The other night, unexpectedly, a flash of pain in my stomach made me bolt up in bed. An old hand at GI issues, I knew the pain was further “upstream” than previous intestinal pain; and the combination of familiar and unfamiliar sensation troubled me. I twisted a bit and peeled off a layer before IContinue reading >>
Deep Breaths
I noticed it for the first time during the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil. Despite being focused on a lot of words and a lot of notes, despite being unnerved by singing to an empty chapel on what would have been one of the most well-attended nights of the Church year, I still registered theContinue reading >>
Now and Forever
I’ve learned it’s just easier to accept that I live in a time of decline. The climate, social and economic equality, political discourse – all of these things are getting worse. There are a number of beautiful things and comforts and advantages that our modern age affords, but still, it feels like things are gettingContinue reading >>
Ready to be good: when we want to help but don’t know how
God is always ready to bring about good. This doesn’t mean that the world is perfect, or that God always comes crashing in to undo our bad choices or bad luck. There is always goodness waiting to bubble up, even when the world is dark. If you have a driven personality like mine, maybe you’veContinue reading >>
A cascade of mercy
Mercy: forgiving with another’s well-being in mind. Letting something pass without condemnation. Like many virtuous qualities, I often find it easier to define by its absence, by what it looks like when I fail to practice it, which I all too often do. I fail to be merciful when I cling to what I thinkContinue reading >>