One of the earliest teachings my children learned centered on the practice of making good choices. As toddlers, picking out the movie to watch before bedtime or choosing the tastiest snack to pack away for school never required much debate. However, as they grew older, good decision-making became far more complex as the world around them unfolded a menu of different choices to accompany each new scenario. Soon enough, they were setting their own goals, shaping discipline into the art of study habits, making friends, and finding a unique way to bring “good” into the world. Along this journey, I put my heart into teaching them “how” to think and wisely discern without determining the outcome itself. Ultimately, it was their choice to make and abide by. The bigger the decision, the more time we spent thinking through the impact of possible moves like in the game of chess…
Forever Kept in the Vault of My Heart As of this writing, James and I last spoke 8,035 days ago. This anniversary of September 11th 2001 marks the tragic last day that I heard the sound of my brother’s voice. At the time, I truly believed that my heart held all the love that it could possibly hold over my lifetime. But I was wrong. Twenty-two years of missing James has increased the love I have for him beyond measure. Years have shown me what it means to suddenly lose a cherished sibling in the horrific way that 9/11 families did. Losing him forever changed my own place in the world. The bond that siblings hold for each other shapes the life of the whole family. That is what love simply does. When one is lost, all are lost. As brother and sister, James and I…
The desert Fathers knew the spiritual power given in the arrow prayer. They committed to memory, the poetic words the Psalmist prayed to draw God down into their human situation and bless them right where they were. With one breath, the day began with the prayer, “Lord, be with us.” Chanting the words “Thank you Father for the beauty of all you created,” they praised the Almighty for the light given by the sun, shimmer of the moon and sustaining food from the earth. In sickness, their supplications lamented “Have mercy on me Lord, fill me with a length of days” or “Incline thy ear to hear my plea with mercy. For I am without help, make haste and deliver me.” When in doubt, the words “Lord, help me in my unbelief” stand ready. Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta also spoke arrow prayers into her work without end. She said…
Christ tells us that “It is the Spirit who gives life. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life” (Jam 6:63). God spoke the first words, electing to use them to make himself known to us. And by the Word of Scripture, the beloved can envision all that can be known about God. God also uses his creation as the means to reveal Himself. Every blooming flower and soaring bird speaks to the nature of God’s beauty. Poetry, works of art and the giving of one’s love to another reflect his love, holiness and wonder. The Word of God is like an expectant garden waiting for searching hands to dig into its soil. The gardener sifts for the best place to plant seeds. They are left hidden beneath the soil, watered and given back to God. The expectant garden soon…
In our world today, the catalyst igniting the search for the Spirit of Wisdom is oft-times sparked by unforeseen circumstances that bring us to our knees. As Marianne Williamson guides “We go through challenging situations in order to evolve into people who can hold to our loving center no matter what the world throws us.” The Wisdom Books of Scripture attest that we never face the trials of life alone. God has been kindling humanity with divine Wisdom since before the beginning of time. And in the New Testament, God’s unfailing love for the world is revealed in the coming of Christ. “The Son of God has come and has given mankind understanding, so that we may know Him who is True (Jn 5:20). Hence to truly know God’s truth, we must weave the golden thread that runs through all Wisdom teaching into our daily life…
