living in light of eternity
Way back in 2002, my husband and I happily went to see the first of The Lord of the Rings movies. Aside from all of the swashbuckle and magic, the moment in the movie that struck me most forcibly was when old Bilbo, the hobbit, says that he is spread too thin, like butter scraped... Continue Reading →
Ladies, Today is a day for grace. Grace, the beautiful, lavish gifts of God, poured out on us so unceasingly. Did the sun rise this morning while you sipped your coffee? Grace. Have you laughed out loud with a friend this week? Grace. The biggest grace, the best gift, is of course the love of... Continue Reading →
Vocation: calling, life’s work, mission, purpose, craft, career. Deeper than a job, what “occupies” us, what we clock in and out for, vocation is something welling up and spilling out. Vocation is what you daydream about when you’re a kid or pursue in your free time with passion. And sometimes it’s at odds with gainful... Continue Reading →
Maybe you’ve prayed it, too — Dear God, please don’t let my kid become an illiterate hobo. Please don’t let me kill that woman, not today. Please let most of the regulars show up this week. Please don’t let us elect Hitler. Maybe it started out as a joke — she’d lose her head if... Continue Reading →
Last night at Bible study we were having a lively discussion about loving our neighbor when one of the ladies paused. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,” she read. “How are we doing with loving ourselves?” A sigh of understanding rippled around the room. We are a group of young(ish) American women: we know... Continue Reading →
Christmas has all the best stories (and OK, to be fair, some of the worst schlock. If in doubt, sample some of the unknown Christmas movies on Netflix this year — you’ll see.) There’s a little bit of everything in a Christmas flick: magic, longing, delight, sometimes tragedy, always wonder, more often than not hilarity. ... Continue Reading →
platitude, noun: a remark or statement (especially with moral content) that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful. Cliché. It has happened a hundred times. At gravesides, hospital beds, over coffee. Tears are falling, someone is looking for answers. He won’t be with us much longer. I’m going to lose the... Continue Reading →
We are staying in a swiss-style chalet in Estes Park this week. If I set out walking, I could get lost in thousands of acres of pine forest, maybe get up close and personal with some elk. But I'm sitting by the fire, drawn like a moth. I remember sitting by a fire at about... Continue Reading →
People sometimes want to know what it is like to live on the full-time financial support of others. Isn't there a better way? Grants, say, or the insurance payout from accidental dismemberment? The very idea of raising support gives most people the heebie-jeebies, and when one's son or daughter is contemplating a life of service,... Continue Reading →
This is how to remember: square your shoulders, tell the truth. Face it bravely. Ask hard questions. Ask lots of questions, why and how and who, what if. Listen to the stories. Put yourself in that position, ask yourself, what would I do? How would I feel? This is how to remember: not just one... Continue Reading →
Catherine's Letters 