the blog
Reflections for the journey
4 Simple Steps to Holiness (or how to become a Saint!)
In my work as a Spiritual mentor, many times I am asked "How can I grow closer to God and become a better person?" I am very straightforward (too much so, according to my family! LOL), and I will respond that while being a better person is great, our goal should be...
Why the Spiritual, But Not Religious?
Ever wondered why many people in our society today claim to be spiritual, but not religious? Much research has been about this, but I think it's actually fairly simple--people no longer have adequate fear of the Lord. What is fear of the Lord? According to Blessed Fr....
Are You Working Supernaturally? Or Just Working?
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." — St. Augustine This quote by St Augustine has made its rounds in various forms throughout the years since Augustine first wrote it back in the 4th century. However, the truth of...
Do You Love Enough?
For many today, love is understood to mean that you must accept whomever the person says they are and whatever it is that they choose to do. This supposedly shows you have respect for the person's freedom and individuality, and how they choose to express themselves....
Pursuing Holiness—The Art of Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
So often in my life, I look around and realize how comfortable I am. Not just physically with the blessings of a house, car, clean and ample water, food, and clothing, but am spiritually comfortable as well, and it gives me pause. Why you might ask? Simply because to...
Take Courage and Persevere
One of the greatest challenges of life is how we respond to challenges, setbacks, and disappointments that invariably come along in the midst of life. In these moments, each of us has the choice to either give up, or to persevere. Many times we listen to the inner...
Transforming the World One Story at a Time
Today, I read an article and saw a video that depicted the spread of Christianity for the last 2000 years. (I'll paste a link to the article and video below) As I watched the video, I was struck by the reality of how the Gospel spread across the world throughout the...
7 Characteristics of the Saints that You Can Do Too
Many times when people hear stories about people who are saints, like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Pope John Paul II, or Maximillian Kolbe, the response tends to be, "Well, that's great, but I could never be like them." The reality is actually quite the opposite, as all...
Have You Found Peace Today?
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened. You will find rest. My yoke is easy.”--Matthew 11:28-30 In the midst of our crazy, chaotic world, finding rest, let alone peace can be a major accomplishment, particularly since our world tends to think that "being at...
The Power to Choose
The freedom to choose and exercise our will is what makes us human beings. No other creatures on this earth have this capacity. Our world is increasingly made up of choices--about what we buy, eat, watch, listen, read, etc.--I mean, really, how many options do we need...
Do You Have a Divided Heart?
“If today you hear the sound of God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” This verse from Scripture always gives me pause. Pause because I have to consider 2 things: 1) whether I have heard God's voice, and if so, what have I heard? And 2) if I haven't heard God's voice,...
Why am I Blogging?
I am now 10 days into my commitment to blog for 30 days in a row, and I thought it was important to share with those of you who have joined me for this journey to know why I am blogging. Primarily, it is rooted in my experience during the last thirty years of...
Who Am I Trying to Please?
I just spent the last 4 days with a phenomenal group of people at a Cursillo de Cursillo retreat that was held in Montgomery Alabama at St Bede's Catholic Church. Everything throughout the days--the prayer and meditations (thanks, Deacon Mark!), the talks presented on...
What is Christian Leadership?
There is a lot of guidance about what being a leader is out there, but my post tonight is to share some thoughts about several characteristics that are unique to Christian leadership. First, and almost a duh, is that a Christian leader, one needs to be a Christian. I...
“Yes, Virginia, God REALLY Loves You.”
And, He loves you so much that He wants for you to be with Him for all eternity. In fact, God loves you so much that He did (and still does) everything necessary so that possibility can happen, IF we choose it. Many people today will discount this profound reality of...
What Is Your Mentality?
All of us have a mentality. Our mentality are the ideas, values and beliefs from which our minds interpret, appreciate and believe a certain reality. In other words, what I perceive and what I think about what I perceive, creates my reality. Whether we acknowledge it...
A Theology of the Whole Body
Yesterday, I wrote about how the transcendentals--the good, true and beautiful--can help us discern how we most commonly encounter God, and how this helps us either discerning how best to try and deepen our relationship with God, or, if we are struggling to see His...
What Speaks to Your Heart?
Yesterday, I wrote about the transcendentals--goodness, truth and beauty, and how being aware of their presence around us enriches our life. But there is another aspect to the transcendentals that I want to draw your attention to. Primarily, to reflect upon which...
The Good, the True and the Beautiful
I have had the privilege the last two days to be immersed in, and surrounded by, the transcendentals of this world as I acted as caddy for our youngest son as he attempted to qualify for the US Amateur Golf Tournament. What do I mean by that? Well, simply that while I...
It All Matters
This weekend marks the end of the formal catechetical preparation for the current group of Confirmation high school students that I am responsible for preparing to receive the sacrament from our Bishop in August. The process itself during the last few years has been a...