Today is the day I receive my spiritual direction certification. After two intense years of study and growth, I now join the ranks of others who serve in this ministry to walk alongside others to seek and find the voice of God.
Continue reading “Growing in Relationship”
We are sent by God, the father of mercy, to distribute this treasure to those in need. The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, and comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. St. Thomas Aquinas defined mercy as “the compassion in our hearts for another person’s misery, a compassion which drives us to do what we can to help him.” Are you a missionary of mercy?
Continue reading “Made for Mission”
The faithful are called to the fullness of the Christian life.
We can reach this fullness of our call to holiness by pursuing the good and practicing true charity in all of our actions throughout our day, whether at work, home with our family or driving on the freeway. To be truly charitable, we must will the good of others and for Catholics, the ultimate good is God.
Continue reading “The Call to Holiness”
One day a while back I was struck by the notion of wanting to “learn love.” I’d hit a wall with my teenage daughter who was struggling with her mental health and the love I was giving her wasn’t enough. The pain of this situation drew me towards my own transformation. And what a gift it was.
Continue reading “True Love”
A seed can exist for a long time but unless it falls into the soil and cracks open, nothing further comes of it. Their life is inside, but it’s a life that grows by being given away and mixing with the soil around it. Paradoxically, when you look at a great tree, you simultaneously see none of the original seed and nothing but the original seed, now flourishing.
Continue reading “Cracking Open”
To mature spiritually, we need to grow in wholeness which is body, mind, and spirit, living an integrated life. This way of living is hard, not for the faint of heart and what’s meant by the “narrow gate.” By living our best life, we worship God to the fullest, giving praise and all glory to our Creator.
Continue reading “The Praise Paradox”
As we walk the spiritual path, it is easy to let our ego lead us towards the good. It is good to want the good, live a virtuous life and we should. But we should want a greater good even more.
Continue reading “The Path of Greater Good”
There are few things within the grasp of our control if we face and accept reality. We can, however, have control of ourselves, our thoughts, attitudes, and reactions. An attitude of gratitude can make a world of difference. We can learn the magical lesson that making the most of what we have turns it into more.
Continue reading “A Magical Lesson “
We live in a pretty disordered world. One just has to look at the news, popular entertainment, and trends on social media to catch a glimpse. We live in the sensational, not the reality of the present. It’s not a wonder we are disordered people unless we constantly turn to God for wisdom and strength to know what is good. Our unconscious behaviors wreak havoc on those around us and it’s our responsibility to mature and grow in awareness, compassion, and forgiveness.
Continue reading “Courageous Forgiveness “
Do you want to live a happier life?
How much time do you spend thinking about what a happier life would look like? What things would you be doing? How much time and effort are you spending to create your happier life? We can have a preference that never becomes desire. The desire never becomes action. And we can spend our whole life preferring a happier life.
Continue reading “A Happy Life”
Smitten With Goodness 