This morning during the bus ride to school my youngest kids were competing with one another about who could name the most players on the Philadelphia Eagles. I have been home for a while now in terms not leaving town for work, and one of my many great joys when I’m not heading out onContinue reading “Our souls long for a Gospel community directed by faith, filled with hope, and acting with love. Let’s embrace this season of hope by taking action to make real the hopes we carry. – Tim Joy”
Category Archives: Prayer
“God meant for things to be much easier than we have made them”― Dorothy Day
This past weekend my daughter noticed the turtle depicted during a hike. I admit, I originally walked right past it. Yet again my children remind me to notice the important stuff, like the time taken by this innocent turtle to just soak in God’s beauty. Henri Nouwen’s approach to prayer (below) resonated with me duringContinue reading ““God meant for things to be much easier than we have made them”― Dorothy Day”
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,” writes the poet Mary Oliver, “don’t hesitate. Give in to it.”
Gratitude By Melody Beattie Say thank you until you mean it. Thank God, life, and the universe for everyone and everything sent your way. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal intoContinue reading ““If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,” writes the poet Mary Oliver, “don’t hesitate. Give in to it.””
If we truly believe that God surrounds us, we believe that prayer is an everyday experience of being alive…. When you step outside and engage with the world in quiet listening, prayer will happen, and it will take on its own way of being for you.—Kaitlin Curtice
Last night I drove my kids to San Jose to see my hometown Philadelphia Flyers play against the Sharks. I was raised as a big ice hockey fan, and I am proud to pass along that enthusiasm to my children. Although the Flyers lost, we enjoyed this annual ritual yet again. Simply sitting still togetherContinue reading “If we truly believe that God surrounds us, we believe that prayer is an everyday experience of being alive…. When you step outside and engage with the world in quiet listening, prayer will happen, and it will take on its own way of being for you.—Kaitlin Curtice”
Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing. -St. Katharine Drexel
Today I enjoyed reading this interview here with Sr. Stephanie Henry. I am learning more about her religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Below is an impressive excerpt from her comments: “We are called to open our hearts to God and to other people. God is inviting us to joy. Responding to GodContinue reading “Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing. -St. Katharine Drexel”
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -Francis of Assisi
This past weekend our family attended the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park. This free annual event is a San Francisco treasure. I am pleased to share a performance by artist Leyla McCalla, who we were introduced to on Saturday. I also share some prayer resources that have come my way recently. BlessingsContinue reading “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -Francis of Assisi”
On The Fine Art of Weeding- Christine Rodgers
The further in you go the more you prune away the thicker it grows back. Such diligence required to keep a path cleared for God. Today’s Gospel reading from Luke speaks for itself. Jesus provides such a meaningful framework for life and relationships in this teaching. Blessings on your week ahead! The Beatitudes 20 And he liftedContinue reading “On The Fine Art of Weeding- Christine Rodgers”
Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. – Brené Brown
I recently started reading Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, by one of my favorite authors/speakers/thinkers, Brené Brown. I have been leading workshops on “Belonging” in our schools of late, and this resource is a great add to my toolkit. Dr. Brown’s Ted Talk on “The PowerContinue reading “Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. – Brené Brown”
Because even the smallest of words can be the ones to hurt you, or save you. Natsuki Takaya
This week I picked my youngest kids up from overnight summer camp, dropped my oldest off at high school orientation, and squeezed in a hike with all three of them at a favorite trail in Marin County – this one leads to the ocean, and I appreciated a few minutes at the beach to thinkContinue reading “Because even the smallest of words can be the ones to hurt you, or save you. Natsuki Takaya”
Mercy is our attempt at grace. If we can’t be graceful, at least we can be kind. -Kevin Fisher Paulson
Since I last wrote, I enjoyed an eighth grade graduation at home with loved ones in town to join my son in his celebration….then my younger two kids frolicked around in the woods for a week at overnight camp….while both my wife and I took part in various end-of-the academic year programs at work. PlusContinue reading “Mercy is our attempt at grace. If we can’t be graceful, at least we can be kind. -Kevin Fisher Paulson”
Keeping the Faith 