Christ is Lord.
“God meant things to be much easier than we’ve made them.” Like Dorothy Day said, an unavoidable part of the Christian mission today is to help create a world “where it is easier to be good.”
If I don’t wait for the layer of paint to dry completely, the painting will not turn out. I must give watercolor paint and myself the time to dry and set.
We’re all experiencing the same things, and it’s okay to talk about those things together…this might mean being the one who creates the space and the group where it’s safe to do it.
Feelings and Feelings and Feelings…let me try thinking instead. C.S. Lewis
Portillo’s cheeseburgers are surprisingly good.
Many Christians would not know the Lord if he knocked on their door wearing a nametag. These seem to be the ones around me with no peace, no joy, and a crippling fear of hell.
Similarly, many who attend churches in silence, who feel awkward or unwelcome amid the “church people”, are deep wells of suffering and grace who often have a most beautiful story to tell.
Lower your shoulders.
“Listen and silent are spelled with the same letters.” Every elementary school classroom has this sign. Silence is for listening. In noise, all we do is hear. In silence, all we do is listen. No silence, no listening.
“I can pray wherever because God is wherever” is just my silly way of saying “I’d rather get coffee than sit with my Father.”
A question to counter anxiety and also to check our own strange delusions:
“and how many times has that worked/been true/played out the way you thought it would?” Prrobbbabbbllyyy nottt verrryyyy mannnyyyy.#11 requires us to distance ourselves from the ScrollingMindset, in which we are stimulated, react, and forget all in the span of 1 second, over and over, until we are depressed about the world, our neighbors, and ourselves.
“A good tree produces good fruit.”
A homily should be however long it needs to be.
Claude’s first introduction to the dog beach on the afternoon of Labor Day was not the best idea.
Seriously, why are your shoulders so high? Relax.
Plan the pilgrimage. Host the mission. Make the cards.
“I need a heart burning with tenderness / who will be my support forever / who loves everything within me / even my weakness. / And who never leaves me, / day or night.” Prayer of St. Thérèse to the Sacred Heart
The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O’Connor is the best book about priesthood I’ve read so far.
People understand there have to be policies. People do not understand why the existence of policies precludes them from experiencing compassion or an honest explanation. Coming in faith to the Body of Christ and not finding there his face, hands, or feet has been the death of more faith than any “hot-button” teaching.
Correlation is not causation, but sometimes it is.
If you’re still reading…a reminder that you’re allowed to take the time to do what you need to do. PTO for a day in a park or by the water or in your jammies on the couch or with a list of put-off errands (the getting-done of which will bring you peace) is PTO well spent.
The world is beautiful, and God is forever good.
Happy 2026!