Earlier this week, I had lunch with a young friend. He was active in my youth group when he was growing up, and from time to time we get together for some good food and conversation.
On this particular day, John wanted to do some shopping at Trader Joe’s when we were done with lunch, and, since it’s one of my favorite stores, I was happy to join him.
If you’re familiar with Trader Joe’s, you know that there are always buckets of flowers near their front doors, all available for purchase.
Wow, what a crazy week this has been! We started the week with the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict. As the week went on, we learned that there had been hints for quite some time that if the pope reached a point where he felt he couldn’t fulfill his responsibilities, he would step down. It certainly is a time to pray for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom!
Next, we’ve had a week of near miss asteroids and meteors falling from space and causing all kinds of havoc. Funny, almost immediately, people were wondering if the pope, the asteroid and the meteor were somehow divinely connected.
This past weekend, I started reading a terrific new book by Jim Manney. God Finds Us is all about the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, something near and dear to my heart.
As it turns out, early this morning I was reading the chapter entitled “It’s Supposed to Be Hard,” and the focus is on what Ignatius had to say about humility.
It’s a cold and icy morning here in my neighborhood, one of those mornings where you want to stay warm in bed for a bit longer.
Sadly, I’m already up and running, since today is going to be a very busy day for me. I’ve been traveling the past couple of weeks, and I’m slowly trying to catch up, in addition to the daily stuff that waits for my attention. I’m sure you experience the same thing all the time.
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I had the chance to visit the Getty Museum today and it was a wonderful, albeit short visit.
Before we checked out an exhibit on the art of Florence at the dawn of the Renaissance, my family and I had a bite to eat at the museum cafe. As we sat there on the marble patio, sipping wine and eating our sandwiches, my mom made a comment about it being a quintessential California day. She was so right.
Over the weekend, I turned another year older. It’s hard to believe just how fast time flies, but here I am, moving towards one of those big milestone birthdays. Hmmm.
Well, given the alternative, I’ll take my birthday any time. Since I was able to celebrate with a lot of my family this year, it felt extra special.
Even though we didn’t get the usual sunny weather California is well-known for, even in winter, I missed another snowfall at home. I’ve lucked out so far this year, and really haven’t touched my snow shovel. Well, that’s fine with me.
I just got back from a trip to Chicago, and it was cold, cold, cold there.
We’ve had it pretty easy the past few winters, and it appears we aren’t so lucky this year. Well, in the end I guess it will make us appreciate spring all the more.
I had the chance to sit down with some friends last week to begin the process of talking through my doctoral project. We bounced around ideas and concepts from St. Ignatius, Scripture passages, and just general thoughts as to where I should head.
A point we all kept coming back to is that many people who might be drawn to what I have to say and who might consider taking part in one of my retreats will more than likely feel a sense of brokenness.
Honesty is important in blogging, don’t you think? So, I want to admit that when I first saw this recipe in a magazine, I wasn’t too excited to try it.
I was on a layover at the Phoenix airport, and browsing a magazine rack, I picked up the latest edition of Phoenix Home and Garden. With plenty of time to burn, I flipped through the pages and found an article entitled Cabbage Is King.
Yesterday, I had a business meeting which took me to Georgetown, one of Washington DC’s many neighborhoods.
When the meeting was over, I asked someone how to get to the nearest Metro station. It was about a mile away, and since the day was sunny and warm, I decided to walk, mostly on Q Street.
I don’t know about you, but I love to explore new places. I’ve been to Washington DC hundreds of times over the years, and now I go to grad school there, but I’ve never walked the quiet streets of Georgetown.
Strolling towards my destination, I was impressed by the various styles of architecture all around me. Small homes, mansions, all appearing very old, were built quite close together. As I made my way towards the Metro Station, single homes had given way to apartment buildings. I guess the land had become just too expensive.
Near the end of my walk, I crossed Dumbarton Bridge, built just before World War One. This bridge is also known as Buffalo Bridge, thanks to the four massive bronze sculptures that mark the bridge’s corners. I always love it when I come upon something unexpected, especially works of art. I thought for a moment that, if I had to cross this bridge each day, would I quickly stop paying attention to the majestic beauty of these sculptures? Probably.
On the other side of the bridge, I began seeing huge and grand old homes. Out front, unusual flags were flying. Ah, the embassies. How lucky those people are to work in such places, but I’m guessing they too would be less impressed as time went on.
So, the next time you have the chance, take a walk or a drive on a road less traveled. Pay attention to how people make their mark on the places they live. I hope I never stop enjoying the sight of new places and things. Maybe it will keep my mind sharp. Let’s hope so 🙂