Do You Need to Give Yourself a “Time Out”?
At our family gathering, little Aaron, 2 1/2, was acting up. His parents told him to settle down or he would get a “time out.” Aaron didn’t settle down. So his father unceremoniously picked him up and carried him down the hall to his bedroom. He deposited him inside, said a few words to him, and shut the door. Aaron whimpered a little on the other side of the door, but, after a few minutes, he was quiet. He was settling down. Soon his father went back to the bedroom and, after saying a few words to Aaron again, he released him from his “time out.” Aaron scampered back to our family gathering all smiles. (more…)
The Choices We Make
Choices. We make them every day. What will I wear today? What will I have for breakfast? How will I use my time today? Whom will I befriend? What career will I choose? Whom shall I marry? Some choices are minor. But others have serious consequences and far-reaching ramifications. Here is a little poem I wrote about the choices made by several individuals in the Bible. (more…)
November: Remembering All Saints and All Souls
The month of November begins with two important feasts: All Saints and All Souls. On these days we remember in prayer those individuals who, though not formally canonized, led exemplary lives. We remember those individuals who, though not perfect, inspired us by their lives. We remember parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and acquaintances. And we remember individuals like Jim Skerl. (more…)
Autumn: The Season of Letting Go
It is autumn where I live—here in the northern hemisphere. As the earth gradually tilts away from the sun, the change around us is quite dramatic: the days are getting shorter, the temperatures are going down, and (most amazing of all) the leaves have turned bright colors and are falling from our trees. Autumn is the season of change, of letting go—letting go of light, warmth, and lush green foliage. (more…)
"I Was in Prison and You Visited Me"
Today I’m taking you to a place you may not want to go: inside a prison. Why am I doing this? Because Jesus told us we could find him there. In his parable of the Final Judgment (Mt. 25:31-46) he lists some specific places we can find him and some specific acts we can do to show our love for him. These places include prison; these acts (later called “the works of mercy”) include visiting inmates. (more…)
