Countdown: Day 11

People like me, who for most of our lives have been paid to be spiritual leaders, live constantly in the orange alert of spiritual danger: it is perpetually tempting for us to desire to appear more spiritual than we are. But I think any person who is part of a faith community of some sort also faces this danger. Forget keeping up with the Joneses: I’m projecting a false Jones image that I want others to think is real, and I’m struggling to keep up with that. Forget holier than thou; I’m seeking to appear holier than moi. That kind of pretence piles layers of clothing and cosmetics on naked spirituality, which makes our next practice all the more important. (Brian D. McLaren, Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in Twelve Simple Words. HarperOne, 2011, Chapter 9)

In eleven days, on March 15, Naked Spirituality will go on sale. I’m sharing a short quote from the book each day until then. I hope you’ll tweet or otherwise pass on the ones you find most meaningful.