This year, as my Lenten Discipline, I decided to devote 30 minutes a day to deep and intentional anti-racism reading and reflection. I selected a few books that have been on my “meaning to read” list and put them next to my recliner. Every evening after dinner, if I have time before a meeting, or before bed if I don’t, …
Ash Wednesday is tomorrow, which is a time when many faithful Christians begin the process of their Lenten Discipline, or what is often referred to as “giving up something for Lent.” This year, though, I suspect I am not alone in my reaction to the thought of “giving up” something after a year of giving up a whole lot of …
At 11:50 last night, spring officially began — the earliest possible day for the vernal equinox and the earliest spring in 124 years. However, I suspect most of us just aren’t feeling it — that renewal that comes when all the trees are budding, the birds begin to sing and the flowers start their blooming. Instead of trying to pass …
Today marks a kind of a milestone for me. Five years ago, I decided to give meditation a whirl. Actually, I’d be giving it a second whirl. A million years ago, I took a religion class in college called Mysticism. It was a very popular class. I was lucky to get in. It was taught by a young rabbi who …
Seven years ago I gave up plastic bags for Lent. Every year it seemed that when I did my Lenten Disciplines, they were self-serving. Changing a dietary pattern, improving my prayer life or decluttering. Things that would make MY life better. So in 2012, I decided to do something that would make the planet better. I gave up using plastic …
Did you see that big old moon setting in the southwest this morning? Me, too. And then I thought, this is really cool, a full moon, Easter and April Fool’s Day, all at once. Except that’s not possible. It’s not possible to have a full moon Easter Sunday. Because the rule is, Easter is celebrated the first Sunday AFTER the …
Thank you for the warm welcome in my return to the blogosphere a week or two ago. The first blog in more than a year was a bit difficult to put out there because it largely concerned my own dark side, and who wants to go around publicizing that. (Click here if you missed it.) But I think most of us …
My senior year of seminary I gave up cynicism for Lent. My life, at that point, was literally out of my control. Approved for ordination, my placement was in the hands of the Conference of Bishops, which held a draft of all the eligible candidates to decide where we would end up going, geographically. It would have been easy to …
When a friend of mine asked me yesterday how fishing was going this winter, I replied with a smile, “I have enough perch in the freezer to get me through Lent.” Today is the first Sunday of Lent, Father reminded us at Mass. Time for a little Lenten primer, for you non-Catholics (and some of us Catholics, too — I …
If it’s Lent, that must mean Friday night fish dinners, right? There are a bunch of them throughout the region. I got the chance to help serve the one at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks last evening. Earlier in the season, Bishop John Folda of the Fargo Diocese acted as guest server. Talk about going from your sacred to …