A Retreat on Rails
Back in 2009 I took a cross-country train from Boston to San Diego just because it had always been a dream of mine. This summer,…
read moreDitching the Cosmic Coke Machine
Nothing thrills quite like finding out that you’ve been acting like a crazy person. I had that experience two summers ago, when I spent eight…
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Four Tips for Keeping Your Semester Holy
I’m a college English professor with two children, ages 6 and 8. As a new school semester begins for our family, new routines automatically emerge.…
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Community Service: How You Can Act on Catholic Social Teaching Every Day
During my many years of volunteer service (primarily in hunger relief organizations), I’ve witnessed a frustrating phenomenon. While people (admirably) tend to focus on opportunities…
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Praying for Presence: How the Examen Helps Me Focus
When I was a kid, there were nights at the dinner table when my dad would get quiet and start staring off into the distance.…
read moreCrowds and Concrete
I harbor not-so-subtle feelings of dislike for nature. Because I cannot plug my hair straightener into a tree nor can I convince any surrounding wildlife…
read moreNotes from the Back Seat
I’m sitting in the back seat… again. It’s been a while since I’ve sat back here, looking on over miles and hours at the moving…
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