“Travels in Siberia”
For me, the word “Siberia” conjures up images of a vast expanse of wilderness, unbelievably frigid temperatures, and horrific prison camps (gulags) used by the Tsars and (even more ruthlessly) by the Russian leaders who followed the Tsars. (Personal note: My Grandmother Svoboda’s younger brother did not migrate to the U.S. but stayed in Bohemia […]
How Rich Are You?
In his book, Drink Deeply with Delight, Howard Hanger (an ordained Methodist Minister) shares a dialogue between a little girl and her mother at bedtime. The little girl asks, “Are we rich, Mommy?” Her mother replies, “Why do you ask?” The little girl says, “Because the kids in kindergarten said it was cool to be […]
Descendants of Slaves and Descendants of Their Jesuit Owners Form Historic Partnership
I enjoy watching the PBS program Finding Your Roots with host Henry Louis Gates. Each week the show traces the genealogy of famous living people: actors, politicians, artists, rock stars, journalists, athletes, etc. Each show is filled with surprises as the guests learn new things about their ancestry. One week the show featured the Black […]
Oh, the Ostrich!
Every now and then, I like to reflect on one single aspect of God’s vast creation. In honor of Earth Day on April 23, I am focusing on the ostrich today. An article in the September 2020 National Geographic piqued my curiosity. It’s titled “Nobody’s Fool” and it was written by Richard Conniff. The ostrich […]
Three Poems for April: National Poetry Month
As you may know, April is national poetry month. In honor of this month, I have selected three poems for you. The first is by one of our readers. The second is by a dear SND friend who passed away a few weeks ago. And the third poem is one of my own. I suggest […]
Easter Laughter
The Greek Orthodox Church has a fascinating tradition for the Monday after Easter. On this day, the faithful gather to trade jokes with one another. Why? Because they believe the greatest “joke” of all occurred on Easter Sunday: Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. In honor of that venerable tradition, I’m devoting today’s blog to humor. […]
Pain and the Call to Transformation
For Holy Week, I would like to share a few thoughts on pain. Some of this comes from my book In Steadfast Love, chapter 16. I will include some reflection questions throughout this post. Everyone experiences pain. No one is exempt from it. No one has the perfect health, perfect family, perfect friends, perfect job, […]
Venerable Pierre Toussaint
None of the 11 saints associated with the United States are of African descent despite the presence of Black Catholics in the U.S. since the 18th Century. But here is one individual who could very well become one of the first Black Saints in our country, Pierre Toussaint (1776-1853). Toussaint’s story is a fascinating one. […]
Who Is God to You?
I’m reading a book entitled God Is No Laughing Matter by Julie Cameron. The title is misleading, because very early in the book Cameron says that she thinks God has a “pretty good sense of humor.” She cites two proofs: octopuses and those baboons with rainbow colored fannies. But if God is very serious to […]
Cause for Concern, Cause for Hope
(Please note: Last week I accidently posted TWO reflections. When I realized my mistake at 5:30 am, I immediately took the first one down and reposted it for today Mar. 8. So, you might have read this reflection last week… or you couldn’t open it and wondered why. Well, here it is. Secondly, my blog […]