The Spiritual Practice of Going Barefoot
Someone has said that going barefoot can be a spiritual practice. There’s a scriptural basis for this assertion. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, God told him to take off his shoes, for he was standing on holy ground (Ex. 3:5). But isn’t all ground holy? If so, shouldn’t we take off our shoes regularly so we can be one with our sacred earth? (more…)
Jesus as the Good Shepherd
A friend of mine has a hard time with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. She says, “I just can’t get past the image of a man leading a bunch of dumb, smelly, non-melodically bleating sheep around so they can be sheared against their will and eventually eaten.” Wow! With an image like that, I’d be turned off too—especially since one of those out-of-tune sheep is supposed to be me! (more…)
The Last Nun Standing in Paradise Revisited
My blog for July 23, 2012 was entitled “The Last Nun Standing in Paradise.” It featured Sister Margaret Moore (Maggie), a then 74-year-old Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, who ministered in Paradise, PA in a home and school for troubled boys. (more…)
Interruptions: Blessings in Disguise?
You sit down to eat supper and the doorbell rings. Or you settle down to watch your favorite TV show, and one of your kids yells, “MOM!” Or you go to use the bathroom and the phone rings. (more…)
Our Use of Stereotypes
Recent headlines raise questions about a wide range of controversial issues such as racism, gun control, religious freedom, ageism, immigration laws, violence against women, etc. This got me to thinking about a phenomenon that underscores many of these issues: our use of stereotypes. (more…)
