Compassion is real
I know I’m not the only one who feels overwhelmed. Or discombobulated. And yes, a bit alarmed. But this I am learning: when life gets precarious (hard-hitting), it is easy to forget (overlook) that inside every one of us—in our…
I choose to be a witness
“Please, tell me how to hold it all?” she asks me in an email. “Do you ever want to close your eyes, and plug your ears?”“Yes.” I tell her. “If I’m honest, a few times a day.”Her email was one…
Mercy matters
My heart hurts. And I know your heart hurts too.And when I see what is happening right now and choose to write about it, adding names and faces of the people of Minneapolis, some readers say to me, “Terry, you’re…
Let us let go of the labels
In Luke's Gospel, there is a story about a "bent woman." We don't know her name. Just the label that has been given to her. A label she has carried for 18 years. Those around her put her in a…
The gift of a soft heart
I have a soft heart. And too often, I’m afraid to say so.I have been sitting at my computer for some time, waiting for a Sabbath Moment topic. But in my mind and spirit are two searing images, and the…
Let me sow Love
When violent shocks become a routine feature of daily life—intensified online in an already polarized, anxious and overstimulated society—I can feel powerless, and so, try to protect myself. I am so tempted to close my eyes, to shut down, and…
Graciousness is real
“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe…
I choose compassion
In our world today—the news, the distractions, and the disasters—can feel like “bombs” that overwhelm our spirit, and our energy. For many, a sadness permeates. It is no surprise many feel exhausted, or smothered, or speechless, or disorientated. Or lost.And…
Look for the helpers
An invigorated group of retreatants gathered at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center. And I am very grateful to have absorbed a weekend’s worth of nourishing energy. Our topic? “What your heart would Love to say: lessons I learned on…
Human world of helping
Always try to leave people better than you found them.Hug the hurt. Kiss the broken. Befriend the lost. Love the lonely.I want to live in that kind of world.But this is my confession: some days (well, too many days), I…