gilead

'for a long time i used to think how it would be if she walked in that door, what i would not be ashamed, at least, to say in her hearing. because i always imagined her coming back from a place where everything is known, and hearing my hopes and my speculations the way someone would who has seen the truth face-to-face and would know the full measure of my incomprehension. that was a sort of trick i played on myself, to keep from taking doctrines and controversies too much to heart.'
- marilynne robinson