This drive of mine to reduce everything to a sound bite can be profoundly misleading. The stuff of greatest value surely cannot be understood and explained that easily. Dare I risk the sacred not being taken seriously for what it is?

“Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.”

(The Message; Matthew 7:6)

And then there is the absurdity of feeding my soul fast food:

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.”

(The Message; Matthew 7: 13 & 140)

These sound bites and shortcuts are like processed food: so convenient, yet ultimately so unwholesome and out of touch with the messy, mysterious God-glorious truth.