The invitation to thrive
“How is your heart?” I was asked this week.It made me stop. And think. And admit that I prefer, “Are you keeping busy?” because that question is easier to answer. In John’s Gospel, there is a wonderful story about a…
The walls came down
On a June day in 1944, two weeks after D-Day, a few miles from the bloody shores of Omaha Beach, members of the 404th Fighter Group worked to carve an airstrip out of the Normandy countryside. Their efforts cost the lives of 28 Army…
She’s a dancer
Teachers considered grade school student Gillian Lynne a problem child. You know, one of those students who don't pay attention. Or focus. Age 8 and unable to sit still, Gillian had earned the nickname Wriggle Bottom. This much was clear; Gillian didn't "fit in."…
Work to heal
Let’s talk about trust.There’s a beautiful Irish phrase from West Kerry, “Mo sheasamh ort lá na choise tinne.” It means, “You are the place where I stand on the day when my feet are sore.”That makes my heart smile. But…
With our whole heart
Jesus was invited to a party. No surprise there. Jesus was often invited to parties. (Could that be why many people don't understand him very well?) Jesus was partial to dining with "sinners." Which is code for people we label…
Unplugged
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes. Including yourself. (Thank you Anne Lamott.)And yet. We can’t just unplug, can we? Don’t we need a plan of action, a strategy for self-improvement, and targets to…
Spill the light
Life is precarious. Bombs are real. Sadly, in our world, they feel too common. In April 2015, a car packed with explosives detonated in the busy Mansour district of Baghdad, killing at least 10 people and injuring 27. After this incident, something very…
A hidden treasure
“Do you have any idea who I am?” The man, a passenger, apoplectic with flushed cheeks, pounding the counter, shouting at the airline agent. Everyone in the departure lounge can hear, and is on edge. (Although, a few take out…
Bridges to build
Two brothers, living on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. In forty years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, providing mutual support and assistance whenever needed, it is their first rift. But it doesn't take much, does it? (“I have…
Tough enough to be soft
In January, near a sign that read, “Prayer only No visit. No phone,” I sat and prayed, in Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.Watching the inferno this past week, my heart hurt. Sometimes we don't have words.I can tell you that I…
