Month: March 2012

Seeking Peace

When was the last time you went away for some time of prayer and reflection?

For most people, the answer might be never. That’s sad, because we all need some time to decompress from the stresses of life. We all know things have been tough for a lot of people, and all this stress has taken its toll.

Some might seek the peace they need by going to the ocean, the mountains, or maybe even the desert. People have been going to these places for thousands of years.

Others find peace by going to a church or retreat center. I recently had such an experience by visiting a Franciscan Monastery not too far from my house. It was a great day.

Inspiration Mind Prayer

Left To Tell

One of the people in a faith formation program I’m leading at church recently asked me if I had ever heard of the book Left To Tell written by a Rwandan woman named Immaculee Ilibagiza.

When I told her I had never heard of the book, she promised to loan me her copy, which she brought the following week.

I was in the midst of reading another book at the time, and it was only over last weekend that I was able to get into this powerful story about the Rwandan holocaust which took place in 1994.

Main Course Soup On Saturday Soups and Stews Vegetarian

Leek and Potato Soup

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I took my first overseas trip when I was eleven. My mom and I traveled to Ireland with a friend of hers. It was an adventure in many ways, and that trip got me hooked on travel.

Sadly, I haven’t been back to this country of my ancestors, but I hope I’ll be able to return one day in the not too distant future. It’s a beautiful country with wonderful people. Today’s soup, with just enough green to make it Irish, is great comfort food. The recipe serves 12, so invite some friends over and celebrate this feast of the Patron of Ireland, good St. Patrick.

Inspiration Mind Personal Development

The Art of Self-Discipline

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 03/13/2012
No Comments on The Art of Self-Discipline

Today’s post comes from my friend Todd Burrier, who you’ve met on these pages before.

I get Todd’s posts just about every day, and he always has an uplifting message.

This post is a big challenge, since many of us tend to lack self-discipline. Put a spy/mystery novel in my hands, and it doesn’t matter what I was supposed to be doing, I can quickly let time slip away.

I’m actually reading a new one right now, and, well… No matter what’s going on in your life right now, we could all use a bit more self-discipline. It will only make us better people, wouldn’t you agree?

Main Course Soup On Saturday Soups and Stews Vegetarian

Tortellini Soup

Each Lent, my staff and I host a dinner for our many volunteers. It used to be a pot luck, but we decided to make it a soup and salad night, making it fit a bit better with the austerity of this penitential season.

This year, I made both a lentil soup and a tortellini soup. They went over very well, and now I thought it was time to share this recipe with you. Super simple, you could quickly make this meal after work, and, paired up with a salad, bread, and a glass or two of wine…

Catholic Church Ignatian Spirituality Inspiration Personal Development

Starting Something New

In mid April, my good friend George and I are going to start out on a new adventure, and yesterday, we sat down over coffee to talk about it.

George and I recently got accepted into a doctoral program at Catholic University of America in Washington DC. The program is somewhat specialized and it looks like there will only be about eight other people joining us on this three-year endeavor. We’re excited!

Gardening Ignatian Spirituality

Little Delights

Last week as I was walking to my driveway gate, I noticed a small grouping of pencil-thin stalks popping out of the ground. I knew exactly what they were, and seeing them brought a smile to my face.

One of the very first bulbs to bloom in my area, the dwarf iris Katherine Hodgkins seem to come out of nowhere, quickly bloom, and then, just as quickly fade away.

When I went to work that morning, I stopped by the office of one of my co-workers. Several years ago, as she was just moving into her new home, I gave her some of these bulbs to plant in her yard. I wanted to know if they were coming up yet at her place. Nope, there was no sign of them yet.

Catholic Church Inspiration Spirit

You Just Never Know

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; the one who seeks, finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10

Over the last several days, my church has hosted what we call a Parish Mission. Our parish community gathered each night to hear a spiritual talk, and our presenter this year was a retired bishop named Harry Flynn. He was the Archbishop of St. Paul & Minneapolis until retiring in 2008. Before he left yesterday morning, he celebrated our early morning Mass, and I had the chance to hear him preach one more time.