What’s Your Poison?

Divine Mercy

I have a friend who is an alcoholic. He says, “I have an addictive personality.That’s just the way I am.” OK. But that’s not really an excuse. I tried to sympathize by saying, “So you’re addicted to booze. That’s a bad addiction. But why are you addicted to booze? What does it do for you?” [...]

Old Monk on Crutches

oldmonk

Doubter: Your religion is a crutch! Old Monk: Haven’t you noticed I am crippled?

I’ll Fly Away Oh Glory!

ascension1

Those who like fairy tales should love the story of the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Like Dorothy, who is swept up by a cyclone to Oz, Jesus floats up and disappears up into what must be a Technicolor heaven. Fantasy tales are full of this sort of thing. Peter Pan flies away to [...]

A Jar, a Torch and a Sword for the Lord

gideons_trumpet

I have always loved the second epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians. His vulnerability, weakness and helplessness without God pervades every chapter, and yet it is in his sorrows that he triumphs. It is in the midst of the weakness that he perseveres. In the fourth chapter he speaks of the light of Christ, [...]

Old Monk on Stability

oldmonk

Stability means “God is not elsewhere.”

Help! There’s a Mennonite in Me

amish bikers

You have to understand that I have a Mennonite in me. I can’t help it. He lurks there in his black hat and chin beard watching me and nodding knowingly. He’s one of my ancestors. They were all Mennonites and Amish and various sorts of Pennsylvania Protestants. Go to Pennsylvania Dutch country today and see [...]