My Library Card: A Very Valuable Possession
The other day I was reflecting on some of my most valuable possessions. My library card was pretty high on my list.
For Advent, I Wish You Peace!
It’s Advent, that time of the year when we are invited by the Church to slow down and ponder the great mystery of God’s presence in our midst. But let’s face it. This time of year most of us are not slowing down. We’re speeding up! We are not pondering. We’re calculating— calculating how in […]
A Few Positive Words about Death
Soon we will be entering the month of November, a rather melancholy month for me. Where I live the days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, the trees are almost bare, and we’ve already experienced the annual shock of our first snowfall. Adding to the melancholy is Halloween. (I know, kids love this day because […]
Three Short Reflections for Autumn
Although I love all four seasons, I have a special fondness for autumn. Where I live, it comes with cooler temperatures, shorter days, and brilliant colors. You can’t miss fall or ignore it. Today I’ve selected three autumn photos for you: a woods, an apple tree, and a burning bush. For each picture I’ve written […]
16 Turtles on a Log
The other day I saw an amazing sight: 16 turtles sunning themselves on a log in a nearby lake. Sixteen! I counted them several times just to be sure I had the number right. Every now and then one turtle would jump off or fall off or be pushed off by another turtle. But I […]
Four Beatitudes of Motorcycle Riding
I have ridden a motorcycle exactly two times. The first time was when I was twelve. My girlfriend’s older brother Dale (about 19) drove in one summer afternoon to show off his new motorcycle. He asked me if I wanted a ride. “Sure!” I said. I hopped on the back and away we went, roaring […]
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 […]
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.
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.
The Ways We Say Goodbye
When we part from another person, we ordinarily say “goodbye” in English. The etymology of the word “goodbye” is interesting. It is derived from the phrase “God be with you.” If you squish the four words together, you will come up with “goodbye.”
