Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

“It is a wonder to me how God uses squiggles on paper to do his work in the hearts and minds of people. How are these squiggles transformed into letters and words and sentences and, finally, meaning?”

Foster’s imagery of “squiggles on paper” highlights the mysterious and (in his depiction) almost miraculous process by which mere text can spark genuine spiritual understanding. By emphasizing transformation from simple marks to deep-seated meaning, he underscores the power of the written word to transcend logic and stir the human heart, laying the groundwork for later exploration of The Transformative Power of Spiritual Discipline (study included).

“What then, I ask you, is this book really? Nothing but squiggles on paper. But through the grace of God it has been used, lo these twenty years, as an instrument for human transformation.”

Here, Foster reiterates the core humility behind his work, suggesting that any book—including his own—is simply ink and paper without divine influence. By acknowledging “the grace of God” as the sustaining force, he both celebrates the book’s longevity and shifts credit away from himself and toward a higher purpose.

“Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”

This quote defines Foster’s central concern: his belief that modern culture is plagued by shallowness and an obsession with quick fixes. He highlights the pressing need for depth of character, emphasizing that spiritual maturity outweighs mere intellect or talent.