The Orant

I ran into this mobile paint cart last week. I Love this. The whole of downtown Ann Arbor is filled with art by this crew every December. Each window is transformed into a canvas which defuses light into the shops thru the medium of dreams and fantasy.You really should take a stroll through Ann Arbor if you are in Southeast Michigan this month and see the their work. Then go home and think about what dreams you want to fill your windows and if you have let the fantastic filter your … [Read more...]

This picture reminds me that to focus on one thing means we leave something else out of focus. To frame one thing means we exclude what is beyond the frame. Life is always bigger than what has our attention. Mindfulness and attentiveness are different but important. This is particularly necessary now. Selective framing is our zeitgeist. Distraction has been almost weaponized.Always look beyond the frame. Stand with those left out of focus. Zoom out. Jesus is there. … [Read more...]

The change we want to see in the world does not begin or end with broad social reforms. It is rooted in people who take time to listen and share with one another. I hope my heart and my life has room to share, listen, and change one conversation at a time. … [Read more...]

There is such beauty in the naked branches. A twisted mess of Fingers raised to the light. I'm inspired by their faith. Standing still in the darkest days, and the coldest hours. Arms held aright. Ready for resurrection. … [Read more...]

Found this little guy in a frozen pond this morning. I love the texture of the water's surface and I love how this little shoot breaks through it. Reminds me of myself.Winter catches me unprepared. I find myself still clinging to the leaves of the last season unwilling to move forward unwilling to let go.December is the season of Advent. A season liturgically designed to prepare us. It tells us to let go; let go of our little narratives for a bigger story; let go of our fears for a … [Read more...]

To my christian friends who are voting for Trump. I know why you are doing it. You hate Abortion.I know it's an important issue... but I feel I have to say something.But this pro-life only attitude has become dangerous. Not only for the nation and the world but even our souls.It's been used to cover such a multitude of sins.It's justified budgets that abuse the poor. It's justified supporting candidates who vote to cut food aid to the most vulnerable, those who support the death … [Read more...]

As you are probably aware, much of our civilization owes its existence to scribes. In the years before the printing press every book needed to be copied by hand. This process was hard, long and expensive. Simply having a copy of the Bible would often involve a year of hard work, the slaughter of an entire herd of sheep (their skin was used to the pages of books), and would cost as much as a house to produce. Books were treasures, and this wealth was produced primarily by monks who would dedicate … [Read more...]

One of the great parts of being a Catholic is the variety of spiritual approaches to the Christian life we are able to draw from through our shared herritage of religious orders. I've often wondered which order I fit into best. This is why I love this little quiz.  I got cistercian, which was a surprise since I have always thought of myself as more of a Jesuit. Let me know what you get! … [Read more...]