Faith & Life Inspirational Message

It has been a while since I used the thinking of David Brooks, New York Times editorial writer, to focus some thoughts on spiritual development.  I continue to read Brooks because he is so well and so thoughtful.  Even if I were to disagree with him, I have to contend with a first-rate mind who has profoundly thought about an issue and carved out his own position.  And so it was, I was attracted to a recent opinion of his which appeared under the title, “Two Cheers for Feminism.”    It would be easy for people---particularly males---to dismiss this article because of the title.  But I have a wife, two girls and two granddaughters, plus a significant array of female colleagues and friends.  I cannot dismiss this kind of thinking because of a title.  So I dove into Brooks’ thinking.  And I was rewarded.  He begins by allowing that he disagrees a great deal with what he calls “academic feminism.”  We don’t need to get into that.  I am more interested in where he is really going.    Hi

I am reading a new book, which is different and inspiring.  The book is Eight Whopping Lies by Brian Doyle.  It is a collection of two or three-page reflections on some aspect of life or experience that Doyle gives focus.  He is not really a theologian, but a writer---writer of novels and essays.  This book is a book of essays.  I have only recently heard about Brian Doyle, but plan to spend time with some of his other works. Doyle died recently from a bout with cancer at the relatively young age of sixty.  Knowing this, as I head into the book, gives me a perspective and expectation to see what he says.  This book is published not too long before his death, so I wonder if he had any premonitions?  We shall see. I would like to focus on one particular short essay he entitled, “Illuminos.”  Clearly, our English word, illumination, comes that that word.  When I see a title, I expect that it guides what I am to expect when I get into the text.  Illumination suggests to me sight, insi

Recently, I was asked by someone, can you help?  It was a fairly easy request and I tried to help and time marched on.  I hope I was helpful.  It was not a life or death situation, so the hope was my help made the situation a little better.  But now, after the incident, I have been thinking about that simple question: can you help?  Let me share my thoughts. It is a really simple question---three words.  It is a relational question, since it involves two or more people.  When the question is a real question, the answer is open-ended.  Someone might say yes or no to the request to help.  Finally, it is possible for someone to say, yes, I will help and it turns out whatever that person did was not helpful.  Let’s explore deeper. Can you help is a real question.  If I am asking that of someone, I know they have a choice.  They can say yes or they can decline.  Asking someone for help puts us in a vulnerable place.  We have already expressed our desire, or even need, for them to do somethi

The name is just the surface.  I think about this every time I begin a new class at the university, teach a class or seminar at a local church or lead any group for a period of time.  Sometimes, names are not important in the context.  We can go to a lecture, listen to someone talk for an hour and then leave.  Who I am in that context does not matter.  But I spend most of my time and energy in situations where names matter. Names are usually the first stage of getting to know someone.  When we introduce ourselves, typically we extend our right hand and offer our name.  If we are on top of it, we listen to the other person name herself or himself.  Too often, I have realized I didn’t listen.  I was more intent on making sure they heard my name and they got it.  I realized this is a telling experience. That means I was more interested in me than in the other person.  I was more concerned they wouldn’t “get me.”  If they can’t remember my name, then how can they know me?  How can they tak

I read a great deal and fairly widely to gain new ideas and perspectives.  I am a sucker for good headlines.  Sometimes I chase a good headline, only to be disappointed when I start reading the actual article.  But sometimes, the content of the article is pretty good and I learn some things.  Such was an opportunity that recently came my way with the luring title, “Study shows churchgoers live longer than more secular peers.”  Since I am a fairly frequent churchgoer, I felt good about that headline.    Baldwin Way, an Ohio State psychology professor, conducted a significant study to see if folks who go to church might live longer.  The answer seems to be yes.  Actually, I was surprised when I read about the conclusions of the study, which suggested “that churchgoers can expect to live up to nine years longer than their more secular peers.”  I thought there might be a couple years, but nine more years much more than I would have guessed.  I was ready to dive into the details of the st

A few days ago, I was interviewed by a student on the topic of boundaries.  Although I was happy to do it, I warned him I had not read books on boundaries.  No doubt, I have experienced boundaries in my life---as has everyone.  I may have thought about boundaries in that experience, but the thinking was not really deliberate or explicit.  I am not sure what prompted the interview, but it is easy to guess the college student needed to think about it and perhaps do a little better with boundaries in his life.  For me the interview was simply a time to explore an interesting idea.  As I engaged this thought process, the first thing that came to mind was how boundaries separate.  That is self-evident, but it is very significant.  In separating, boundaries create the “other.”  The other may be a different country, a different people, almost anything that can be separated.  In our current time, boundaries are very much in the news.  For example, we have a boundary that separates Mexico and o

                It would be interesting to me to know how many folks on the street know the name, Helen Prejean.  I have known about her for a long time.  I have met and talked with her, heard her talk a few times and have admired who she is and what she does.  She is both an inspiration and a challenge for me, as well as for countless others.  Recently, she published a book, River of Fire .  It is an autobiography of her life and ministry.  I can well imagine she will one day be canonized and become a saint.  In a sense the book tells her story, which I think may be anyone’s story who wants to be obedient to what God wants. My friend, Franciscan Dan Horan, has written a review of her book and I find the review helpful in introducing me to her book.  I share Dan’s takeaways as a lure for you, too, to read her book.  And if you don’t, Dan’s words can inspire in their own right.  I know he has helped me see the next step I want to take. Sister Helen, if I may, was born in 1939 in Baton R

To young ears, the St. Louis Jesuits might sound like some boring theological group---a conference perhaps.  But with old ears like mine, just perhaps you recall a group of guys who sang contemporary music that was used in church services, but also gain momentum in many non-church venues.  They were one of the favorite groups of mine because of the lyrics they wrote and the melodic way they sang this kind of music.  Many of us in the 60s and 70s would have called it folk music.  I have not thought about the St. Louis Jesuits for a long time. And then I hit upon an article that headlined this group is heading for their last concert after forty-five years.  I began reading the article by Jeannette Cooperman with relish.  The article opened with an interesting story.  Bob Dufford, priest, was awakened from a sound sleep to learn that on the morning of Bill Clinton’s first presidential inauguration, the groups’ song, “Be Not Afraid,” would be used.  I loved that song/hymn. Some of the word

Recently I returned to Martin Marty, a scholar and public commentator whose work I have admired for literally all my adult life.  Marty is one of those timeless people who seemingly has never changed looks or demeanor in all the years I have known him.  On the other hand, his thinking and work is ever fresh.  He was born in 1928 and is still going strong.  I happened on a short reflection Marty offered on the ideas of hope and wonder.  Let me share some of these, along with my commentary. Marty opens the reflective piece with this sentence.  “Alongside ‘hope’ let’s place its kin, ‘wonder,’ both of which are needed in the fact of the dulling realism that colors so much of existence today.”  To put hope and wonder together is an interesting idea.  Clearly, they are not the same thing.  I was intrigued how Marty and the folks he quotes are going to develop the idea.  One of the people Marty turns to is the historian and professor of religious studies, Robert Fuller.  Fuller begins with a

The title for this inspirational piece comes from the pen of recently sainted, San Salvadoran Archbishop, Oscar Romero.  On October 14, 2018 Romero was made a saint of the Church.  Pope Francis proclaimed the Central American churchman and theologian to be holy.  I am not sure what that all means to my Catholic friends.  Quakers don’t have saints in the same way the Roman Catholic Church proclaims and publicizes them.  I admit I am glad the Church does celebrate the sanctity of certain women and men.      Just because Quakers don’t proclaim certain folks to be saints does not mean I am against them!  As I just said, I am glad we have them.  It means I can borrow a saint and make him or her my saint, too.  I certainly have done this with figures from the past---people like Sts. Augustine, Francis, Theresa and others.  As I understand it, a saint does not have to jump through all the hoops, which the Catholic Church prescribes.  For me a saint does not have to be sinless.  I figure all

You can imagine I was drawn to read this short article when I saw the title, the gist of which I use for the title of this inspiration reflection.   The actual title of the article is a little longer: “It’s Getting Harder to Talk About God: the decline in our spiritual vocabulary has many real-world consequences.”   The author, Jonathan Merritt, begins in a catchy fashion when he says, “ More than 70 percent of Americans identify as Christian, but you wouldn’t know it from listening to them.   An overwhelming majority of people say that they don’t feel comfortable speaking about faith, most of the time.”             While I do not have any hard evidence, I suspect that Merritt is correct.   He hired a professional group to do research, so it is not just his opinion.   I am willing to go with what he thinks he has discovered.   It aligns with my own sense that many people who claim to be religious do see it in a private kind of way.   They are religious, but don’t acknowledge it pub

Because I have an advanced degree in theology, I read stuff that many normal people want nothing to do with.  I don’t say this to be funny or to make fun of myself or anyone else.  I think it is true.  We can turn the tables and say the same thing about scientists or maybe even auto mechanics.  I am sure they read stuff that I don’t want to read or even know about.  However, I do appreciate what they know and what they bring to me.  Scientists have created medicines that probably account for the fact that I am still alive.  And I bless the auto mechanic every time my vehicle won’t even start. I have often read about pluralism.  In fact, I have even tried to teach some aspects of it in my classes.  I know not everyone cares about that term.  And I know some people would be downright hostile to it.  And so it was with some real interest when I read a recent David Brooks’ essay that, in effect, was an argument for pluralism.  He also offered some insight into the wretched mayhem in our co

I very much like to read autobiographies.  I like hearing people talk about their own life stories.  Recently a friend shared with me a chapter in a book.  The chapter is written by Ilio Delio, the Franciscan sister who has written much on evolution and theology that I have enjoyed reading.  I have not met her, although I have read quite a bit by her.  So I was eager to get a sense for how she developed as a person and a theologian.     She begins the chapter in this fashion.  “In 1984 I completed a dissertation in pharmacology at New Jersey Medical School.  My research was in the area of motoneuron neuropathy and I worked on an experimental drug to mimic the pathological neuronal damage found in Lou Gehrig’s disease…”  As one who does not know that much science, I am awed and supportive of all the findings scientists discover.  Delio claims she was a hardcore scientist who felt that the path to truth could only be found in science.”     But this is not all.  I was intrigued by ano

There are few things as important to being human than a sense of belonging.  I am sure psychologists have called it by various names and with various concepts, but I like the idea of belonging.  The opposite is just as clear: not belonging.  Not to belong means you have no part in the group, family or unit.  To belong means you are included.  You are part of the gang.  That truly is good news.  It may not be inherently a spiritual word, but at its core, it really is spiritual. Belonging happens very early in life.  And its opposite, sadly, can happen just as early.  Erik Erikson, the famous psychoanalyst, said the first step in becoming human was learning to trust or mistrust.  Infants begin negotiating this developmental step long before they have language, etc.  Clearly, the mother is key to this process.  But father and other close family members play a big role, too. I am just recently off the experience of watching grandkids come into my world.  It has been too long since my own k

I feel fortunate to spend much of my time with younger folks.  It is a privilege to work with college-age students.  They normally are full of hope and want the very best in their lives.  I agree this should be their perspective.  In the bigger global picture, they are actually pretty privileged---even though most of them don’t think so.  But if you look at all the young folks their age around the world, most of the ones who are my students have it made. If I find any fault with them, it is how preoccupied they can be with their own issues and problems.  Again, I don’t find this surprising.  Most people are ruled by self-interest.  Even I have to admit that self-interest plays a big role in my life.  What I try to do is not let it be the dominant motif in life. That is why I espouse to be a servant-leader.  At least I can recognize that I want to be and act on behalf of others.  That’s the aim anyway. Occasionally, we all run into exceptional people.  That is how I see Greta Thunberg. 

Not many people in my world of connections have heard of Maximus the Confessor.  I am sure I never heard of him until I was in graduate school.  Since then, he has become an important resource.  He lived primarily in the seventh century.  He was born in Constantinople (modern Istanbul).  He became a luminary of the Orthodox Church, the counterpart to the Roman Catholic Church.  The thing I really like about the Orthodox Church---sometimes divided up among Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.---is how grounded they are in the early church and the church fathers (and mothers) of that period. Maximus is part of an anthology I am reading as a possible resource for a class I teach.  Bumping into him and reading his thoughts reminded me how much of a treasure he is.  I want to share one particular focus for both its insight and persuasiveness.  It comes in a section where he is dealing with two major issues: salvation and the eucharist (holy communion).  Maximus provides a summary, which i

The title of this inspiration comes from a line in a conversation the late Salvadoran Archbishop, Oscar Romero, had with a companion.   Older people may well remember Romero.   And he is in the news again by virtue of being named a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.   As one might suspect, there is the real human being named Romero and now there are “stories” about him---some of which are true and others are part of a legend that typically grows around those whose lives become saintly.             I remembered reading about Romero when he became Archbishop in San Salvador.   I recall his murder and the consequent outrage, etc.   Romero certainly had become a witness to and critic of the injustice of his native El Salvador.   Right wing governments, who often were propped up by American dollars, made life miserable for the poor folks.   It was a chaotic time.   Too often the Catholic Church was complicit in the misery.   That is why Romero’s story was compelling.