Dressing like death and looking at death
Halloween has its roots in All-Hallow’s Eve and so is rooted in Christianity, at least in name. Despite this, a writer on liturgical traditions, Fr. Francis Weiser, has pointed out that many of the traditions of Halloween are not rooted in Christianity but in heathen practices from druid times. Whether Halloween was inspired by paganism of not, i...
Wondering and Wandering in a Cemetery
Perhaps it’s my age…approaching 76 as this is written. Or my heritage…Irish Catholic. Or my curiosity about people…living or deceased. Regardless of the reason, I enjoy the peacefulness of walking around a cemetery on a sunlit spring, summer or fall day. It’s not a sad experience for me. Rather, it’s not uncommon for me (if there’s n...
Are You a Whitewashed Tomb and Seeking Perfection?
Perfect. That word begins so softly but ends so sharply. It’s like kissing the mirror then taking a bite out of it. Perfectionism is something I’ve wrestled with my entire adult life. Well, let’s rope adolescence in there too because we all know high school was rough and middle school was just weird. Jesus told the Pharisees that they were...
Blessed Are They Who Mourn: How I’m Responding to Grandpa’s Death
*Since this article was written, Sean’s grandfather has passed. Please pause and pray for his soul. Today I had what may very well have been my last conversation with my beloved “Grampa.” He is 90 years old, in the advanced stages of cancer, and has declined extremely rapidly in the course of just a few weeks. The doctors say it’s ...
Time is a Gift: Use it Well
You know the story: An old man is near death. His career was successful, providing well for his family. But he is nagged by a feeling that he wasn’t around enough. Extended business trips and late nights spent at the office haunt him. Was his worldly success worth missing those baseball games, recitals, and family dinners? In the twilight of h...
Three Lessons from Your Kids on Eternity
Raising children is a great blessing. That God would bestow upon man the ability to share in His creative power is a wondrous example of His generosity; or, depending on your viewpoint, this procreative ability is proof that God has a sense of humor. Can you imagine what else might have been said in Heaven during Creation week that is not record...
What Hill Are You Dying On?
I don’t like to read long blog posts. The good news is that means I typically don’t like writing long blog posts either. This one, therefore, will be an exercise in brevity. Our lives are filled with amazing tools, gadgets, and conveniences, yet we are losing our souls. My thought on why: we don’t have enough men proclaiming truth, beau...
Three Ways Children Teach Their Fathers About Eternity
Raising children is a great blessing. That God would bestow upon man the ability to share in His creative power is a wondrous example of His generosity; or, depending on your viewpoint, this procreative ability is proof that God has a sense of humor. Can you imagine what else might have been said in Heaven during Creation week that is not record...