Photo Credit: HuffPost  In a few very short days, we will celebrate Christmas. Our readings and our liturgical practices have provided meaningful reflection for our personal, spiritual preparation for the festivities. One of the prophets the Church uses frequently in Advent is Isaiah who reminds us to give “comfort to my people,” and to remember, “I have... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com In 1949, during the fallout of the indescribable horrors of World War II, Viktor Frankl, holocaust survivor and psychologist, coined the term, “tragic optimism” to describe a way to find meaning and hope in times when hope is blurred by seemingly greater power and oppression. Frankl maintained that there are three tragedies every human faces.... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com Just now, after our late afternoon walk, Lily (our little Maltipooh) and I have noticed the quiet drifting of snowflakes for what promises to be a healthy snowfall tonight here in our corner of Northeast Ohio. The trees and pumpkins in the yard are dusted with snow looking like sugar on the edges... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com I ask you to read this poem by Mary Oliver with quiet openness.      Praying It doesn't have to be the blue Iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don't try to make them elaborate, this isn't  a... Continue Reading →

It's 4 in the morning on election day. My alarm goes off and I am getting ready to take on the responsibility of being a poll chaplain for a precinct to which I had been assigned a week earlier. I have been contacted and told to appear by 6 a.m. with a folding chair, snacks, water, and... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com Here we are post-election and some of us may be happy, and some may be dismayed and disappointed. Despite what some pundits declare, our narrative must be truthful: the election was not a mandate of a win since the Harris candidacy lost by only a few points in every state Trump won. If... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com (This post was written before the elections.) I have just participated in my community’s prayer of blessing for poll chaplains of which I am one. The chapel welcomed the sisters who seemed serious and yet serene. We were blest by our leadership to help others in the quest for democracy to continue and to... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com Last week I suggested we make part of our effort to be people of faith by doing several activities as contributions to peace on Election Day. So, I thought that I would first share the actions I took in this effort.  First, I attended the Nuns on the Bus initiative which included... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that seven out of ten Americans are depressed, anxious and worried about our coming elections.  I don't think you would disagree with that percent if you have joined a family party recently where someone announces, “We don’t talk politics now when we’re together.”  Or, if you attend the... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com I must assert up front that it is not wrong to question Scripture. You do not denounce Scripture by questioning it provided that your questioning leads to research, discussion, and analysis with the assurance of persons steeped in scholarship of the Word. Scripture is meant to teach us and doing so, we... Continue Reading →