Looking back before looking forward is a good practice. Where did I put my energies last year? What turned out to BE my priorities (not just what I CLAIMED they were going to be)? It’s relatively easy to determine priorities, by the way: look at what you spent money on, where did most of …

Goals, Reviewed Read More »

As a parish priest or pastoral counselor, one of the saddest things I heard people say was that they don’t belong. They felt so utterly unconnected to others and from the world around them they would often talk about not fitting in, like they don’t matter, no one would miss them if they were not …

You Belong Read More »

My grandmother was 4’11” tall. She weighed 95 pounds; if she was wearing a hat. She was a little bitty thing. However, no one would have considered her weak or fragile. Nor would anyone have considered her incompetent, incapable, or unintelligent. She was just the opposite: very competent in a number of areas, quite capable …

Cape-less Hero Read More »

From Little League to the Majors, it’s fun to watch the winning team celebrate their victory. Guys pile on each other. They hug one another. Some come flying in from the outfield to land on top of everyone else. They roll around on the ground. There is a lot of laughing, some tears of joy, lots …

Now what…? Read More »

     Think of how many times when you were growing up you cried out “it’s not fair!” It was a cry of a kid experiencing something as unjust, the forces of the universe arrayed against you to make your life unpleasant. Having to come inside after playing all day with friends. Suffering through a family …

“It’s Not Fair!” Read More »

It happens to me every year about now. I realize that the baseball season is about to end. The regular season is coming to a close. I like that in some ways because it sets in motion the post season, league playoffs and the World Series! I get excited when I see the final teams …

The Best is Yet to Come… Read More »