My daughter played a Halloween soundtrack on the car ride to school this morning and she helped to get me into the season. October is here. My car rides into school in the morning with my youngest kids, and our daughter’s best friend, often bring me great joy and lots of laughter. At one point, we turn a curve and view a panoramic view of the San Fancisco cityscape, and this morning’s involved a beautiful streak of fog as well. God is good.
It’s been a blur of a few weeks with lots of travels and plenty of activity on the home front, so I am just rolling with it. I’m happy to share some recent readings that have helped me keep perspective amidst many moving parts. Blessings on your week ahead!
“How do we live out the Golden Rule? With love – no ordinary love, but radical love, love that sees no distinction between those who open their arms to us and those who turn their backs to us. It’s wildly countercultural, yes, it’s the best way – the only way- to change the world.” -Cameron Bellm
“The manner and degree to which we actually apply our faith depends on how receptive and trusting we are of God’s words. Our capacity for such receptivity and trusting we are of God’s words. Our capacity for such receptivity and trust is grounded, for better or worse, in our humanity. The journey to God passes through our humanity, via our reactions to our lived experiences…
Biblical wisdom constitutes the right ordering of the world through our relationship with one another, our relationship with the natural world, and our relationship with God.” Fr. John Kartje, Give Us This Day
“Peacemakers: Building a Fraternal World”
(From International Lasallian Days for Peace)
Pope Leo teaches that peace begins within the human heart. Saint John Baptist de La Salle reminds us that education is the work of touching hearts. Every classroom, every athletic competition, every conversation, and every act of kindness becomes a place where Christ builds peace. We are all role models—whether we are students, faculty, or staff. Our call is to be daily peacemakers.
Peace is a universal longing across all cultures and spiritual traditions. Let’s reflect on these words of wisdom:
From Christianity: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
From Judaism (Prophet Isaiah): “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn
war anymore.”
From Islam (Sura 51): “The descendants of Adam are members of one body. If fate causes pain to a single member, the other members lose their peace.”
From Buddhism (Metta-Sutta): “Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, let us cultivate a boundless heart of love toward all beings.”
From Hinduism (Indian Proverb): “Love can’t be hidden by hiding.”
From Taoism (Tao Te Ching (31): “Weapons are the tools of violence, all decent men detest them. Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent man will avoid them except in the direst
necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with utmost restraint. Peace is the highest value… He enters a battle gravely, with sorrow and with great compassion, as if he were
attending a funeral.”
From Confucianism (Proverb): “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
From Native American Spirituality (Chief Seattle): “We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.”
