It is almost time for the stealth bombers to fly over the start of the Rose Parade again. What have we learned since the last time? 1. We may feel hopeless about making a difference. We may no longer believe in what we are doing. We may be discouraged, tired, ready to give up and […]
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Christmas is almost here. Only a few more days. We may have certain requirements about Christmas. Some of us need the right songs or movies or television shows, or even plays or poems. I know people who demand to taste specific foods before Christmas becomes real for them. There are people for whom Christmas does
I know people who go to the same place and do the same tasks every day. Not me. It is a challenge for me to do the same work day after day for very long. It is easy for me to start feeling stuck and begin looking for something new. My personality and perspective have combined
We get the impression spiritual life is only for certain people. Most of us know, even if we have not experienced them ourselves, there are separate places for spiritual life. Some people go to specific buildings on particular days to practice spiritual life. There are cities and locations, often historic, where people go for spiritual life. It is
Spiritual Life for Everyday People Read More »
Even as a child I made New Year’s resolutions. Each year I committed myself to meet goals and follow plans for the coming year. My resolutions were not necessarily the most effective ways for me to learn, grow, or change my behavior. The resolutions I chose were grounded in my deep belief I could put my values into practice.
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We are people living in a world of deep darkness, looking for light. The darkness is all around us, seeping into how we live our lives and see ourselves. Some of us are afraid of the darkness and refuse to acknowledge its presence. The darkness makes some of us feel tired and frustrated. We want
Living in Darkness Read More »
Several things I have read recently imply The time for reflection is over, now is the time for action! People describe our situation as a conflict between contemplation and decisive action. They believe we are at a point in history that demands impatience. Personally, I do not see practicing reflection and practicing activism as opposite paths. Separating
I am part of a liturgical church. We organize our years into liturgical seasons. A new season called Advent, the first season of a new year, begins this weekend. The season of Advent is a lot more exciting than most people realize. The word “Advent” comes from the same Middle English, Old French, and Latin
Everyday Adventures Read More »
We do not generally see monks as explorers. We think of monks as people who stay in the same place, separate from the world. Monks commit themselves to remain at their monasteries and follow a rule. We think of monks as stable members of monastic communities. They do not go off on expeditions to explore distant places.
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How do we practice thanksgiving? No, I am not talking about learning to deep-frying a turkey or new ways to make gravy. Practicing thanksgiving is not about getting ready to watch more football. Practicing thanksgiving is not limited to one day in November, or October. Thanksgiving is how we respond to all the blessings of
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