Dear friend,

I’m reading a new book by David Brooks called The Second Mountain. In it, Brooks says that life on the “first mountain”—the mountain of personal goals, worldly success, career ambitions, and traveling in the right social circles—is transitory and ultimately unsatisfying. Eventually, though, if you’re fortunate, you find yourself on the “second mountain,” one characterized by other-centeredness and self-giving.

Most people don’t find that second mountain, Brooks argues, until they have experienced some failure or hardship or disappointment. What makes the book compelling and believable was his very honest confession about a very dark chapter in his life. I really appreciate it when a prominent person, or anyone really, pulls back the curtain on their life and lets us see who they really are.

We have been focusing on great prayers in the Bible, and this week's prayer is about the unfailing love of God that meets us where we are when we reveal our heart to God.

King David is in a very dark valley and his heart is broken and damaged. He pulls the curtain back on his life, and lets us see how much he needs God. David’s heart is so broken that he prays for a new heart. This week’s great prayer is “Create in me a pure heart, O God," from Psalm 51.

It does not matter if life is good and things are going well or if you are in some hard place, this prayer is helpful for everyone.

See You Sunday,

David

P.S.- The Second Mountain is really a story about David Brooks' journey towards faith.