One thing that bothers me about my calling is how many people I meet that have been hurt by the church. These words by Henri Nouwen give me a great perspective on how God has chosen the church, despite our weaknesses:

“Just as it seems unlikely to us that God chose to become human in a young girl living in a small, not very respected town in the Middle East nearly two thousand years ago, it seems unlikely that God chose to continue his work of salvation in a community of people constantly torn apart by arguments, prejudices, authority conflicts, and power games. Still, believing in Jesus and believing in the Church are two sides of one faith. It is unlikely but divine!”