The Things We Pray For All around the world, in every culture and religion, people ask for a lot of differen things that they think will help them. Over time, some prayers become popular as they become expressions of what a lot of people wish for in their lives. One of these prayers is the … Continue reading Shadows making it hard to see the good things in life? Here’s what to do…
forgiveness
How to Renew Your Mind
How do you start your day? Do you have a morning routine during which you set aside time just to set the tone or direction of the day for yourself? I will share with you that every morning I wake up and do some reading from the Bible and say some prayers. It is a … Continue reading How to Renew Your Mind
Job Opening: Peacemaker, no previous experience needed
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." ~ Traditional Franciscan Saying It's a very old saying within Franciscan tradition, sometimes even attributed to St. Francis of Assisi himself. But what does it mean. "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace?" and why would someone ever ask for that? What is peace? It's always … Continue reading Job Opening: Peacemaker, no previous experience needed
The Burden That Can Free You Forever
Jesus said:"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am meek and humble of heart;and you will find rest for yourselves.For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Gospel of Matthew 11:28-30) I was fortunate to attend elementary … Continue reading The Burden That Can Free You Forever
Podcast Episode: When You Can’t Consider Forgiveness, Consider God
Bob: Forgiveness — the thing everyone agrees is good for you, like vegetables or sleep, and that most of us find equally difficult to actually do. Mara: Today we're looking at work from Tom Delaney (O.F.S.), a Franciscan educational psychologist exploring what to do when forgiveness feels genuinely impossible — the theology, the psychology, and … Continue reading Podcast Episode: When You Can’t Consider Forgiveness, Consider God
When You Can’t Consider Forgiveness, Consider God
"Praised be my Lord for those who forgive on account of your love, and endure weakness and trials. Blessed are those who shall endure in peace, for by you, most high, they shall be crowned." ~ Canticle of the Sun, St. Francis of Assisi Scientific research has indicated that the benefits of forgiveness - e.g. … Continue reading When You Can’t Consider Forgiveness, Consider God
How to Worry Less and Connect More
Ever wonder how the big names in Catholic spirituality seem so calm and collected? They seem to have found and be connected with something that gives their view of the world, and the way they engage with the world, a deep abiding peacefulness. I can laugh and say, "It's like they know something we don't! … Continue reading How to Worry Less and Connect More
How to Use Forgiveness for Staying Human
If you and I can agree that being a human being is basically a good thing, then we can talk about our lives being even better by being even more human. We can talk about what "humanizes" and what "dehumanizes." What humanizes us is good, because it levels up the good things about being human. … Continue reading How to Use Forgiveness for Staying Human
How to Make Your World More Forgiving for You (and Everybody Else)
If you could make the world a more forgiving place for you, would you? For as long as human beings have been around, they have looked for ways to arrange the world and its events so as to fulfill our needs, wishes, hopes, and desires. Over millennia, we have looked for these ways in science, … Continue reading How to Make Your World More Forgiving for You (and Everybody Else)
Forgiveness Means Seeing Our Part
One of the challenging pieces of forgiveness is to look not only at the person we feel wronged us, but also to take an honest look at ourselves and our part in what happened, and what we are experiencing. It could be that we helped create the circumstance that led to the wrongdoing. Whether through … Continue reading Forgiveness Means Seeing Our Part
Live and Forgive 