I was in Chicago last week for a conference, and the wonderful weather just enhanced the visit.On the way downtown, my taxi driver told me that there should be quite a bit of snow on the ground by now, chalking it up to global warming. No matter what the cause, I enjoyed the walk each night from my hotel to the lake.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent, a time of waiting and longing for our remembrance of Jesus' birth at Christmas.Traditionally, Advent wreaths have four candles, one lit each week as we get closer to Christmas. The four candles represent hope, peace, joy and love.

Wow, I'm really glad its Friday. It has been a whopper of a week, and I'm glad to be able to relax a bit.Earlier this evening, I was laughing with a good friend about the fact that I keep holding on to unviewed Netflix dvds for so long that I'm having to return them unseen so I won't get charged. I'm hoping things slow down in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I guess this is what...

IN GRATITUDE

Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, for health and for grace. May we live this and every day conscious of...

A co-worker of mine and I were recently walking over to the church for a funeral, and as we walked she commented on the number of people who die when seasons change.Over the years, I've noticed that too, and I guess it's just one of life's fascinating rhythms. The funeral we were headed to was for one of our volunteers, a faithful woman who had served our church well for many years.

After Hurricane Sandy, I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived in Ocean City, Maryland this past Sunday.Our local news said there was quite a bit of damage, but I didn't see much, other than beach erosion and some problems at the other end of the boardwalk.

What a crazy week it's been. My heart goes out to the poor folks who have suffered so much due to Hurricane Sandy. Recovery will take a very long time, and for many, life will forever be marked by this terrible storm.Although it seems so trivial now, I flew out to California last Thursday to attend a conference on diabetes in San Diego. Two of my brothers joined me, and the TCOYD (Take Control...

Over the last few weeks, I've been reminded several times about the importance of forgiveness.Too often we either refuse to forgive someone for a wrong done to us, or we fail to forgive ourselves for our own mistakes. We might also feel too uncomfortable to admit our faults and seek the forgiveness of someone else. Maybe even God?

Anyone who reads this blog know's that the spirituality ofSt. Ignatius of Loyola has been a big influence on my life.Over three years ago, I took many of the principles and began applying them to my life, especially in the area of health.

The temperature here in my neck of the woods is supposed to drop below freezing for the first time this fall, and this change marks the beginning of a series of changes leading to winter.If you pay attention, you can sense that things are different. Subtle at first, before we know it everything will be different.