I have a ritual I love. In the octave of Christmas, when the rush settles into cozy contentment and time unfolds a little more slowly, I sit with an extraordinary spiral-bound goal planner that might double as a life coach and I put words to my hopes for the coming year. More
Enough of the lists. I just want to be more of a God-bearer. In our data-driven technocracy, I want Mary’s sense of wonder. In our use-or-be-used culture, I want Mary’s fullness of grace. In our culture of achievement, I want Mary’s ability to discern when to be still and when to set out in haste. Instead of succumbing (again) to the pride of hitting new goals, or the discouragement of falling short (again), I want Mary’s obedience. More
As 2019 begins, we find proponents of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) seeking to take Virginia back to 1972 in an effort to change the course of the future of our commonwealth and our nation. The ERA is short and seems simply to be a neutral measure advocating for the equality of sexes; however, the ambiguity of the language disguises significant negative consequences, which must not be ignored. More
Although victory for the pro-life cause may now be a real possibility, so may something far short of that. More
I would like to suggest that the theme uniting this month’s events could be communion and dialogue — a “culture of encounter” — to borrow a favorite phrase of Pope Francis. And yet, in our hyper-polarized society, true dialogue seems more difficult than ever.More
I'll be home for Christmas. It’s the stuff of songs, of sweet movies where the conflict is resolved in two hours just as snow begins to fall; it’s the stuff of our deepest longings and our most bitter disappointments. More
Lately, the news has really weighed me down. It is heartbreaking to see the raging fires in California night after night and take in scenes of ravaged land, smoldering ruins and broken lives.More
My 4-year-old granddaughter Charlotte is allowed to play with her family Christmas creche. More