The first Sunday of Advent begins the Catholic Church’s New Year, and in his homily, our priest took the chance to reminded us that here, in the Church, time works differently. Secular time is a straight line, stretching out ahead indefinitely. I picture the diagram of “the flea and the acrobat” that the science teacher in Stranger Things draws on a paper plate to illustrate how one might exist in an alternate dimension. In fact, I draw it on my song sheet, a straight line... Read more
This Advent, to thank all of our readers and contributors from the bottom of our sick little hearts, we at Sick Pilgrim wanted to have a little giveaway. We originally envisioned this as a sort of “Secret Santa,” but, being who we are, we decided to go with “Secret Krampus.” Also we couldn’t figure out how to give you things secretly. So only the gifts will be a secret. Until you open the box. And then you’ll definitely be able to guess who sent them.... Read more
This month…this year…has been a trying time for many of us us. And we at Sick Pilgrim are well-acquainted with shadows and loss. Yet, we are not a people of despair. Sick Pilgrim knows the reality of struggling against the dark – and we are not afraid to tackle despair, loneliness, brokenness, anger. We do so because these are realities of life too often brushed under the rug. But we are people of hope. Sometimes we need a nudge to remind... Read more
Our family had an unusual Thanksgiving this year. Burnt out from a busy autumn, and trying to bounce back from weeks spent fighting colds, my husband and I decided to keep things simple: no houseguests, no turkey. I was seriously considering just crashing in front of the TV with ham sandwiches when our neighbors asked us to go with them to Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant. Good company, no hosting, and a turkey dinner with no cooking sounded good to... Read more
Since I first heard the song in college, I’ve meditated on a lyric by Canadian folk musician Bruce Cockburn. It’s a phrase that I’ve considered tattooing over my heart. In the song “Lovers in a Dangerous Time,” he sings that you’ve got to “kick the darkness until it bleeds daylight.” Advent is a time where we talk about the light shining in the darkness and the darkness not understanding it. But there have been times in my life when I’ve... Read more
Last month, I attended Mass at the border; I was part of a community of believers uniting around bread and wine miraculously made into flesh and blood. I was on the Mexican side, sitting on a concrete street curb next to another Catholic sister. Together we were a color pop in the assembly: we stuck out in our bright turquoise T-shirts declaring “Catholic Sisters for Compassionate Immigration Reform.” Nearby sat our friend, Br. David, a Franciscan Capuchin, bearing witness in... Read more
“You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.” Romans 13 “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24 My two year old has no qualms about the frighteningly large spaces between the bridge’s railings; she pulls away from my hand when I demand she hold it as she leans over to see the creek twenty feet below. She unfolds a clenched hand slowly, her brain processing... Read more
There are two truths I must tell you. I have to tell you that I have wept with laughter over #PinterestFails and things of this kind. I simply adore them. They are one of the best, most concrete examples of “real world meets fantasy world” that I know of. Putting cellphone shots of failed Pinterest projects alongside the professional-quality images that inspired their creation is like taking a random male model and putting him next to one of the dads... Read more
I’m not a fan of current movie reviews. I detest spoilers, especially when it comes to new movies. When I saw the movie Arrival, however, I knew I had to review it. So here goes. An attempted spoiler-free review of this new film. Hiding under my rock that I call Netflix, I hadn’t seen or heard anything about this movie. (What is a “commercial,” anyway?) Agreeing only to accompany some friends to see a movie about aliens, I didn’t expect... Read more
My uncle took me out squirrel hunting at 5 in the morning. Sitting with my back to the tree, we munched on sausage and biscuits as we waited. Not knowing what to do with the napkin in my hand, I just threw it on the ground in front of me. My uncle turned to me and said in a Southern Indiana drawl, “Pick that shit up. God’s creation is not your trash can.” Surprised, I picked it up and stuffed... Read more
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