Let’s celebrate the coming of Jesus, but not quite yet! We are “between” in the United States and every school teacher feels the joyous tension of being past Thanksgiving and yet weeks from Christmas. Even our college students feel it, the anticipation with so much left to do. If you are not a teacher, work still feels different than it did. When working at Metropolitan insurance, we did not wish our clients to slow down, and many had coming tax... Read more

We put up the Christmas tree today and the entire time was lovely. We went to the great parking lot of trees and looked for a humble tree . . . avoiding the dreaded “proud tree.” “A proud tree,” you ask? And there is no good explanation except to say that long ago a wise child thought she could spot a tree grown up knowing it was better than the others and that child urged us to avoid that proud... Read more

Everyone is born to be free, but soon finds themselves in chains. This is not because of politics, unless referring to the governance of the soul. Within each person, desire fights with reason and desires too often win. Not that desire is bad, in place, desire adds sweetness and joy to life, yet we so easily develop a sweet tooth! Saying not now or not in that way to desire is possible, but never easy. Humans make external laws to help and... Read more

We finished it. Every year we work hard to create a Dickens’ Village worthy of Disneyland and every year we come closer. This year was the best we have done and we are proud of our success. Of all tasks, it is one of the most useless. We are not creating great art, or art at all, and as recreation it can be frustrating! Yet the project is one of my favorite things to do with my good son Lewis.... Read more

Sufficient is more than enough, but a culture built on consumption cannot stop. There are many harms that come from continuous wanting, but one of the worst is missing a single moment of beauty. Most days are pretty normal. Today I worked on The Saint Constantine School finances (job one for me!) and prepared for my lectures next week. Given that we are hosting twenty-one souls for the Feast tomorrow, I also had chores . . . many chores. There... Read more

If religion and politics were off the table, then we would not be able to speak at our house at Thanksgiving. Actually, we are good at disagreeing in our household, even enjoy disagreement, so we lack the history of uncomfortable conversations some others experience. However, I am told that this is not true in every household, so here is a guide from a person who has led hundreds of discussions to good topics for the dinner table. Be warned: this... Read more

We stood at Armageddon and we could not find the Lord. Five percent of the United States of America did not vote for Mr. Trump or Secretary Clinton. We are neither devastated that Clinton lost (oh blessed thought!) or thrilled that Trump won (the Republic lives!). Generally, we are the sort that put no trust in princes, refuse the lesser of two evils, and lose a great deal in this life hoping to win in the life to come. Maybe.... Read more

Thanking God for our blessings is easy and we do not do that enough! Thanking God and blessing our enemies is much harder and so I begin my Thanksgiving season with those folk. Jesus said: 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his... Read more