If you read enough books about the soul, you’ll come across a reoccurring theme. It’s the idea that we all have a small, still voice within us that is there to guide us as we make our way through life. The voice represents the deepest, truest part of us, our soul, and it knows what we want and need from life—if only we would listen to it. The Voice There is a voice inside of you That whispers all day… Read more
January 13, 2021
Are You Listening to the Still, Small Voice Within?
January 13, 2021 By Tom Rapsas
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January 6, 2021
For a Better 2021, Ask Yourself These 2 Questions
January 6, 2021 By Tom Rapsas
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January is often the time we make resolutions. For many of us, this includes eating healthier and exercising more—and hopefully shedding the extra pounds we’ve put on during our prolonged COVID lockdown :-). But this year, along with improving your physical health, why not strive to improve your spiritual health as well? Spiritual health is achieved when you feel at peace with life. That doesn’t mean you won’t face difficult situations or even experience hard times, but you have a… Read more
December 30, 2020
9 Tips to Soothe the Soul This Winter
December 30, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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With a grim political season in the rearview and a seemingly grimmer winter on the horizon, it’s time to reinvigorate the soul…to find light in the darkness and prepare yourself to face down whatever comes next. The inspiring words above come from a recent article in The NY Times titled “Find Some Peace this Holiday” by Erik Vance. But for the purposes of this column, I’m going to change the slant to “Finding Some Peace After the Holidays.” In much… Read more
December 22, 2020
The Birth of Jesus: According to the Gospel of Mattuke
December 22, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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Have you ever been at a Christmas sermon and the minister/reverend/priest goes off topic? I know it peeves my wife Laney, and you may feel the same way. Because during Christmas church services, we want to hear about one thing—the story of the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem. If you go looking for the baby Jesus story in the Bible, you’ll see that only two gospels cover the actual birth, Luke and Matthew. (When Mark and John… Read more
December 17, 2020
That light in the darkness? It’s Christmas
December 17, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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These are dark days, aren’t they? I’m not talking about the relentless spread of COVID-19. I’m being literal here. It’s that time of year when the days are short and the nights are long, as we move closer to the darkest day of them all, December 21st. That’s the day with the least amount of sunshine and from that day on we gain more light each day for 6 months running. This lack of sunlight has long troubled people. In… Read more
December 9, 2020
Is God a Man? A Woman? Or Both?
December 9, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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When you picture God, do you conjure up an image of a fatherly figure with long white hair and a beard? If you answer yes, there’s a pretty good reason for that. Attend a Sunday church service or scan the Bible and, more often than not, you’ll find God referred to in strictly male terms. The truth is that in the three Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, God is not defined as a man or woman, but as a… Read more
December 2, 2020
A Short 15-Point Guide to a Happy Life
December 2, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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Sometimes inspiration finds you. Other times you find it. The key is knowing where to look and for me one of the easiest places to locate a little spiritual stimulation is on one of the bookcases in our home. It was there, under a thin layer of dust, that I stumbled upon A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen. Do you remember this book? It was an instant bestseller when it first came out, to my surprise,… Read more
November 24, 2020
2 Thanksgiving Prayers for our Covid-19 Times
November 24, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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Welcome to a Thanksgiving like none ever. If you’re like a lot of people, the alarming surge in Covid-19 cases, combined with warnings from public health officials, has altered your holiday travel plans or changed the plans of friends and family members you were expecting to see. What can we do but make the best of it? While the Thanksgiving gatherings may be smaller than usual, across America we will still be celebrating the holiday. In my home, we’ll have… Read more
November 18, 2020
7 Ways to Get Your Monkey Mind Back to Sleep
November 18, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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How did you sleep last night? Perhaps you’re like me—one of those people who has no trouble falling asleep, but who often wakes up at 3 or 4 in the morning feeling wide awake. I’ll then proceed to toss and turn for an hour, maybe two, before mercifully sleep again washes over me. As I try to sleep, the monkey mind is on the loose. The notion of the monkey mind comes from Buddhism and refers to the mind jumping… Read more
November 11, 2020
Joe Biden and the 11 Traits of Character
November 11, 2020 By Tom Rapsas
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Let’s put political parties and issues aside for a moment and look at character. What were the moral and emotional qualities that distinguished the presidential candidates as individuals? Could you label each of them as honest and trustworthy? How about kind and empathetic? Character is important because it sets the tone for those around you, whether they be your political followers, your co-workers, your children, grandchildren or extended family. What you do and how you act rubs off on others,… Read more
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