Lent is Upon Us… Besides the color purple, the cross, and cats choking on Easter grass, Lent also reminds me of fasting. For us Catholics, fasting can mean giving up food (sometimes just specific types of food) or a bad habit. Some take the whole fasting thing seriously. Others, not so much. Several times during […]
To Fast, or Not to Fast? The Value of Asceticism Read More »
The Clock Will Strike Midnight I remember the first time I heard Steven Curtis’ Chapman’s song, “Cinderella”. (Click the link to listen to the song if you have not heard it previously–the rest will make MUCH more sense–I promise! However, you will want to have tissues nearby–you’ve been warned!) At the time, I couldn’t much
Cinderella: Embracing the Beauty in the Present Moment Read More »
All In My Head For much of my life, I, like most humans, have lived in my mind. As I take a walk in the beauty of nature, my brain is daydreaming about that delicious meal I plan on cooking later on that day and inventorying the fridge. Shoot–we’re out of soy sauce. Is there
Breaking Up with Thinking: How to Enter the Peace of God Read More »
Walking the Walk The longer I have been on the contemplative path, the more I have been drawn to a life that is slower-paced and more connected to nature, other people, and, it goes without saying, the creator. Within a couple years of starting down this road, I naturally felt drawn to cultivate more compassionate
Why I’m (Sort of) Vegan Read More »
Monk: A person who dedicates his life to serving others and/or to a life of prayer and contemplation Mother: A person (usually a woman) who cares for children: nurturing, teaching, loving, and awakening goodness within them. Said person usually has little time for contemplation and is in great need of prayer. Is it possible to
Mommy Monk: How to Parent with Wisdom and Love Read More »
Grief is different for everyone “Lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice.” Roy Sullivan, who survived being struck 7 times in his lifetime, would probably have disagreed with that statement. Our family, like Roy, is no stranger to repeat tragedies–I’m not the first in the family to grieve the loss of a spouse relatively early
Leaning into Grief: How to Heal from Losing a Loved One Read More »
Daddy Cardinal Each morning, I enjoy a half-hour meditation in our family’s backyard. We claim ownership of the place, paying our mortgage, property taxes, and rather extensive HOA fees. I mow the lawn when the weeds begin to get knee high in our paltry backyard (most of the rest is moss and dirt) or just
“Mine” vs. “Ours”: Becoming Rich in the Things of God Read More »
Seeing Beauty Our family spent the past three days in New York City, enjoying the beautiful sights. We walked to the center of Brooklyn Bridge and took in the gorgeous free view of the skyline. The boys requested to go to the MET, so we spent three hours viewing ancient Greek and Roman busts and
Overcoming Our Negativity Bias Through Joy Read More »
When a family friend offered us a free mountain vacation at their cabin on the Cacapon River, I did not expect the depth of insight the trip would offer.
Laughter and Lessons of Faith from a Mountain Cabin Read More »
Diversity Makes Us Stronger I teach at a high school in the mid-Atlantic that is the very definition of diverse. The “majority” student group, not Caucasian, tops off at a whopping 44%. The main corridor of the school boasts a gallery of flags from students’ home countries. It is an impressive array. The staff is
Healing Racism by Going Within Read More »
