“In the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before Easter). The beginning of the Great Fast for the Byzantine Church differs from other churches in a few ways but the meaning and intent are similar. There isn’t an Ash Wednesday or even ashes, but instead, the Great Fast begins quietly without notice on a Monday, two days before the more well-known... Read more
When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Mark 5:15 At 3 AM, a man suddenly woke up in his hostel room and looked around, feeling disoriented and forgetting where he was. He grabbed his notebook and started flipping through the pages to try and figure out his current location. After reading his notes, he realized that he... Read more
While living on the road, there was no guarantee of finding a rest stop or place to camp for the night. Some days, we had to go without food or showers. We spent long hours driving, treating it as our 9-to-5 job. Eventually, our 1999 Dodge van named Scarlett would start making noises, indicating that she needed a rest. My brother Taylor would pat the dashboard and say, “There, there girl. Let’s get off the highway.” We often found ourselves... Read more
The Boy left his home. Comfort had swaddled him in a blanket and breastfed him long enough. It was time to cut ties with his village and head to the city. According to legend, the ghosts of exalted scribes still roam the streets. The Boy hoped by their intercession, he would be able to garner success and recognition. When he arrived at port, he noticed that the Golden Gate Bridge was not, in fact, golden, but he didn’t care. The... Read more
“We can keep guard over the whole world by keeping guard over the atmosphere of heaven within us, for if we lose the Kingdom of Heaven, we will save neither ourselves nor others. He who has the Kingdom of God in himself will imperceptibly pass it on to others. People will be attracted by the peace and warmth in us; they will want to be near us, and the atmosphere of heaven will gradually pass on to them. It is... Read more
The sounds of the bell indicate that it’s time for Compline. Venerable Brother Chewy, a chihuahua rescued by the monks, rouses me from a siesta by licking my face. Once the prayers are over, I sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Brother Martin taps me on the shoulder, interrupting my recitation of the Jesus prayer, and asks what I’d like to drink. To which I reply water. He seems surprised and tells me that the monastery has a full... Read more
Humanity’s ability to create is reliant on the Source of all creation. Scripture is said to be divinely inspired. Is it logical to believe God gave up speaking through people after St. John’s mic-drop letters on Patmos Island? Read more
PART TWO“Anybody got any money? Of course they don’t in this rich people town.” A wino drifts on and dances in the street, tossing an empty bottle into the bushes. Spiderman pedals along on a bike. Michael Jackson and Prince engage in a heated dance battle while Elvis sits on the curb eating a Philly cheesesteak. Drops of melted American stick to his suit, but somehow, he is still the king. A drug dealer offers me a swig of Hennessy... Read more
Before I knew it, I had walked 24 miles. The act of climbing brings to mind visions of Moses and Bashō gazing upon the eternal. Moses got a front-row viewing of God’s glory. Bashō too had eyes to see, leaving behind a plethora of haikus that ruminate on the divine. Both have served as respites for an endless thread of wanders. In other miles, I tested the Lord, my God, absent-mindedly trekking through the terrain, nearly stumbling down the mountainside.... Read more
As a budding writer, I was drawn to the works of Hunter S. Thompson, particularly to the exploits of his infamous character, Raoul Duke. In my youthful naivety, I failed to appreciate Thompson’s brilliance and instead focused on emulating Duke’s debauched escapades. And that is why I found myself in Sin City, complete with Gonzo garb and journalistic supplies. After witnessing the remnants of the legendary strip and the American dream that Hunter S. Thompson wrote about, I couldn’t help... Read more
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