(photo: Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) We had a little surprise in the daily parade of deer along the woodline when this young White-Tailed Deer (Ordocoileus virginianus) buck showed up. In Anishinaabemowin, the language of the indigenous Ojibwe people of our area, these deer are called waawaashkeshi. In the language of the indigenous Dakota … Continue reading Franciscan Wisdom for Forgiveness: Balance
Franciscan
Forgiveness Starts with Self-Awareness
(photo: Gnothi Sauton at Reichert-Haus in Ludwigshafen, Immanuel Giel, 2006) There is an old saying, and it's quite simple: "Know thyself." As short and simple as it is, in the (really) old days, it was understood to be such an important thing to do that it was carved into the rock at the Temple of … Continue reading Forgiveness Starts with Self-Awareness
Why would I ever forgive that person?
(photo: Wild Geranium, Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) We have a small parade of deer stroll past our place regularly in the evenings. When I go out on our south pasture, I see the large matted down circles of grass where they have been bedding down for the night, both in the pasture and … Continue reading Why would I ever forgive that person?
Mercy Makes Forgiveness
(photo: Pope Leo XIV and author Diane Foley, Vatican Media, 2025) I have a theory: Learning from experience is fundamentally human. We learn from our experiences, and what we learn changes the way we think, feel, and act -- sometimes a little, but sometimes in ways that transform us. When we are in community with … Continue reading Mercy Makes Forgiveness
Why is real forgiveness a process?
(photo: Artist's Conk, Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) The mixture of hardwood oaks and aspens along with softwood pines and junipers makes for a wide variety of mushrooms and fungi in our little corner of the oak savanna. I took a photo of this Artist's Conk (Ganoderma lobatum) in our woods and I'll be … Continue reading Why is real forgiveness a process?
Forgiving Makes More Forgiveness
(photo: Prairie Deer Mouse by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) An important part of my day is the time I spend in our stable, hay shed, and on our pastures. Regularly doing some outdoor work caring for animals and little ecosystems like pastures, keeps gives me a daily connection to nature and the proverbial … Continue reading Forgiving Makes More Forgiveness
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) This little patch of Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia herta) showed up in our woods for the first time this year. There must be just enough of a break in the overhead canopy of pines to provide the sunlight that these flowers bask in. Black Eyed Susans are … Continue reading What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
Daily Well-Being and Happiness
(photo New day, new hope by Takky edine, 2014) I want to talk about how some things we learn from the morning prayers (Lauds) in the Liturgy of the Hours today relate to forgiveness, and reinforce the importance of forgiveness. But before I do that, I think I need to do something I haven't done … Continue reading Daily Well-Being and Happiness
Forgiveness in Elder Flourishing
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) This is the time of year when the Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is in bloom and we can see all kinds of pollinators busily working the flowers. As you can see in the photo, it’s an amazing sight of coexistence, not to mention that you may be … Continue reading Forgiveness in Elder Flourishing
Co-Reflection Transforms Reconciliation
(photo by Harli Marten, 2016) A new study by Australian researchers suggests that transgressions between couples may actually strengthen their relationship when the reconciliation process includes co-reflection. This growth is termed Post-Transgression Relationship Growth or "PTRG" for short. In co-reflection, relationship partners relationship partners working through the incident together (Thai et al., 2023). The researchers … Continue reading Co-Reflection Transforms Reconciliation
Live and Forgive 