I’ve been to Mass many times with my family when we were in Spain on holiday. I always found it interesting because although the ritual was the same, I didn’t understand any Spanish. When I was travelling in Spain on my own and learning the language a few years ago, I went to Mass and [...]
Denial II
The Passion read every Good Friday and Palm Sunday always gets me thinking deeply. There is so much going on in the story. St. Peter's denial is always poignant: 3 times, he denied knowing Christ. What do we deny about ourselves, about others, about our culture? What do we deny about our loved ones and [...]
Friday’s Poem: Swiping
Swiping: (Senryu) To the left or right Photos determine our value Is beauty enough? What is beauty?
Naming The Nameless
Sometimes when I’m in a funk, I don’t have the words to describe how or what I’m feeling. I don’t want to do anything. I have no motivation. I don’t want to look after myself. I don’t want to get out of bed. I don't know what to do. It’s at this time I try [...]
How Do You Discern?
Something that helps me with decision making is prayer. I've been raised a Catholic Christian and still figuring out what it means to pray and what even is prayer. But what I do know, is that it helps me make decisions. I offer up what I'm struggling with, what I don't know the answer to [...]
Growth
Most of the time, growth goes unnoticed. It’s only when it bears fruit that we celebrate. We plant seeds. We put down our roots. We cultivate the small growth we notice at the start. But then, we have to patient. We live in a culture that worships immediate success and "quick fixes”. We want to [...]
Messy Back Gardens
Last week, I was working with my Dad. We were cleaning the windows and gutters of a house that was probably the messiest one I’d ever seen. A lovely old couple lives there and they sat out talking to us as we worked. Their front garden was full of what I can only describe as [...]
Rituals
Last Sunday, as a Catholic Christian, I celebrated Easter Sunday - the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. I found it another strange Easter (and Lent), to be honest. Like last year, I struggled to immerse my self in the Paschal experience. It wasn't the same "going to Church" in my living room and [...]
Time Alone
I recently wrote a blog post about hiking. I like to do this with my Dad, my girlfriend and with friends. However, now and again, I like to go alone. In a world that’s so connected, social and “online”, it can be hard to find time to switch off and be alone. This can be [...]
Friday’s Poem: Locks
Locks: (Cinquain) Walking Along old roads Rivers made by our hands Once alive in Revolution Now still