Pope Francis has written, “Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another.” On a perfect day I walked a couple miles through a metropark. Twice I saw a single deer on the path.

Living near construction I hear backup beeps constantly. All other warnings are in front of us, making us aware of something in the future. A backup beep is a warning in reverse, a warning that something is going backwards. What if we could back up our thoughts and hear a

Are you on a mission? Pope Francis definitely is. He writes: “I am on a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world” (EG 273). Think of what we could do if we said the same. When we’re on a mission, we make

Earlier this week I saw a perfectly formed tree, every leaf evenly red, not a green leaf to be found, nor a dusty red leaf under the tree. I was privileged to see the exact moment of the “in between” of seasonal change. Nothing was left of summer. Autumn’s falling

Summer is coming to an end. With some sadness do we count our losses? No more picnics, no more swimming, no more trips to the beach. Or do we look back over June, July, and August and count our gains? What have the bits of extra leisure gained for us

The Irish speak of thin places where heaven and earth are very close, places where God can seep through the cracks. Autumn is a time when God seems to seep through the cracks rather easily. Stars are brighter, air crisper, colors more brilliant. Thoughts are turned nostalgically to the “last

God’s gift of self began with the creation of the universe. Another dramatic giving of the Godself occurred on the cross. Giving his life is who God is. If God is Self-Gift, then to be more like God we must become self-gift. As children we may have climbed into a

I wish we could calculate the number of hours of service people give in a 24-hour period. It is edifying to hear of schools and parishes and organizations involved in mission trips, fundraisers for the needy, and projects that protect Planet Earth. It is equally edifying to see spouses, family

During a wedding rehearsal I entertained a two-year-old whose father was playing the guitar and whose mother was attending a three-month-old. The conversation with the little girl went something like this: Girl: Gibberish…baby…gibberish…mommy…gibberish…day…gibberish…me. Me: I believe you’re right. I totally agree. Girl: Gibberish…doll…gibberish…you…gibberish…play…gibberish…daddy. Me: Yes, that was a lovely party.

Tiny purple spears stood erect, their heads strained in one direction, as if intently listening. The Mother of Thyme had called a convocation. The sight reminded me of the Church, an assembly called into being on the cross and the primary place where we meet Christ. It is in the