I emerge like a tree from a dirty seed;

These are mine 1) Understand the concept of standards. If you are considered good/bad at something, always remember 'according to these standards'. Success, talent, beauty, intelligence, concept of strength - nothing holds the same standard across cultures or time. There is no point in feeling superior or inferior to anyone. 2) Never waste the power of words on white lies, mocking people or making promises that you don't mean to keep.  3) Be an open book. If you have to hide something, you shouldn't be doing that in the first place. Keep it a secret if it's  not your story to tell, it is a burden for others to know yours or if their life experiences could confuse and end up bringing in unnecessary negativity. You don't owe the world justifications. 4) Never resort to revenge. Let God be the judge. If that person deserves mercy, you would have erred by resorting to revenge. If that person deserves discipline, you are not the right one to discharge that.  ...

Thinking of Anne Askew this Sunday. She never got her due in Church history. She was a protestant executed by the protestant King Henry VIII (who separated the Church of England from papal authority) because he found her ideas 'too protestant'. He executed both Catholics and protestants alike. (Bloody Mary executed less than 300. Henry VIII killed around 17000 Catholics+Protestants for religion) Anglican churches tend to tone down that history when they talk about their origins. She is also not the kind of role model that they can be proud of because this was a woman who refused to take her husband's surname in the 16th century and asked for a divorce because she found him ideologically incompatible. She also preached openly at a time a woman on pulpit was unthinkable. Apparently, the author who compiled her autobiography edited a lot of portions to conceal her aggression. She refused to recant and was the only woman to be tortured before execution though the law was ag...