Today, I hopped on Facebook and saw on two different pages, hearts rendered by pain. They needed prayer, and neither was exactly asking for it. I thought back to two years ago when I decided there would always be food in my classroom because a student ate poptarts and ran away for two days. I knew the last food I knew he ate, was from my room. I used to type, “May I pray with you today?” and the petitions... Read more
We’re nearing the end of Summer. Do you feel like you flunked? Did you not go white water rafting or read Joyce? I got to August and said wait, I’ve not done enough time by and in the pool to be ready for school. Likewise, I’m prepping to teach Creative Writing starting next week. Am I ready? No. Am I excited? Yes. We spent the evening with seven of our children, over at our daughter’s apartment eating pizza. It... Read more
Today, we packed off our seventh. We’ve done this before, but now it feels closer to the close, when we won’t be doing this. This child was always one of the “youngers” or “littles” as we called them. Putting all her things away, we wanted to fill the room, to take away all the struggles we could. There were some struggles we could not evade, like the hard reality of living in a city where the struggling walk the streets... Read more
Growing up, I drew all the time. Art allowed me to figure out what I felt, what I thought. For a time, it seemed I would never run out of pictures. One day, shortly after I got married, in the midst of drawing, I knew the well was dry. I couldn’t finish the piece. There were moments of inspiration. I still drew from time to time, but the art wasn’t constant. I didn’t need to draw. In 2004, I started writing. ... Read more
At the start of every summer, I make a list of fun things to do –not so they all get done, but so that if ever the words are uttered, “Mom, I’m bored,” there is an answer. Here’s the follow up. 100) Ice Cream. It’s always summer if you’re eating ice cream. DONE OFTEN. 99) Fireworks (Ditto) DONE! 98) Playing cards. –DONE OFTEN. 97) Going to the pool. NEED TO DO MORE. 96) Going to the library. DOING NEXT Week.... Read more
The state of politics in our nation leaves most sane people exhausted and wondering how we ever could get to a better place. This past week’s Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis reminds us, the answer is always “yes.” Yes, we can become a better people. Yes, we can cooperate with grace and see each person we encounter as Christ in his distressing disguise. Yes, we can reorient our lives so that we are a source of healing to those around us. ... Read more
There’s been a ton of internet ink spilled on the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics. The best take I’ve seen is Simcha Fisher’s, “The Table Where You Sit.” The giant “ah, you’re overreacting” vs. “this is blasphemy” argument ignores the reality. Neither argument addresses the other person, but merely reflects the side of the person speaking. “I like this, so you must be overreacting.” “I hold this sacred, therefore this is blasphemy.” The arguments disregard that people... Read more
To keep me on my toes, my writing coach asked we write a short about our worst day and best day. I opted to look at the actual day –being the contrarian I am, and see it from both perspectives. The number one movie of the week deals with Twisters, but reality pulls you in so many more directions. This week should be happy –and it is. My son turns twenty-five. Three of my children are moving into apartments at... Read more
During the pandemic, we had no option but the virtual mass and it was a soul saver for my spirit. I’d watch the local one of our parish. Sometimes I logged in to view the one from my brother’s high school in Texas, where I knew people I knew were also watching. It kept us connected on a spiritual if not physical level, better than the phone calls and Zoom meetings we tried to orchestrate. Since the pandemic lifted, I’ve... Read more
The other day, I read an Op-ed in the Washington Post, in which the author begged the Almighty to speak to the President. I read it, and thought it sincere. Prayer does that. When we begin to speak to God, or even when we to pretend to do so, we often find ourselves actually speaking to God. It is each heart’s orientation whether we recognize it or not. The truth of our hearts will out. Every moment we recognize something beyond ourselves,... Read more
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