Alternative Narrative, Part 3

“After seminary I had some time to begin to work through some of the long bibliography I had gathered together. On that bibliography were monastics like Thomas Merton and Saint John of the Cross. The works of John of the Cross captured me. Some of the language was arcane. I remember going to my friend …

Alternative Narrative, Part 1

My friend, Roger, and I have irregular email conversations. Roger is a Systematic Theologian. I, as some of you know, am a Theological Librarian. Interestingly enough, most of our conversations are political in nature. We are both politically liberal. For some reason our last conversation triggered me to write a bit about my background that …

6+ Year Old Mystic

I’ve been gone for several weeks. I had the notion that I would post all the way to Iowa and back but got too tired each day to break out the computer and write. The drive there and back was remarkable in many ways. Sometimes really funny. I’ll get into those stories in posts yet …

2 Year Old Mystic

I may have been 3 years old. What I do remember is being young enough to stand on the cushions of our chesterfield and being able to place my head on the back of it without bending over. Most important for this post is that I recall looking into the sky and thinking that there …

Spiritual Communion With God

In a previous post I talk about two distinct Dark Nights: the Dark Night of the Senses and the Dark Night of the Soul. Two Dark Nights, not just one. This is the teaching of the original voice regarding Dark Nights, John of the Cross. He was born in 1542 in Spain. At one point …

Can’t You See Them?

On April 12, 1982, I buried Mary. Mary was 93 years old when she died. She was a lively woman with a vibrant faith. She lived at home with her child who was not that young any longer. I remember knocking on the door and being greeted with a jocular hello. She loved to tease. …

A Post Of The Dead

This past weekend we went across the state (7.5 hours) to a memorial service for a friend we had known for over 40 years. It was a pleasant service, as such things go. It did, though, remind me of conducting funerals and memorial services myself. During the last 2 years/54 weeks of ministry, I conducted …

Elevator To Heaven

Thérèse of Lisieux lived to be only 24 years old but has been called the greatest saint of the contemporary world. She called all followers of Jesus to be small child-like believers. She believed, rightly so, that becoming a saint by way of rigorous adherence to the standards of holiness is just plain too hard …

Holy Saturday

First of all, silly me, I just discovered the Reader. I’ve been reading the new posts of the people I’m following in email on my phone ever since I began with WordPress. “Liking” something in email always popped open the browser and, then, I would “Like” the post in the browser which would in turn …

…Or Become A Mystic

On my home screen I have a quote from Anthony de Mello: There comes a point in your life when you become stark raving insane, commit suicide, or become a mystic. I tried insane. In fact, I find that a little insanity may be helpful. But the death by suicide thing really doesn’t appeal to …