Learning to Embrace Silence
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“I went to a monastery for the weekend. I learned God was peace — pure, unadulterated, complete peace.” Read this article about my journey to embracing silence:
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Clothed in Humility: How I’m Learning From the Holy and Humble
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Humility is a concept that is difficult to define. We often think of it as an antithesis to confidence. But this is simply untrue. Many of our favorite leaders in history or in our own lives are treasured because of their humility. I think of St Teresa of Calcutta and her work with the poorest of the poor in India. Or an old boss who always said it was the interns who did most of the difficult work on a project, not him. There is an openness in humility. A flexibility to learn something new. A teachable spirit. Humility allows us to listen. And ultimately, humility is connected to God’s sovereignty.
Read MoreWhat Does it Mean to Be Content?
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This year, I found out I can be a lot happier with a simpler life.
Read MoreHow We Can Be a Blessing to Others
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Poet John O’Donohue said "It would be lovely if we could rediscover our power to bless one another." I've been trying to discover it for myself.
Read MoreWhat St. Paul Can Teach Us About Christian Joy
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St Paul was on house arrest for 2 yrs. Sound familiar? And yet, he chose joy. I look to him for inspiration during this seemingly, never-ending lockdown.
Read MoreChrist’s Presentation in the Temple: A Light for All of Us
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Four years ago, we were in Mexico City for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. I finally got around to writing about it for Busted Halo . Read about it here.
Picture This: Using Art As a Path to the Holy Spirit
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Today I sit with artist Andrew Wyeth’s “Wind From the Sea”…I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths to quiet my heart and mind. I invite God to speak to me through the picture.”
Read MoreGod Shows Up In the Sunrise
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I want to see the sunrise because I want to see how God is going to show up, not just in the sunrise but in this mess of a pandemic.
I feel as if I am almost daring him to show up. I know he’s here but I want something big.
Read MoreEbenezer: Marking God’s Protection with a ‘Stone of Help’
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I was driving home on a major street in downtown Seattle when a middle-aged man riding his bike to work slipped on a light-rail track. He, along with his bike, tumbled across the double yellow line and into oncoming traffic — specifically, my car.
Read MoreMade For Love Podcast: The Catholic Family on Vacation
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I was interviewed for United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Made For Love podcast after my essay on vacations in Busted Halo. Host Sara Perla did an amazing job editing me. I sound like a lovable neurotic which is exactly me. Listen and Enjoy here.
Read MoreHow I Learned to Let Go of My Worries on Vacation
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I can't be the only one who stresses out on vacation, right?
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How to Intentionally Plan a Day of Rest
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“After a busy week, not just my body, but my soul cries out for rest—a Sabbath. Just as God took a day of rest after six days of creation, he invites us to set apart, to make holy, a day for rest.”
Read MoreHow Finding a Spiritual Director Changed My Life
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“Who do you imagine as a spiritual director?” Carla, the coordinator at my local Ignatian Spirituality Center asked. I started to laugh as the image of Don Porter, the actor who played Sally Field’s father on the television show, “Gidget” flashed in my mind.
Read MoreOur Lady of Guadalupe and the Joy of Knowing Her Son
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Imagine the delight of my devout Native-Mexican mother-in-law when her sixth child, my husband, was born on December 12, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Read MoreSt. Thérèse of Lisieux: Inspiring Us to Share Our Faith Stories
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“I will send down a shower of roses; I want to spend my Heaven doing good on earth.” St. Thérèse’s feast day is October 1st! Here’s what her faith story might mean for yours.
Read MoreLearning Grace from a Homeboy
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God and the maintenance man: my reflection on finding grace in an unexpected place.
Read MoreMy Virtual Camino: Celebrating the Feast of St. James in My Own Backyard
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When I started attending St. James Cathedral in Seattle 11 years ago, I said to a friend, “St. James? Which one is he again?”
“He’s one of the Sons of Thunder!” she said, a little too loudly with a sort of spirited superhero look on her face.
I nearly spit out the double tall vanilla latte I was sipping, doubling over with laughter. “Sons of Thunder?” I asked.
Read MorePentecost: The Soul’s Most Welcome Guest
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Scripture says that at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit enabled the Apostles to speak in other languages, previously unknown to them. Native speakers heard the stories of kindness, peace, love, and redemption in their own languages.
Read MoreBurying the Alleluia
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After hearing a conversation between her two young sons, Shemaiah Gonzalez was led to reflect on the importance of not saying Alleluia during the Lenten Season
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