Shielding our Joy During Advent
This past weekend I had the joy of celebrating my oldest daughter at her pinning ceremony acknowledging her completion of a master’s degree in nursing. In a sea of white coats, my daughter wore gold… More
View ArticleAdvent – Meaning in the midst of Suffering
Beginning last night into this evening, fierce winds and rain have blown across the Northeast. Weather news people with their characteristic catastrophizing have talked about a “bomb cyclone.” I don’t...
View ArticleFaraway Family
Boston is cold. This is the first thing I think as I step out of Logan International Airport, arms heavy with bags and suitcases, and head toward ground transport. The airport is busy as travelers,… More
View ArticleSharp Edges of a Round Globe
What is it about Sunday afternoons in winter that bring on such melancholy? I remember writing a couple of years ago that if Sunday mornings are a time when Heaven meets earth in Divine Liturgy,… More
View ArticleFinding Place
The city of Boston is ushering in the day, traffic winding its way through the labyrinth of streets and tunnels that make up the city. To the left of the Bunker Hill Monument, the sun… More
View ArticleWhen I’m 64
Would you indulge me as I reflect and cry a little in this space? I turn 64 tomorrow. Depending on where you live in the world, it means I’ve either far exceeded the life expectancy,… More
View ArticleRejection, Resilience, and Pressing On
The rejection email came one week after I had submitted the article. In truth, it was a kind and professional email. My article was “thoughtful and creative” they said, and it would not work for… More
View ArticleTo my Younger Friends
I’ve been thinking a lot about my younger years as a new mom and wife. I shake my head a lot as I remember, wondering sometimes how I survived. But I know how. I survived… More
View ArticleSomething is Always Leading Us Home
The window of our plane showed a grey sky and light rain, leading me to sigh inwardly. We had just arrived in Boston after six days in Savannah, Georgia. The weather in Savannah could be… More
View ArticlePieces of My Heart
It’s 8 am and from my upstairs perch in Rockport I can hear someone practicing the trumpet. I wish I could adequately describe the off-key feeble attempts at creating notes. Just know that it has… More
View ArticleSeasons of Life and an Impossibly Soft Couch
“I wish I could come visit you, drink tea, and sit on your impossibly soft couch.” The message came from a younger friend of mine, Sungyon, a couple of years ago. I met her while… More
View ArticleBaby Showers and Belonging
My younger daughter is having a baby! We have known for months, but as is usual in this space, I don’t often share specifics about my children. As people who were initially formed in my… More
View ArticleThe City Within My Chest
Yesterday, my friend Robynn shared a compelling video with me. The video was of Enrique Garcia Naranjo retelling a story about being stopped by border patrol. Before he gets into the actual story, he...
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