To the extent that I come from a deeply religious tradition and have been contending with those beginnings all of my life - that constitutes the subject of much of my early fiction.

There is in my work a very strong religious foreground and background. In the later work some of that tends to diminish, but it's certainly present in the early work.

Something that is yours forever is never precious

A non-fiction writer pretty much has the shape of the figure in front of him or her and goes about refining it. A work of non-fiction is not as difficult to write as a work of fiction, but it's not as satisfying in the end.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the Potter and I am the clay.

A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning.