Appreciating life in the here and now can be a challenge for many of us. Often, we focus on what went wrong in the past and miss happiness in the present. Or we worry about the future, attempting to control what happens, again failing to experience the wonder of life… Read More »Past Resentment and Future Worries: Finding the Strawberry
Many people find themselves caught up with worries and anxieties. Regrets from the past seem to haunt some people. They think to themselves, “If only I had done this differently!” or “I wish I had never done that!” Yet, the truth is this: whatever it is that we’ve done or… Read More »The Wonder of the Present Moment
It’s a stark image, one familiar to Christians who observe the time of Lent and Good Friday. Jesus hangs on a cross. On either side of him are two other criminals who also received a death sentence. As the gospel writer known as Luke conveys, one criminal who shares this… Read More »Pain and Paradise
Stories have a certain kind of potency to them. Stories convey life lessons that often make rote learning seem shallow. Long after they are told, stories can continue to inspire the hearer who in turn can draw multiple layers of meaning while ruminating on the parable. This is the case… Read More »The Gift that is Present