Eternal Passion
Is all human suffering the same suffering — the suffering of God who is a man? Did he not exist before all of us? Did he not live in the … Continue Reading Eternal Passion
Merry Christmas?
Maybe you’re not feeling very merry this Christmas, in this year of pandemic, economic recession, social unrest, and division. We seem to be social-distancing in more ways than one. Not … Continue Reading Merry Christmas?
The Whole Offering
I, someone with a progressive disease, disabled since infancy and gravely dependent on others, have been told to offer up my sufferings to God, so that He will make something … Continue Reading The Whole Offering
Stripped
“I am poor and needy.”[i] Since I was a baby, and throughout my life, I have been slowly and relentlessly stripped of strength and abilities by progressive motorneuron disease. Crawling, … Continue Reading Stripped
Celebrating the Gift of You
Today, one of my friends is celebrating a birthday. This young man (young enough to be my son, and yes that makes me feel old) lives with cerebral palsy and … Continue Reading Celebrating the Gift of You
What Does It Mean to Be Independent?
My mother tells me that I was conceived on the Fourth of July. She says that she remembers well the hot summer night on their back porch in the city, … Continue Reading What Does It Mean to Be Independent?
Like Christmas Morning
You know the scene: a kid in pajamas runs down the stairs on Christmas morning, sees a brand-new bike or a pile of new presents under the tree, and exclaims, … Continue Reading Like Christmas Morning
What Would You Do? The Prisoner
Last week, as my father and I were passing through the bright and lofty lobby of a medical center on our way to my routine pulmonology appointment – he, walking … Continue Reading What Would You Do? The Prisoner
Advent Waiting… Christmas Is Coming
I love the Advent Season. When I was a kid, that meant that I loved Advent calendars. Opening little doors every day to find hidden words, pictures, or best of … Continue Reading Advent Waiting… Christmas Is Coming
Joy of Heaven
When I was going through my cancer scare, a friend of mine asked me to pray for her friend who had just been told that his leukemia was terminal. And … Continue Reading Joy of Heaven
Beauty Hunger
I have always been drawn to beauty, as bees are called to nectar and deserts thirst for rain. When I was an atheist, I found delight in the beauty of … Continue Reading Beauty Hunger
Wisemen Still Seek Him
Everybody wants something. Whether desiring wealth, pleasure, power, health, approval, comfort, freedom, or happy love, very few of us would rest content saying that there is nothing that we want. … Continue Reading Wisemen Still Seek Him
Joyful
A few words about joy. Well, okay, more than a few… I used to think that Catholicism was very dour, celebrating solemnities (solemn celebrations?) bemoaning sin and life in this … Continue Reading Joyful
Gratitude
If you do not appreciate the people in your life, then you cannot receive their amazing value — only their cost. If you do not say, “Thank you” when you … Continue Reading Gratitude
A Prayer before Eating
This is the famous 1918 photograph by Eric Enstrom called “Grace”. It has hung in the dining room of my parents’ house since before I was born. Interestingly, although … Continue Reading A Prayer before Eating
Favorite Things: Quotes from Saint Therese
It’s a human inclination to want to be famous, wealthy, or influential in some grand way. I want to be a successful author, with big dreams of making bestseller lists and overcoming my … Continue Reading Favorite Things: Quotes from Saint Therese
