Reflections
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How God answers prayers in surprising ways
Some days God answers prayers in ways I would never choose. Driving to the homeless shelter recently, I prayed an unusual but heartfelt prayer: “Lord, please let there be no police officers…
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What I found in the heart of a Scottish castle
While visiting the Isle of Bute in Scotland, I toured Rothesay Castle, a thirteenth-century fortress once coveted by Scots, Norwegians, English forces, and the Lord of the Isles. For centuries, it was captured,…
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The three longings of the heart
Last week, I was at Divine Mercy University helping facilitate the residency for the School of Spiritual Direction. Every time I am there, I leave humbled. Priests, religious sisters, consecrated men and women, deacons, and…
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A Visit to One of the “Thin Spaces”
The most beautiful stop on our tour of the British Isles was the Isle of Man and the preserved village of Cregneash. It felt like stepping into one of the “thin spaces” of…
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A new perspective on the Advocate
Between Ascension and Pentecost, the early Church waited with a quiet ache for the promised Advocate. Jesus knew the opposition his followers would face in a wounded world. He refused to leave us…
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The unexpected grace found in Cobh
My wife and I just returned from a ten‑day cruise around the British Isles. There were many remarkable stops, but one place in particular became the clearest moment of God’s presence—not loud, but…
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Seeing a new message in the old white cliffs
My wife and I have begun a ten-day cruise around the British Isles, where we’ll visit iconic sites like Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, St David’s Cathedral, and other parts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.…
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My new office companion – Our Lady of Silence
I’ve welcomed a new companion into my office—the place where I meet people for pastoral counseling and spiritual direction: Our Lady of Silence. This modern icon was written by Capuchin friar Fr. Emiliano…
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Finding God in the Liturgical Dissonance
I returned to a beautiful little church in the Blue Ridge mountains after nearly a decade away, and felt a quiet disappointment. The church itself remains as striking as I remembered—perched on a…
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The strange companionship of sorrow and joy
We put our dog Mack to sleep last Friday. It was time—but that didn’t make it easy. I want to share the last lesson he taught me on sorrow and joy. Mack…
