Category: Blog
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Through the Steam
Do you have a place you go to think, pray, or meditate where time seems to stand still while you’re there? I have a short list of places; one of them happens to be the steam room at my neighborhood recreation center. I look forward to going there following a…
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Spreading Our Joys
While watching a recent broadcast of the Olympic Games, I saw a commercial that stuck with me. I think it was an advertisement for the actual Olympics, but I was so taken with the message, I’m not really sure what the commercial was for. The images and the comments were…
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Do You Feel That Vibe?
Did you ever just get a ‘vibe’ from someone? For being something so silent, it can make a powerful impression. On a recent flight, I was surprised to suddenly feel a certain vibe from the couple I sat next to. I was amazed at what I could tell just by…
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Now I Remember
Over many years, I’ve been blessed to attend several enlightening retreats and days of prayer. While there, I’m very good about realizing themes, prayers, and ideas that move me and with taking notes on them. In the moment, I am so impacted by the wisdom shared, I have every intention…
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Christmas in July?
As I flipped through TV stations recently, I came across two channels showing Christmas movies this month. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I’m sure there are plenty of viewers enjoying them, so it’s probably a good programming decision. I haven’t watched any of the movies, but…
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More Than a Walk on the Beach
There’s something about walking barefoot in the sand on a beach. Since I’m near a beach so rarely, I found it especially renewing to stand in the sand and hear, watch, and feel the constant motion of the waves reaching the shore. I enjoyed a few days on a beach…
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What Fills Your Cup?
I’ve been asked more than once, ‘what fills your cup?’ It’s a handy question when discerning a career path or other personal course of action. In thinking of more practical things, I’d easily look to fill my cup with loving family and friends, a good job, a nice home, etc.…
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‘A Friend Is a Friend at All Times’ (Prv 17:17)
I just spent too much time (way too much time) browsing online for a good ‘friend’ gift. A gift for a best friend of over 30 years who is moving out of state soon. (And not even to a state nearby.) There were several gift ideas to choose from: mugs,…
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The True Presence of Christ
I was again in the nearby adoration chapel with a specific issue and person in my prayer. As I focused ahead, the beautiful monstrance was of course on the altar revealing the Body of Christ which is what I came to see and feel and listen to. Yet off to…
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Why Are You Terrified?
It wouldn’t get much safer than having Jesus on a boat with you, right? That’s what we would probably think, but in this Sunday’s Gospel (Mk 4:35-41), the disciples become very scared when the ‘violent squall’ is suddenly and unexpectedly upon them. Their boat trip with Jesus to the ‘other…
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Clearing the Clutter
It’s that time of year. My neighborhood is having a ‘community garage sale’ weekend soon, and all households are encouraged to participate. To me, the best part about the event is that the coordinators will be providing two bins: one to haul away left-over ‘junk’ and one to collect donations.…
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Random Acts of Prayer
The other day, I left to run errands, and as I opened the garage door, I was a little frightened by a rustling sound coming from the stack of boxes-within-boxes in the front of my garage. I anxiously stepped aside, expecting a squirrel or rabbit to come running out, but…
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We All Have a Place in the Body of Christ
When you are at church, do you sometimes hear the beginning of the ‘Communion’ hymn and joyfully think ‘Oh, I love that one!’? The richness and significance of some of these selections really reach me. The profound lyrics in these hymns should move us. They are prayers and guidance to…
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Graduates and the Holy Trinity
We all probably know either a high school or college student graduating this spring which got me thinking. I don’t believe I’ll ever need to prepare to give a commencement address, but I briefly wondered what I would share at such an important time in college graduates’ lives. I don’t…
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Fruits of the Holy Spirit
As we approach Pentecost this weekend, it seems like a good time to take a little ‘inventory.’ One of the Pentecost readings reminds us of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) These are…
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Are You Standing There, Looking at the Sky?
“Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?” (Acts 1:11) This is from tomorrow’s Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (celebrated at Mass this Sunday) and is one of my favorite lines in scripture. In thinking about why it’s a favorite, I found it somewhat…
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The Love and Faith in Front of Us
Not long ago while on the treadmill at my neighborhood rec center, I found entertaining programs on the two televisions in front of me. On one was a movie I had just seen again. On the other was my team not doing very well after two innings. (Later, I saw…
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What’s in Your Collection?
Do you have a collection of something? When I was younger, I had a collection of dolls from various European countries. They were mostly from places my parents visited throughout the years. The dolls, all female, were similar in size and shape, but their clothing reflected their countries. I remember…
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The Good Shepherd
When we read scripture, we often come across images or messages that can take some time to ‘digest,’ understand, or work through. We might need to read the words and verses several times in order to pray with them and reflect on how they are meant for us at that…
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He Is Risen! (With His Wounds)
Do you have a favorite image of the Risen Christ? I tend to be drawn to some portrayals more than others, but they all stir a joy in us and strengthen our faith in God’s complete love. Recently I spent time praying with one particular image that was displayed at…
Journeying to Grace 