Bringing Light to Life
Values aren’t practices. A practice is an activity or action. A practice that works in one situation may not work in another. Why? because practices apply to specific situations. Since my second son, David, loved hanging out with friends, sending him to his room when he misbehaved was an effective form of discipline. If I restricted […]
I used to ruminate on negative thoughts for days, weeks, or longer–like years or decades. Over time they shaped my identity. Or, part of it. And then one night . . . Winter in Oregon I was thinking about winters in Oregon. Since I moved here in 82′ I often remind myself how much I […]
Confused and afraid, the disciples left the upper room and stepped onto the narrow Jerusalem street. The frigid air–just like their growing fear–surrounded them, nipping at their faces and cutting through their robes. Holding their fluttering torches high, they followed Jesus out of the city. A Spiritual Mystery Suddenly he stopped. A key moment had […]
In Matthew’s gospel, attention is fixed on Mary, Jesus, the star, the shepherds, the manger, and the magi with their gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold (I think the Magi came two or so years later to Nazareth, not to Bethlehem at the time of the Lord’s birth). Always Linked to Others When referred to, […]
Jesus often spoke in riddles. For instance, what did he mean when asked the following two questions intended to free us from worry: “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25). The correct answer, “Yes,” is easy. But it makes no sense if the question is about the many […]