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The Call of a Father
A scene in the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens captivated me. I am not a Star Wars expert or fanatic, but I grew up watching the original trilogy like most young boys of my generation, and I loved it. So now, being a father myself and watching the new film with my eight-year-old son made the experience that much more memorable. Without spoiling anything, the scene I mention for those who saw the movie is the one that left most of us gasping with a collective “WHY?” It was the scene in which Hans Solo confronts his son, Kylo Ren. For those who have not seen the movie…
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Hope and Home
Walking through the familiar door into the place I called home for most of my childhood and teenage years brought contentment and, yet, a sense of conflict. I knew what stair created the loudest creak. I knew what seat gave the best view of the TV. Looking up at night, I knew the shadows on the ceiling before I fell asleep. This was my home during some of the most influential times of my life. This was my home that gave birth to great joy, great sorrow, and great love. This was my home. And yet, I was a visitor. For this was my parent’s home. Pulling up to the…
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Brienz Christmas Market
Switzerland is known for its beautiful Christmas Markets. This is our first Christmas Season in Switzerland, and we are excited to visit many markets around the country. Here are some pictures from our first Christmas Market in Brienz, Switzerland. “The season of Advent is like springtime in nature, when everything is renewed and so is fresh and healthy. Advent is also meant to do this to us — to refresh us and make us healthy, to be able to receive Christ in whatever form he may come to us.” -Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
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Paris, Death, and Uncertainty
It has been one week since evil raised its head in Paris. One week. One week of news reports about those who carried out these attacks. One week of wondering how this could happen again. One week of speculating what and who is next. There was a moment last Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours from the time the first bullets flew and the first bombs detonated when I watched my four-year-old son play outside as if there was no evil in the world. He played with such intensity and vigor as if death had not shown its head less than four hours away in a city we had recently visited. And then came…
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The Crumbs of Holiness
A couple of days ago, I had a temper tantrum over the ever-present crumbs that continue to find their home in our house. Some like to live on our kitchen floor; some would rather stay on the countertops, and some like the view of our dining area from underneath the table. As much as I try to escort them out of our house with a ride in the vacuum, their friends seem to take their places immediately. It is a battle that is never-ending. And one that triggers things within me that are not pleasant. Now, I don’t have to look very far to see who the usual culprits are.…
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Worb, Switzerland in Fall
We are experiencing our first “fall” living in Worb, Switzerland. The changes have been beautiful to watch. “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often” Blessed John Henry Newman
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Tuscany, Italy
We are very grateful that friends invited us to join them in Tuscany, Italy, during the boys’ fall break last week. It was a wonderful week of sights and sounds. We decided to drive, so our journey took us up, down, around, and even through the Alps. It was indeed a beautiful ride. After passing the Great St. Bernard Pass, our first stop was Aosta, a town in northern Italy. Nestled in the Italian Alps, Aosta is home to great Roman Empire history. After spending the night in Aosta, we continued our drive through northern Italy and the beautiful Italian Riviera to the Tuscany region. During our stay in Tuscany,…
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Pope Francis, Family, and Joy
The word “family” can evoke many emotions and connotations. For some, family is a great source of anguish and pain. For others, family represents the only safe place in a troubled world where they can find refuge. Yet, for most of us, family is a mixed bag of good and bad times, yet something we would never replace. Then, there is the family in terms of a sacramental image of God. An image that suggests serving one another, dying to ourselves for the well-being of another, and giving and receiving love so that creation can take root, making the family the very “image” of the Trinitarian God who is Love.…
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School, Dependence, and Paradox
Getting older allows you to experience things you thought were steadfast in your intellect but could never quite articulate or put into words. This certainly has been true as I find peace within paradox. Paradox: something (such as a situation) that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually true or possible -Merriam Webster I have always felt that paradox holds great truth. However, until you live it, truth can only find a home within the narrow confines of your mind, never being tested by the rigors of your everyday life. There have been plenty of examples in my life that only make sense…
