Sensitivity: The Art of the Small
I’m a pretty sensitive person. I notice small things. And I am easily touched by them. Little things can excite me; they also can bother me. Sometimes I am tempted to think sensitivity is more cross than gift. I say to myself, “If you weren’t so sensitive, you wouldn’t be feeling this pain.” Even though […]
The Last Nun Standing in Paradise
Sister Margaret Moore, a 74-year-old Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, is the last nun standing in Paradise. Let me explain.
Go Outside!
I read a disturbing statistic the other day: The average American spends only ten minutes a day outside. Ten minutes! I find that fact disturbing because I fear it’s a sign we are losing direct contact with the natural world. And no direct contact with nature can breed unawareness, disregard or even a lack of […]
The Power of Prayer
This week I’ll be leading a retreat at Cape May Point, NJ on the Atlantic Ocean. Jesus told us to proclaim the gospel to the “whole world.” I’m sure that includes the Jersey Shore! This week-long retreat is being held at St. Mary-by-the-Sea, the retreat center of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia. It’s […]
A Reflection on Freedom
What is freedom? I like this definition: “Freedom is nothing else than the chance to be better.” Why did God give us the gift of freedom? Only for this: to love. We might think, “I want to be free to do what I want to do.” Yes, but we are truly free only if […]
Talking to a Daisy
Last week we celebrated the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. This day is also referred to as midsummer’s day. Ancient peoples believed this was the time of the year when the veil that separates the various forms of the natural world is the thinnest, making communication between them […]
A Visit from a Former Student
Two weeks ago a former student came to see me, Michelle Redmond, whom I taught at Notre Dame College in the mid-70’s. Michelle was a communications major so I had her for several courses: creative writing, journalism, film study, and literature. She was a fine student, an articulate and attractive Black woman. “Doors will open […]
What Jesus Did NOT Say
One way to appreciate what Jesus said is to imagine what he could have said but didn’t. Here are ten examples I came up with. Beside each one, I have put the gospel reference that tells what Jesus really said:
The Need for Rituals
As I drive the highways, I sometimes notice a small cross with flowers by the side of the road. The homemade “shrine” tells me, “Someone was killed here.” And I say a prayer for them. The need to mark these tragic deaths with the ritual of a little shrine seems to run deep in our […]
Five Pieces of Advice
Two weeks ago I came across the six core beliefs of President Harry S. Truman: