Category: Personhood

Is This All There Is?

It all depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. – President Bill Clinton Surely there are some things about which everyone can agree – or not. Either something exists or it doesn’t. Or is there more to the story? In the thought of the Fathers, existence has a number of qualities. That we…

February 2, 2013
In the Secret Place

Following up on the previous article’s discussion of shame and envy – I offer this reprint of an early piece which looks at the right role of the “secret” and “hidden” things of the liturgy. Of all the places and spaces to which we should attend – this article names the most important. I suspect…

January 11, 2013
The Mystery of Christ’s Baptism

This week, the Church moves from the feast of Christmas to the feast of Theophany – the celebration of the Baptism of Christ. The intent of this feast is not to celebrate a succession of historical events (the Baptism of Christ is at least 30 years later than His birth). Rather this feast takes us into the depths of…

January 4, 2013

Pebble, I think that reminding yourself that things pass, that time heals, is useful. The silence and lack of validation…

Profound as always Father. Thank you. I struggle with this notion of staying put. My monastic cell is just my…

Nathan, The habits of shame are, quite often, imposed on us in our childhood. They can be crippling. Quite often,…

Mark, the struggle is real. I have begun trying to separate the struggles from the expectations I have about the…

Nathan, Exactly! I went to Confession this past week and (of course) felt restored. And I was crabby only three…

Is This All There Is?