From the category archives:
Since I no longer believe in coincidence, I’m wondering what God is inviting me to see, not only in the sudden spate of movies glorifying food, but because this morning’s kitchen adventure soon became an especially contemplative exercise. I’ve been cooking — and eating — for many years. I was raised by foodies who entered [...]
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With the feast day of Saint Augustine coming up later this week (August 28) I have been thinking about his (likely) influence on Saint Ignatius–specifically, Augustine’s writing about desire in his autobiographical Confessions. One of his most insightful comments comes upon reflecting on his first experience of heading off as a student to the big [...]
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Matthew Spotts, SJ, didn’t particularly “like” his four-month stint working on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, yet he thought it was what God wanted him to do. He writes, “discernment, is far, far more complicated than figuring out what makes us happy on a superficial level, figuring what we ‘like.’” Liking or [...]
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I do some of my best thinking and praying while running or biking. This morning I considered how biking hills is not a bad analogy to the discernment of consolation and desolation in the spiritual life. Here’s the idea. Coming to the beginning of a long upward climb can be a daunting experience. You see [...]
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I took my girls to a place called Purgatory Chasm and had a metaphor experience. Metaphor experiences are of course those things you do which, once they are accomplished, emerge as perfect metaphors for life. And I tend to encounter them frequently because I look for them, and that, according to my wife, makes me [...]
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Psychologists study a phenomenon called “disregard of regression toward the mean.” This is our tendency to expect that extreme performance will continue. It’s a common mistake. I’ve had a string of good days lately. Writing comes easily, ideas flow, I’ve had a lot of fun with my family and friends. I feel great. Meanwhile, my [...]
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Today is the last day you can download your free copy of the new book What’s Your Decision? How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity. Here it is. We’ll continue to offer special discounts on printed copies of the book through August 15. Go here for details. You might also want to take a [...]
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If you haven’t done so already, now’s the time to download your free copy of What’s Your Decision? How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity. The free eBook offer ends on June 30. You can also buy a printed copy of the book at a special discount. Details here. The book is a clear, [...]
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I probably can’t describe how I know if and when I’m hearing from the Almighty without sounding odd. Let’s just say I’ve (pretty much) learned how to distinguish God’s prompts from whatever is bubbling up from the simmering cauldron of my own ego. In any given situation, God is infinitely more creative and nuanced than [...]
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Do you know anyone who is facing a big decision? You probably do. They might be interested in a free copy of a book that can help. The book is What’s Your Decision? How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity. I am a co-author along with Jesuits Michael Sparough and Tim Hipskind. For two [...]
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