Yesterday, I examined the dirth of curiosity that sprung from cell phones and Covid. Today, I tackle a far more challenging subject, reengaging the world. I think the whole of society asked for a separation agreement during the pandemic, and now is grasping and gasping at the horror of getting back into socializing on purpose. Before Covid, I plunged fearlessly into everything, but the pandemic plus stage three breast cancer kicked me back into the safety of my house for... Read more
The Washington Post wrote an editorial about funding being given to schools to cope with the loss in learning from Covid. Money will be allocated to helping the physical plant of some schools, to increase staffing, and above all, to work on the learning gap via individualized tutoring. As the Post points out, all are laudible goals, and each of them seems reasonable and helpful. They do not however address the underlying problem that Covid created: a sense in many... Read more
Dear Mom, Thank you. I know as your first born, I got to teach you that love requires sacrifice, and a heart willing to be pierced over and over again –and that was just with my first six months of life. Raising me meant learning to pour yourself out, to not count the hours, and in some cases, to celebrate each drawn breath. My brothers and sisters added to that lesson, but I got to pound out the basics first.... Read more
May is dedicated to Mary. As a kid, I loved the May crowning of our Blessed Mother. In second grade, I got to bring the crown up on a silky pillow. I memorized all the songs and even now when I sing them in mass, I can hear eight year old me belting it out with all sincerity, out of tune but completely earnest in my singing. As part of Easter, as part of celebrating this month, I’m trying... Read more
Image by Intergalactic_C from Pixabay We don’t like to think about being caught. Most of our lives are spent saying, “Not it.” Who wants to do dishes? Not it! Who wants to rake the yard? Not it! Now grated, these questions weren’t exactly open-ended. In the asking, lurked the presumption we were going to say, “Me please!” or at the very least, “Okay…” because these questions asked by parents were really commands. This needs doing. You’re doing it. My own kids do... Read more
Do we forgive others? Do we really renounce our requirement of retribution, of revenge? Or do we hold onto hurt for fear if we don’t, evil somehow triumphs? If we really know Christ is perfect justice, perfect peace and perfect mercy, we must imitate him by practicing the deliberate sacrificial work of justice, the humility of seeking peace, and the kindness of divine mercy. We live in a society that holds to the reality, that some things cannot... Read more
Photo by TC Perch at Pixabay Holy Saturday is hard. It’s the hurry-up wait point of this holy season, where we don’t quite know what to do. That confusion mirrors what the apostles must have felt; the emptiness of knowing that the body of Jesus lay in that cave, wrapped, dead, and as far as they knew, gone forever. The world says, when we die, there is no more. We should know by now, that whatever the world... Read more
Jesus repeats his prayer three times, “Father if it is your will, take this cup from me.” However, he allows himself to drink deeply, to be drained dry for our sake. In the course of receiving treatment for stage three breast cancer, it helped to identify one family member for each suffering, that would be the person for whom I would pray. One received every time I was pierced, by a shot, needle, IV, or scalpel. One received all the... Read more
Last week, my pastor gave me the anointing of the sick because my arm is causing great fatigue and pain. It was a gift, as my daily doctor appointments have precluded making it to confession since March started. He said, people should seek the sacrament more often and I agree. We need to remember, these gifts given to us, are for our salvation and that of those around us. They are like water in the desert. There are two weeks... Read more
Paul at his 14th birthday, on a road trip to Notre Dame. We’ve entered the season when cake graces our table almost every two weeks on the dot and shall until Mother’s day, with Easter somewhere in that mix. With ten kids, we’ve tried every type of cake known to man. We’ve also thrown every type of party. Here are the unbeaten untied best celebrations we’ve hosted over the years. 8th grade Boys Poker All-Nighter We set up poker... Read more
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