Lifestyles
Terrorism at the Boston Marathon: connections, reflections, evil and good
Note: I am keeping this post free of images. I want the words to tell the story. The last five days have been utterly surreal. As a lifelong resident of Massachusetts now living in the central part of the state, our family has roots that go back to the Governor Winthrop fleet in 1630 when […]
A passion for birding brings joy in the midst of darkness (and unlocks a powerful memory)
I am a lifelong bird watcher. My mother was passionate about it and got my New York City-raisedfather hooked on it too. They used to take elder hostel trips to sanctuaries to watch bird migrations. Their favorite was a trip to the Audubon sanctuary on Hog Island in Maine with the “rock stars” of the […]
Book Review: Everyday Holiness: Blunt, Funny and Poignant – “Do Bad Guys Wear Socks?” by M. Regina Cram
Recently I posted a review for my monthly column on Catholicmom.com that was a sheer pleasure to write. For years I have longed for my lifelong friend from high school to write a book. Overcoming many odds (some of which you will find out about in the following review), Reg has finally done it, assembling […]
Opening my eyes to winter
I used to hate the winter. The cold (and the subsequent heavy clothes). The darkness. The snow. The ice. The silence. And how difficult it can be to get around. I used to hate winter. Until I read The Outermost House by Henry Beston. For now I will just elude to it because I am […]
Step by Step
The temperature outside was 10 degrees with a wind chill of -11. And I still went out for my lunch time walk. When I returned, the office manager and real estate agent on duty applauded. I felt like applauding myself. Never in a million years did I think I would ever find myself walking in […]
Finding the mystic in me
Today I started reading a book entitled The Naked Now by Richard Rohr. I originally planned on reading it because a group I belong to, the Commission of Women of the Diocese of Worcester, chose this book as the one they wished to study this year. A dear friend of mine, a deacon in the […]
True unity that brings all things together
Unity in the Heart of God “Love unites all, whether created or uncreated …” This is the beginning of a short meditation by noted spiritual writer (and my favorite), Henri Nouwen. You can read the rest here. This short passage utterly sums up the purpose of this blog, and my life. How about you? What […]
Creating sacred spaces
I am a big fan of sacred spaces. My car is a sacred space. The dashboard contains various pictures and icons that I can gaze upon. God has gifted me with a long commute – two hours each day of time alone. Here I can pray, reflect and sing. And often I end up brainstorming […]
Review: Jeff Goins’ impressive new book, WRECKED “slams” into life as we know it
Pain, suffering and sacrifice are dirty words in today’s world, meant to be avoided at all costs. In the process, the meaning and value have been lost. Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life, the impressive debut book by blogger Jeff Goins not only restores the meaning to suffering and sacrifice, but […]
Learning about life’s flow from a kayak
How could satisfying a husband’s request for a kayak end up teaching me one of the most important lessons of my life? Here’s how. Back in 2007, my husband Rich suggested we get a kayak. In exploring our central Massachusetts town, we discovered that it and surrounding towns are peppered with lakes, ponds and streams. […]
