Over the centuries rank and file church members have grown up in the presence of stained glass saints. Sanctuary windows throughout Europe and America have featured thousands of them -- monumental, brightly colored portraits of men and women whose lives were right with God. Their faces are placid and trusting. Their heads are often enveloped by golden auras or haloes. All of them were heroes of the faith, either from the Bible or from Christian history. They are spectacular representations of spiritual victory -- but also intimidating. How can an ordinary person grow up to become a stained glass saint? 

We sense that our weaknesses disqualify us. Generic frailties cling to us. We wonder how God puts up with our erratic attempts to jump-start our own spiritual lives, and wonder how long Go…