I was happy for my friend. I’ve known him for a long while. Now in his forties, he began to practice meditation a few months ago. After a few weeks, the leader of his meditation group invited him to attend an eight-day silent retreat focused on meditation practice. My friend… Read More »It’s Just Ordinary
The New Year has begun. As we wish each other, “Happy New Year!” we have no idea what this year will bring to us, our loved ones, and our world. Will this be a bright and shining year? Or will the year be marked by hardship and strife? While we… Read More »Toward Making It a Happy New Year
The Christmas wrapping has been torn off the presents. The needles from the pine tree are beginning to fall. Perhaps it’s just my imagination, but the holiday light displays seem to have a bit less glimmer than just a few days ago. Christmas Day has passed. Now upon us are… Read More »The Day After Christmas
I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled to different parts of the world. Since much of the travel was work-related, I’d often be on my own. I explored new places by myself and tried to learn about the local cultures by simply being there. During one trip to Mexico City,… Read More »Hidden Lives and Christmas
Memory is a funny thing. Some events in my life stand out very clearly. Others…. well, let’s just say they’ve faded into the recesses of my mind. There is one memory that stands out after more than forty years: the day I met Fred Rogers. I was 19 or 20… Read More »Meeting Fred in the Neighborhood
It was early morning. I lit the first candle and began to sing an ancient hymn: O Come, Emmanuel. The ritual is familiar to me. It’s something I do each year as the Christian period known as Advent begins. Advent: it’s a word derived from Latin. It means the arrival… Read More »We Are Meant to be Mothers of God
Thanksgiving Dinner: friends and family gather; recipes are shared; people travel great distances to be with loved ones. There’s something unique and special about the American Thanksgiving holiday. I have fond memories of Thanksgiving from my childhood, with my mother making a unique stuffing for the turkey as well as… Read More »A Difficult Conversation for Thanksgiving Dinner
We were sitting over dinner as I shared pictures on my phone of the Bahai’ Temple north of Chicago. I spoke of the peace I experienced in the temple as I spent time with meditation. Something about the architecture helps to draw visitors to experiences that are both deep and… Read More »The Reasons I Remain a Christian
