Recently, I read a post on Zombie Marriages, and reminding people not to go through the motions of a relationship, but to actively engage in loving each other. It struck me that the tips about life being more than survival apply to all of us. This past eighteen months, we’ve survived, but not thrived. We’ve tried to figure out how to stay safe, but we’ve bubble wrapped and masked our selves to the point of not engaging with others, and... Read more
Most mornings, I make a list. If it’s on the list, there’s a 85 percent chance of it happening. As it happens, today I did not make a list. Still, I’d made it through work, where I have lesson plans and lists, so I figured, “It’s Friday. We got this.” Wrong. After work, I drove to the carwash. It felt indulgent, efficient, luxurious. When I finished, I still had time before pick up, so I dutifully parked at the school,... Read more
This was written back on January 4th of 2008. First, a disclaimer: I don’t watch really Youtube. I know what you’re thinking: You lie. No. I really don’t. My computer still putts around on dial up, so unless I want to experience processing information in real time as if I have ADHD, I’m not going to link onto any video type material, no matter who sends it to me. It’s not that I’ve never seen Youtube. I’ve been at a... Read more
This is something I wrote back in 2015 on Facebook. I was focusing on the unborn.With respect to the unborn and specifically, those unborn and diagnosed with disabilities: There is no one more fragile than one no one has to see, no one has to hear, no one has to know about. There is no one more poor than one who has no say, no choice, and no chance except by the grace and mercy, charity and courage of others.... Read more
The major consequence of chemo so far has been flatness. I wish it meant fitness or skinniness or smoothness, but what I’ve felt ever since Thursday (day 1) is like some of the energy and air of my normal spirit has been let out. I mean flat like a boring road that leads somewhere but we’re not really interested in getting there fast or otherwise. I mean flat like stale, flat like fries without salt, flatness. I am used... Read more
Most of us feel something of an indictment whenever Saint James is read during the mass. “Faith without works is dead” reminds us that we could always pour ourselves out more than we do, even if over the course of our lives, we’ve done a lot. The pandemic pared down parish life to the bones and is only beginning to return to something closer to before, and we face a people shortage as a result of eighteen months without a... Read more
There’s a lot of stress in the world over the mandate to vaccinate. There’s legitimate concern about government overreach, but there’s also a global pandemic. Any sense of middle ground gets lost when politics control the narrative, and it needs to be rediscovered by the ordinary flyover parts of this country. Who knows? Maybe those in the policy and fashion and power nubs of the nation will catch wind and imitate us for a change. It could happen. It’s simple.... Read more
Today, my youngest came to me feeling only stress. After she told me all her troubles, we spent some time imagining how to help her see beyond them. That remained the trouble. She could only see her troubles. In school, we’ve had countless workshops on mindfulness, on helping students deal with their emotions and all the stresses these past eighteen months put onto their hearts. I thought, it would be worth a shot. “Imagine a beach that stretches out further... Read more
So I wrote this beautiful post, about the trials of writers block and spiritual dryness, about how sometimes, writing comes word by word and seems to go no where. Likewise, prayer comes in seasons, including times of stillness when it seems route or difficult, but offered yields the best spiritual fruit. I worked and slaved for every word and only just finished at five-hundred-thirty-three words. Normally, I can type a thousand without breaking a sweat, but for the past few... Read more
The major consequence of chemo so far, has been flatness. I wish it meant fitness or skinniness or smoothness, but what I’ve felt ever since Thursday (day 1) is like some of the energy and air of my normal spirit, has been let out. I mean flat like a boring road that leads somewhere but we’re not really interested in getting there fast or otherwise. I mean flat like stale, flat like fries without salt, flatness. There’s only one thing... Read more
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