only in one, which is why it is easy to fail and difficult to succeed.

Fishing's relaxing, man. Most relaxing thing in my life. It's therapy for me. I don't think about business... sports. All I think about is catching the next fish.

This virtual reality stuff is the technological equivalent, really, of psychedelics.

Alcohol is perfect for me to curb the nerves a little bit.

Everything you experience in your life is invited, attracted and created by you.

Always do what you can do instead of worrying about what you can't.