I don't know why the design of life is such that things like pandemics happen. I had a philosophy teacher once tell me that in order for there to truly be love, there needs to be freedom – freedom to…

These are strange times. Yet despite how unusual this Covid-19 crisis feels, there is also a remote familiarity to what we are going through, based on our collective human history of enduring periods of widespread suffering. 

At a minimum, we…

Growing up in the Roman Catholic tradition, I’ve learned to embrace Lent as a time of truth-telling — a time where I can check in on my journey, for better or worse. By evaluating where I’m at presently, a result…

You’ve likely heard the famous quotation by Maya Angelou, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” I haven’t always followed that advice well enough. I tend to be someone who sees the best in others…

I’ve been thinking lately of people who have endured tangible and devastating limitations, unlike anything my privileged life has known, such as undeserved imprisonment, conditions of war, slavery, and poverty. My mind wonders how a person suffering such a reality…

This tune is about uncertainty in a relationship. It marks the difficult space of not knowing which direction to go with one’s heart. Two people can share the same experience for which they would offer very different understandings. It might…

This week I tried a cycling class for the first time. Riding a stationary bike doesn’t typically appeal to me, as I prefer to cycle outdoors with natural scenery and fresh air. Yet it’s winter where I live, and I…

Pain often comes before change. For example, we may find ourselves out of breath after an activity we once did well, and feel low for having let our fitness slip. We may dread going into the office and well up…

My big brother recently shared with me a phrase he picked up at work (He’s a Police Lieutenant.). It says, “That which you allow, you encourage.” This is not a phrase just limited to crime, however. To me, it speaks…

I’ve heard it said that worry is wasted energy. I recall my mom sharing that when she was younger she would occasionally worry that one or both of her parents might die from a stroke. Who knows why she feared…