Embracing the Times in which We Live
There are certain phrases I hear or read frequently that annoy me. One phrase is this: “in our troubled times.” It seems to imply that other times in the past were not troubled or, at least, not as troubled as our times are today. Other phrases are “in our polarized times,” “our violent times,” “our uncertain times,” or “our unprecedented times.” I am not denying the polarization, violence, and uncertainty of our times. And I even acknowledge that in some ways our times are unprecedented. But we do ourselves (and our Christian faith) a grave disservice if we think we are the only human beings who ever lived during “troubled times.” That’s why I believe a basic familiarity with history is essential for us to get a much needed perspective on our current times.
Take polarization. If we view Ken Burns’ incredible documentary on the American Revolution, we will learn how deeply divided the colonists were on declaring their independence from England. Neighbors argued with or even fought against neighbors over this issue. Violence and uncertainty? Read first-hand accounts of the Civil War and you will see unimaginable violence and terrifying uncertainty. And wasn’t the Great Depression “unprecedented” for the people (such as my grandparents and parents) who lived during those times? And what about World War II? Most historians describe those times in words such as these: “World War II was the largest, deadliest, and most destructive conflict in human history.” It took the lives of 60-80 million people–most of them civilians! Virtually every human being on earth was somehow impacted by the global devastation of that war–whether you lived on an island in the Pacific (think Pearl Harbor) or in Timbuktu in West Africa (I verified this fact!) or Willoughby Hills, Ohio–where I was born during the final year of the war. Upon birth I was issued a ration book which I still have. Uncle Sam was inviting me to join the war effort! My weight was listed as 7 lbs. 3 ozs. and my height was 20 inches!
If we think our times are unprecedented, we might be tempted to throw a “pity party,” for ourselves, moaning, “Poor us! No one ever had it so bad!” Or we might try to escape from our awful world. Several “escape hatches” are readily available. One is denial: “Things aren’t as bad as they seem.” Well, unfortunately, SOME things ARE as bad as they seem–or maybe even WORSE. Or we can try to escape the pains of our times through addictions to such things as alcohol, other drugs, gambling, the internet, food, shopping, gaming, social media, and work. Ironically, even religion can be used as an escape hatch: “I don’t care about what’s happening on this earth. I’m thinking only about getting to heaven!”
To escape from the real world is not only impossible, it is tragic. Why? Because, our faith teaches us that human life is a gift from God. And we believe (as I’ve said before) that “REALITY is God’s home address.” That means God is with us in our times. Even more, God is alive and active in whatever times or circumstances we find ourselves. But God is with us not simply to console or comfort us. God is with us urging us to get involved with the troubles of our day. How? By calling us to ever greater love, goodness, justice, and care for one another in our real world. To illustrate what this involvement looks like, Jesus himself gave us a few concrete examples in Matthew 25:31-46: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the ill, visit the imprisoned.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who became deeply involved in one of the primary “troubles” of his day, a trouble that continues to plague us: the injustices spawned by deep-seated racisim. King once said this about Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. When the Levite and priest saw the wounded man by the side of the road, they asked themselves, “If I stop and help this man, what will happen to me?” But the Samaritan reversed the question. He asked, “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” King labeled the Samaritan’s decision and subsequent actions as “unselfish sacrificial loving.” It is the kind of loving Jesus showed throughout his life–especially on the cross.
Sometimes this “unselfish sacrificial loving” is dramatic and newsworthy: think Mary saying “yes” to God at the Annunciation… the early Christians being slain in the Coloseum, and countless other unselfish loving people such as Francis of Assisi, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Cabrini, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, Mother Teresa. But often this sacrifical loving is less dramatic–yet no less real:
The young couple welcoming a new baby into the world–despite our “troubling times”… Parents or grandparents who are doing the daily hard work of raising children… Teachers enthusiastically devoted to their students… Medical professionals caring for the ill among us… Scientists in their labs doing vital yet often tedious research to improve the quality of life…. The woman who just donated a total of 20 gallons of blood… Pastors responding generously to the many needs of their parishioners… Married couples remaining faithful to each other “in sickness and in health”… Picketers peacefully demonstrating for their neighbors who are being treated unjustly… Retirees volunteering for years with Meals on Wheels… Lawyers doing pro-bono work for the poor of their local community… And the teenage boy who mows his elderly neighbor’s lawn in summer and shovels her sidewalk in winter–for free. (She repays him with cookies and brownies!)
So rather than lamenting the times in which we find ourselves, let us ask ourselves, “Where can I help? How can I help? Whom can I help?” And also ask, “If I do not stop and help this man, this woman, this child, these people, what will happen to them? And consequently, what will happen to us?” I agree with the words of Bishop Michael Curry who spoke at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle in 2018. In essence he said,”Only unselfish, sacrifical love has the power to heal us and change our world for the better.”
For reflection:
Has your knowledge of history ever given you a better perspective on a current issue or event? In what way?
Do you ever get overwhelmed or depressed by the bad news you encounter frequently? If so, what are some of the ways you prevent yourself from becoming totally hopeless?
Did you ever feel “the call” to help someone in need, a call you felt you couldn’t resist? Could you share that experience with us?
Can you think of any other examples of “unselfish sacrifical love”–whether dramatic or small–that you have seen or been involved in? Could you share your example(s) with us below?
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P.S. Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, the official beginning of summer! May we take a few moments to pray for all our service members throughout our history who gave the ultimate gift of their lives for our precious blessings of freedom, peace, and justice for all. And may we ask our Beloved God for the gift of unselfish, sacrificial love in ourselves to ensure these same blessings for our future generations.
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I have two videos for you today. The first is a song by Jesse Manibusan entitled “Hold on to Love.” The second is a short, short story in cartoon form called “Helping Others Is the Key to Happiness.”
Song: “Hold on to Love” – 4:21 mins.
Cartoon short story: – 2:09 mins. Notice the main character’s hands (and eyes) in the film… and when is the first time you see him smile? And what do his hands do in the rest of the film?
I invite you to respond below to the reflection, the questions, the photos, or the videos. I’m always eager to hear from you!
“Keep Me as the Apple of Your Eye”
A few months ago I featured a phrase from the Bible,”Gird your loins,” and explained what it meant. (See the post for February 23, 2026.) Today I’d like to focus on three other phrases found in scripture: the apple of your eye; amen, amen, I say to you; and you are the salt of the earth.
The apple of your eye. Moses uses this unusual metaphor when he tells God’s people that they are “the apple of God’s eye” (Deut. 32:10). Similarly, the psalmist says to God, “Keep me as the apple of your eye” (Ps. 17:8). And in the book of Proverbs we find this: “The wise father says to his son, ‘Keep my teachings as the apple of your eye'” (Prov. 7:2). What does this phrase mean? The word apple refers to the pupil of the eye. Historically, the pupil was thought to be apple-shaped and was considered the most precious part of the eye. So if someone says you are the apple of their eye, they are saying you are very precious to them and you are greatly loved by them.
But there’s more. In Hebrew the word for apple is ishon. Interestingly, the word ish in Hebrew means man. So, etymologically speaking, the apple of the eye is the “little man in the eye.” If you look very closely into another person’s eye, you will see your own reflection in their eye. When you see yourself, then YOU are the apple–or little man or little woman–of their eye! (If you look carefully at the picture above, you’ll see the photographer’s reflection in the eye!)
Even our Loving Creator’s design of the eye shows how precious it is. The eye is situated in a bony socket which helps protect the eye from injury. The eyelid is another level of protection for the precious eye–as is the instinct to blink if something comes near to your eye. Even the eye lashes are designed not to be plastered with thick mascara, but to shield the eye from dust, dirt, sand, and other foreign objects–even mascara! And tears, too, help lubricate the eye and wash away impurities. Let’s face it, our eyes are precious–and so are WE precious to God and to certain people in our lives!
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Amen, Amen I say to you. Our second phrase, “Amen, amen I say to you,” is found frequently in the Bible. Sometimes it is translated as “Truly, truly I say to you” or “Verily, verily I say to you.” When I taught high school kids, I sometimes said to them, “Now pay close attention to what I am going to say next.” My young male colleague would say, “Now, listen up, you guys!” Or simply “Remember!” or “Don’t forget!” The “amen, amen phrase” indicates that the upcoming statement is very important. Jesus uses this phrase 50 times in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and 25 times in John. Here are a few examples:
“Amen, Amen I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do” (Jn. 14:12).
“Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone” (Jn. 12:24).
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mk. 10:15).
To Peter during the Last Supper he says, “Amen, amen I say to you, this night you will deny me three times” (Mt. 26:34).
And to the good thief on the cross: “Amen, amen I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).
If you want to emphasize something–perhaps to your children, grandchildren, or even your spouse or a friend–just say, “Amen, amen I say to you!” You’ll probably get their attention! Or say, “Pay close attention to what I am going to say to you.”… or “Listen up!” And if you want to know what Jesus stressed in his teachings, then, just go through the gospels and circle all the “Amen, amen I say to you’s.” Or simply look them up online as I did for this reflection!
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You are the salt of the earth. In Mt. 5:13, Jesus calls his followers the “salt of the earth.” What does that mean? In Jesus’ time, salt was a very precious commodity. Before wholesale refrigeration (not invented until the 20th Century), salt was peoples’ main way to preserve food. It became indispensable. In addition, when salt was added to food, it improved the taste by drawing out good flavors subtly hidden in the food. Salt was so valuable, it was sometimes used as currency. Roman soldiers were often paid in a “salt allowance” called a salarium, from which we get our word salary!
Today when we call people the salt of the earth, we usually mean they are exceptionally honest, reliable, good, humble, hard-working, dependable, down-to-earth, and even indispensable. Aren’t these some of the traits Jesus wants to see in us, his followers, today? Jesus calls us to humility, hard work, honesty, goodness. He calls us to play a crucial role in the world by preserving his values and by preventing “societal decay.” Let’s face it, to Jesus we, his followers, are indispensable!
For reflection:
Think of some individuals in your life that you would consider “the apple of your eye.” Why are they so precious to you? How do you show your love and appreciation for them through your words and actions?
What words of Jesus do YOU consider some of his most important words (even if scripture does not include the “Amen, Amen,” phrase before these words?) If you were dying, what words would you like to leave for your family, friends, the world?
Is there anyone (living or deceased… personally known by you or not) whom you consider “the salt of the earth”? What qualities does this person (or people) have that makes you think this phrase applies to them?
Announcing a Fall Weekend Retreat:
I will be giving a weekend retreat, Friday evening, Oct. 9 through Sunday lunch October 11 at the beautiful Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center in Villa Maria, PA. The theme is “Walking with Mary through the Light and Darkness of our Daily Life.” This retreat focuses on Mary as a real person who lived in turbulent times. Using scripture, prayer, music, in-put sessions, personal quiet time, videos and artwork, we will see Mary as a woman who experienced fear, uncertainty, pain, misunderstandings, sorrow and loss–as we do–as well as love, companionship, intimacy with God, peace, joy, and hope. For more information visit their website at vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886. I’d love to see some of you there!
Here is a prayer-song called “Keep Me as the Apple of Thine eye.” It is produced by Gospel Space. I found it easy to pray along with this song. It was comforting for me to do so…
I welcome your responses below to anything in this reflection!
What Is Heaven’s First Law? Hint: It Isn’t Order
Alexander Pope, a prominent British poet of the 18th Century, penned these oft-quoted words: “Order is heaven’s first law.” (from An Essay on Man) Pope and many others of his day, believed we lived in a highly ordered and structured universe created by God “Himself.” They felt this “divine order” should serve as the guiding principle for our intellectual, spiritual, and physical lives. They said, “Just look at how all the planets circle the sun in an orderly way and how the four seasons follow one another in order…. And what are the 10 Commandments if not a list of ten ways to maintain order among disorderly human beings?”
But did Jesus teach the primacy of order? Did he himself live a highly ordered life? To answer those questions, let’s look at the gospels.
Jesus’ life did not begin in a very orderly way. His very coming caused considerable “disorder.” It began with a young woman saying “yes” to God’s extra-ordinary request. Jesus’ life continued in Mary’s womb because of Joseph’s decision to marry Mary and raise her child as his own. Then we have the disruptive trip to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birth in a stable, the flight into Egypt, and, at age 12, Jesus is lost in the city of Jerusalem. It seems to me, Jesus’ early life is marked by considerable disorder.
And once Jesus begins his public ministry, the Gospels show him coming and going, and going and coming, often in a seemingly haphazard way. He has a very flexible schedule, allowing all kinds of people to come to him at will: ten lepers begging for a cure, a blind man who keeps shouting to get his attention, the Scribes and Pharisees who are always trying to trick him, and Nicodemus who comes at night. Notice Jesus didn’t say to him, “Nick, come during regular office hours!”
Jesus often acts spontaneously. He seems comfortable with interruptions. For example, Jairus interrupts him with an urgent request, “My little girl is dying. Please come!” Jesus drops everything and goes with Jairus. But on his way to Jairus’ house, there’s another interruption. A poor woman who has been hemorrhaging for12 years, secretly touches his cloak and is instantly cured. Then Jesus wastes time to stop and talk with her, praising her for her great faith.
The apostles on the other hand, are concerned about order. They argue among themselves who is the “greatest,” that is, who is at the top of their “pecking order.” And they are always trying to establish more order in Jesus’ ministry. They try to shoo away the little children. (Children and strict order seldom coexist!) They are shocked to see Jesus conversing at a well with a Samaritan woman. In their view of the proper social order, this woman has two strikes against her: Samaritan and woman! And later, when Jesus talks of his passion and death (the dissolution of all order!), his disciples try to talk him out of it.
On several occasions Jesus speaks out against allowing order to usurp the place of other more important values–most notably love. He openly cures (does loving work) on the Sabbath. He allows lepers to approach him. He praises “enemies” like the Roman centurion, and he makes a Samaritan a hero in one of his parables. He speaks kindly and gently to a “lady of the night.” He lamblasts the Pharisees for their idolization of order, shown by their rigid adherence to religious rituals and laws. Finally, Jesus becomes a victim of order. He is put to death primarily because he is considered a threat to the established order–both political and ecclesiastic.
Yet order is important. I would never be able to write a weekly blog if I didn’t have some level of order in my life! But extreme order can be a tool of the Evil Spirit. I remember my scripture professor warning us, “All the trains ran on time in ancient Egypt.” He was describing the extreme order in Egypt, where everyone, including the Hebrew slave population, knew “their place” in a strict social order maintained by fear, intimidation, brutality, and death. Closer to our time, is 20th Century Nazi Germany which, in 1945, had 23 main concentration camps with over 1,000 “satellite camps” and forced-labor facilities all over Germany and its conquered territories. This “vast sprawling system of imprisonment and extermination” is a horrific example of order gone diabolically wrong.
Conclusion:
What does this have to do with us and our spiritual lives? First, order definitely has a place in our lives–including our spiritual lives. We need structures to insure time for vital values such as prayer, worship, family, friends, work, service, and rest and leisure. But in the name of good order, we must never sacrifice more important values like compassion, respect, justice, freedom, and joy. For, through both word and example, Jesus shows respect for order. He was basically a good Jew, an observer of the law and ritual. At the same time, he makes it very clear: heaven and earth’s first law is not order, it is love. Always love. Above all love.
For reflection:
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 meaning “very little order” and 10 meaning “very much order,” how would you describe your current life in general?
Jot down 3-5 priorities in your life. Then reflect on how much time and “funds” you devote to these priorities. Any conclusions?
How comfortable are you with interruptions? Have you ever had a major interruption in your “ordered life” that turned out to be “a blessing in disguise”?
P.S: To Lauren S-C … You emailed Sister Maresa last week about one of her paintings. She tried to respond to you but the email bounced back. Please email her again. She’s eager to respond to your request.
I felt I had to choose for today’s video, the ancient song, “Ubi Caritas, Deus ibi est.” (“Where there is love, there is God.”) The only question I had, which version to choose? Here is a beautiful choral version by Dan Forrest. The moving water in the background enhances the meditative mood of this simple prayer.
I encourage you to jot down a comment below. We all love hearing from our readers.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Through the Eyes of A Single Painter
It’s May! And this is the month the Catholic Church traditionally devotes to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In honor of Mary, I am devoting today’s reflection to several paintings of Mary created by a single artist, Sister Maresa Lilley, a Sister of Notre Dame and good friend of mine. A few years ago I posted a blog on Sister and her paintings. (You can access it by typing her name in the search box on the top right side of this page.) Today we will focus on eight of her depictions of Jesus’ mother.
The painting above is entitled “By the Name of Mary.” It is one of my favorites. To me, it shows Mary as a young woman, a “girl” really. I like to think it portrays Mary at the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel first appeared to her. In her facial expression I see amazement coupled with fear. The brightness of the angel is reflected on her face. Interestingly, there is second source of light behind Mary. It reminds me of a halo, the traditional symbol of a holy person. I like several things about this painting. First, Mary is so REAL. Her hair is slipping out of her head covering. This tells me she is engaged with life–perhaps working hard when the angel appeared. Maybe she was kneading dough, walking to the market in the hot sun, or tending to her small garden. Mary looks INTERRUPTED to me. Doesn’t God interrupt our lives at times too? Mary seems strong yet vulnerable, very human. She is WIDE AWAKE and ALERT to what is happening around her. I resonate with her mixture of wonder and fear. I’ve experienced that combination many times in my life too. I welcome your additional feelings and thoughts on this painting and the paintings that follow.
Painting #2 is entitled “Betrothed to Joseph.” You can think of this painting as Mary’s engagement picture. Painting #3 is one of Sister’s many paintings of Mary with her child Jesus. It’s appropriately called “Joy to the World.” I am especially drawn to the face of that smiling little boy. He is a happy child. He knows his Mom loves him–shown by the way she leans her cheek on his little head. He is well-cared for–as seen in his neatly combed hair. Mary’s strong hand is holding him safe and secure. His little arms seem to be moving. He strikes me as a healthy and rambunctious little boy.
Throughout history, people have wanted to see something of themselves and their culture in their depictions of Mary. So Mary is sometimes depicted as European, African, Asian, American, etc. Some of Sister Maresa’s Mary paintings follow this tradition. Sister spent some time serving in Vietnam. Little wonder she was drawn to portray Mary as a young Vietnamese woman #4. Painting #5 is entitled “Mary’s Boy Child,” taken from the “Jamaican-ish” song sung by Harry Belafonte years ago… And painting #6, “Daughter of Israel,” has Middle Eastern overtones.
Painting #7 captures the darkest hour in the life of Mary when her dead son is taken down from the cross. This painting shows Mary as she tenderly removes the crown of thorns from the head of her crucified son. We can see the anguish on her face. The painting is appropriately called “Heart of Darkness.”
Throughout the centuries Mary has been given many titles such as: Mother of God, Queen of Peace, Star of the Sea, Mother of Mercy, Refuge of Sinners, Cause of Our Joy, and one I’m particularly fond of Notre Dame, which is French for “Our Lady.” Another rather unusual title for Mary is Our Lady Untier of Knots (or Undoer of Knots). This devotion, dating back to 17th Century Germany, symbolizes Mary’s role in helping to solve “tangled” life situations, that is, family problems, difficult personal relationships, community struggles. Here is Sister Maresa’s interpretation of this title for Mary, based on earlier 17th Century paintings:
PS #1: A Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! We pray today in a special way for our own mothers, living and deceased… and for all our readers who are mothers. May God give all mothers strength, courage, patience, wisdom, joy, and great love as they serve their families and the family of God!
PS #2: Sister Maresa had one of her paintings accepted recently for an Art Show in Gates Mills, Ohio. The first day of the show, her painting was sold! We, her Sisters here, are very proud of her! Her painting is called simply “Zebras”:
PS #3: If you’d like to see more of Sister Maresa’s paintings you can go to her blog “Grace to Paint”: (https://gracetopaint.org) or go to Etsy where she displays and sells her paintings: https://www.etsy.com and then type in Paintgrace. If you’d like to contact Sister personally about any of her paintings or to ask about commisioning a painting, her email address is: [email protected].
For reflection:
Of all Sister’s paintings of Mary, did any one move you or touch you today? Did any of them “speak to you”? If so, which one did and what did it say?
If you could paint, what would you like YOUR painting of Mary to look like? What would you try to CONVEY ABOUT MARY in your painting? I’d love to hear some of your ideas below!
For our video today, I searched for a Marian hymn from another culture. Although many songs were beautiful, I found this one particularly moving. It is labeled simply a Chinese song to the Virgin Mary, and it is sung by “Harpa Dei,” a Catholic ensemble of four siblings. You will see them in the video. They sing traditional liturgical songs in the original language in which those songs were composed. This Chinese hymn to Mary reminds all of us to pray for our fellow Christians/Catholics all over the world, especially those who are facing persecution for their religious beliefs. (The English lyrics will come up automatically.)
I look forward to reading your comments below!
Which Animals Have a Bad Press?
My sister and I were going out for a walk. It was a little chilly, so we both donned our jackets. That’s when I noticed the large round badge pinned to her coat. It was a colored photo of the head of a vulture! “Mary Ann!” I said. “Why are you wearing that badge with an ugly vulture on it?” She explained that her local zoo was seeking donations for food for their animals. If you donated money, you got to choose which animal you would like to support. Said my sister, “I figured everyone would pick the cute and cuddly animals–like koalas, penguins, baby tigers. So I decided to donate to the vultures. After all, they eat dead things, and that helps prevent the spread of disease!” She was 100% right, of course. In appreciation for her donation, the zoo gave her the vulture badge.
I thought of my sister when I saw an article in the July 2025 issue of National Geographic. It was entitled “Misshapes and Misfits,” with words by A.J. Jacobs and photos by Joel Sartore. The article focuses on certain “unloved animals” who “suffer from an image problem.” And the featured animal photo inside was (you guessed it!) a vulture. Vultures, with their bare heads, stooping posture, and beady eyes, rate low on the cuteness scale. Plus, they have the disgusting habit of eating rotting carcasses. They possess “stomachs of steel” that neutralize bacteria that could kill other animals. So, vultures are “nature’s cleaners” or garbage collectors. Because of this, they help prevent the spread of disease. If you don’t believe that, researchers have the data to prove it! Unfortunately, preserving vultures is not a top priority for most humans. That’s because vultures are the “polar opposites of the conservation icons” such a pandas, polar bears, penguins, whales and giraffes.
Here are three other “unloved” animals.
The proboscis monkey. The cover of that issue of National Geographic features this monkey, a male who has an exceptionally over-sized, fleshy snout. We might think his nose is comical. But the fact is, it comes in handy. That’s because competition for females is fierce among these monkeys. And, for some reason, female proboscis monkeys tend to prefer males with the largest sniffer. (Who knows what females find attractive in the males of their species?!) Besides attracting females, the male’s nose amplifies his “raucous vocalizations, a chorus of honks, howls, and roars.” This may give him an advantage in warding off enemies–including other male proboscis monkeys!
Bats are another animal with a poor image. They tend to have large eyes, sharp teeth, black wings, and they live in dark places such as caves. In Central America and other places, some species congregate in huge colonies that can exceed a thousand individuals. Their sheer numbers frighten humans. Another factor that makes them scary is their reputation for sucking blood and spreading rabies. Furthermore, because most species emerge only after dark, they are labeled “sinister” or “up to no good.” But many bats are really “up to doing good.” They are one of the world’s largest natural pollinators. Without them many crops would be in serious trouble–such as bananas, mangos, cashews, dates, primroses, and even your garden tomatoes. (Here’s a sobering fact: without bats there would be no agave plants–which are essential for making tequila!) Also, on their nightly foraging, bats devour hoards of insects–especially mosquitos. One bat can eat about 5,000 mosquitos in a single night!
Slimy amphibians. We humans tend to prefer furry to slimy. That’s one reason frogs and salamanders raise little conservation money. This is a shame since many amphibians are threatened or even endangered. But often these species are anything but cute or attractive for humans. Take the African bullfrog. Males can be up to ten inches long and weigh as much as four pounds. But they look like one huge slimy, lumpy, bumpy, greenish-brownish blob. And when they feel threatened, they puff up their slimy, lumpy, bumpy blob to intimidate predators. But they manage to survive because nature gave them some advantages. They possess “super spit.” When their tongue shoots out, it latches onto the prey. Then their spit changes to a watery substance that coats their target, making it difficult for it to get away. Also, when a drought comes, the bullfrogs simply go dormant until the rains return again.
What does all of this have to do with “everyday spirituality.” I believe that one of the goals in life–incuding the spiritual life–is to broaden our perspective on things–on everything, really. As I like to say, God is the most broad-minded person of all. And because we believe we are made “in the image and likeness of God,” then we are to grow in “imitating” God’s broad-mindedness. How do we do this? By being open to life, that is, by being open to new information and new experiences that can alter our existing opinions or our understanding of things. This doesn’t mean we have to convince ourselves that vultures are cute and we should keep one in a big cage in our living room. That would certainly do violence to the poor vulture. No, but it does mean we can learn to appreciate their important “place” in the grand scheme of things. I think that broadminded people tend to be more grateful people. They see connections everywhere.
Such broadmindedness will spill over into our relations with that enigmatic animal known as homo sapiens. Let’s admit it, we all have people in our lives we struggle to see as lovable–individuals or even specific ethnic or religious groups who disturb us or scare us. Even Jesus experienced this as he struggled with the scribes and pharisees, with other peoples’ expectations of him, with his own hometown community, with the injustices of his contemporary politcial stuation, and even with his disciples who, at times, were incredibly narrow-minded. Why did Jesus say so many times: “Love one another… forgive one another… care for one another”? Because he knew how hard it was!
So, next time we are quick to label animals and people as unlovable… we refuse to be open to new information or a new attitude… we struggle to care for those in need or to forgive someone… let us turn to Jesus and simply say, “Jesus, help me to be as broad-minded, loving, caring, and forgiving as you!”
P.S. Because you persevered in reading this, here is a “kute, kuddly koala” to warm your heart!
For reflection:
Did anything in this brief reflection alter your perspective in any way? If so, how?
To grow in self-knowledge, finish these two sentences: 1) I like people who _______________. 2) I struggle with people who ___________________. Your answer to the first statement can identify individuals to whom you are naturally drawn. These people might be able to encourage you and support you. Your answer to the second, might indicate where you need further growth.
Can you think of a time when you grew in appreciation of something or someone you didn’t initially like or appreciate? What changed your mind?
Do you think broad-minded people tend to be happier and/or more grateful than narrow-minded people? Why or why not?
Soon countless individuals will be graduating from high schools, colleges, and universities everywhere. Perhaps you know someone who is graduating. I have two grandnephews graduating this year–Andrew from THE Ohio State University and Reece from Riverside High School. (I’m so proud of you, Drew and Reece!) Here’s a song dedicated to all graduates, “May You Walk Ever in the Lord.” It is written and sung by Sarah Hart. Let us pray the simple words of this song for all our graduates of 2026… and for those people–especially their parents, family, friends, and teachers–who supported and encouraged them along the way!
I look forward to reading your comments below!
