I remember the first time my son said he hated me. Our family went shopping at a large superstore. My wife and daughters were looking for clothes, and our son was not interested. I suggested we wander through the sporting goods section. As we looked around, I realized he was standing transfixed, staring into the display case. “Daddy,” he said, “I found a knife I […]
It is not just what you believe that matters. Why you believe it is equally important. I confess that the reasoning I find behind much of what I currently read is slightly maddening. At the speed we currently share information, ideas, and opinions, it is easy to understand why we shortchange the hard, time-consuming work of reasoning and reflection, choosing to accept arguments that neatly […]
The truth hurts, doesn’t it? Yes, sometimes it does, but if it is really the truth, the pain that follows does not lack purpose. A real revelation of truth corrects wrong thinking and direction, and brings forth life in its wake. The Apostle Paul, writing to his protegee Timothy, encouraged him to hold fast to the truth of faith, for his sake, and […]
I keep a small flashlight by the bed so that I can find things and get around without disturbing my wife as she sleeps. I noticed that the batteries were growing weaker, and the light a little dimmer each night, but I kept forgetting to replace them until I try to use it after we were in bed. It is no surprise then, that the […]
Philosopher George Santayana is famously quoted as saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This can be true of nations and individuals, and it is certainly true within the Christian faith. For a while now, I have been watching posts on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, which are filled with pop theology, and they certainly are popular. Apparently, the […]
“What is truth?” Pilate asked Jesus. With the Son of God, the very living embodiment of truth, before him, he chose to enter into a philosophical reflection on the nature of truth. It is a stunning example of missed opportunity. Instead of debating the definition of truth, Pilate could have chosen to drink deeply of it from Jesus Christ. It is clear from the story […]
It is easy to mistake amassing information for gaining knowledge. While it is wonderful to have the precious tidbits necessary to win a game of Trivial Pursuit, or answer the questions on Jeopardy, real knowledge is much more than a mind full of facts, no matter how interesting those facts may be. The wrong understanding of knowledge can lead to negative consequences. It is this […]
It is springtime in Western New York and its arrival was marked by cold winds and yesterday, a snow storm. I found myself in that storm as I made hospital visits and a few meetings. I was amazed just how much snow we received. Now, I chose to live here and I enjoy winter and its snow, but this year, I am looking forward to […]
“Who am I?” It was a simple question asked by the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, to which he answered, “I am one loved by Christ.” All of us wrestle with our identity and would that it were only though our teenage years of self discovery. Many of us are haunted by the question of who we are and what our place is in the world. […]
Have you ever noticed how easily some things go unnoticed? All too often we grow comfortable with what we know and what we see. Before long, we are blinded to things that are amazingly visible to others. Without an awakening or some intervention that causes us to look afresh at our lives and our environment we remain unaware. In one way, this is a gift. […]