The gift of gratitude
A beggar sits on a box, just outside the gates of a city. The beggar cannot work and subsists on the charity of passersby. On this day, the beggar receives no handouts. Finally, one person stops, but to the disquiet…
Sanctify the ordinary
For children of all ages, C.S. Lewis's wardrobe has been the entryway to the magical world of Narnia--of emerald witches, talking horses, kings, and magic apples. But for L.R. Holmes of Camp Cottage, Gloucestershire, the threshold to enchantment is nothing…
Stay alive to this life
Sometimes air travel feels like a microcosm of our world’s heaviness and uncertainty. In other words, a place where we wonder what possibly may go awry.When I used to fly frequently, I remember times, let’s say, “on edge.”There’s a chunk…
Sacrament of the present
"Dad," the six-year-old boy asks his Father, “How much money do you make an hour?""Son," the father, short on patience from a long work week, answers, "that is an inappropriate question. You need to learn to be polite. There are…
Grant me the grace of wonder
A famous travel writer, visiting Japan, was invited to dine in the home of a well-to-do Japanese Family. Delighted to entertain a well-known visitor, the host invited a number of guests, letting everyone know that this meal would be special…
Relentless tenderness
One my walk this morning, there is a slight lifting of the Spring air so I can smell the earth and the blossoms on the wild cherry trees, and I take possession of my life. (A shout out to May…
The spirit of the dance
A synagogue needed help. They were in dire straights, and morale was low. They called a famous Rabbi to help them sort it out, to offer them insights and give them all the answers to the questions they were asking.…
All the little things
It’s not easy to make choices when life feels upside down. Let me rephrase this: it’s not easy to feel grounded when the pain in our world feels too real. Visceral even. Even if we are miles away. In other…
Beauty in unexpected places
By most measures, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in blue jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw…
Gifts that make our home
A soldier's young daughter (her father in the process of being transferred and moved to a distant post) sits on the floor in an airport departure lounge, among her family's meager and ragtag belongings. Sleepy, the girl leans against the…
