A crayfish walked me back from the mailbox this morning. A woodchuck comes out from under the deck to chomp on roses, as I snack on pretzels lathered in peanut butter. Chipmunks cavort over the stone wall. These were things I noticed. How much more goes unobserved? If only a

As I sat here looking out the window at the night sky, just still light enough to see cloud formations, I noticed a giant footprint in the sky, but before I could type this sentence, it disappeared. What if I hadn’t looked out at that precise moment? I would have

Annie, a friend of mine, was singing with some teenagers. A man questioned why a gray-haired lady would be part of the group and asked her age. Hearing she was 65, he said, “She has a voice and heart every bit as young as the teens with her.” Another time

One day during the Sign of Peace at Mass a little girl shook the hands of persons nearby while saying “Peace of Pizza! Peace of Pizza!” Besides being cute, the words can be interpreted as a blessing. May you experience the Eucharist that you will soon eat as your spiritual

Pope Francis stamped the trip to Brazil with his signature seal—the world’s pastor. Today’s newspaper described Benedict as the world’s theologian, John Paul II as the world’s philosopher, and Pope Francis as the world’s pastor. Saint Francis de Sales, I believe, claimed that we can catch more souls with a

  “The rains are over and gone … glad songs are heard!” This little line from the Scripture has danced through my consciousness today as we enjoyed sunshine, puffy clouds, and cool air for the first time in awhile. Amidst our prayer on the Resurrection stories in our retreat, I

This morning was filled with a steady, persistent rain that kept us confined to the inside of the retreat house. I sought out a room with no a/c, opened the windows, and just listened. Amidst the pitter patter of the rainfall, other sounds came through clearly: birdsong! I’m not blessed

Each Sister of Notre Dame has the opportunity to make a week’s retreat on an annual basis. These days become a wonderful time to rekindle the flame of our love for God and to allow God to delight in us. This evening before retreat began I took my camera and

As I was walking along the sand dune trail in Oak Openings, I noticed the great variety of foot prints in the sand. I walked more slowly to consciously look at my own tennis shoe prints. I reflected on the footprint that I was leaving on earth. How was my

I got up, unlocked LialRenewal Center, prayed Morning Prayer and meditation, helped prepare three meals for 27 retreatants, prepared liturgies for St. Richard Church, played a card game with the sisters with whom I live after praying Evening Prayer with them, phoned and wrote e-mails, and went to bed. Although