“First the man, then the Saint” is an age-old saying that refers to the vital importance of forming ourselves as people, as a basis upon which everything else sits. So I’m trying to do that, sharing my journey of personal growth and self-mastery here in short daily reflections.
Suffering and Hope
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy...
Listen
“Be still, and know that I am God.” - Psalm 46:10 We're surrounded by noise; every opportunity for silence, we cram in our earbuds and flit nervously through our feeds, desperately trying to fill the void. "In the secret of my heart, teach me wisdom." - Psalm 51:6 No...
Mistakes
“If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.” - Tallulah Bankhead Mistakes are a part of life. We all make them. We side-swipe a guard-rail. We leave our phone in the restroom at the mall. We watch every episode of How I Met Your...
Love and Meaning
"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another." -Thomas Merton The Love of the Trinity is the source of all life. The outpouring of that Love created all things; a love that was so immense it had to be...
Be the Hero
So much has to do with attitude. If you set out with the mentality of a hero striving against all odds to accomplish his goals and protect his loved ones, your chances of success are far higher. If on the contrary you espouse the victim mentality of enumerating all...
Begin Again
**After a two-week sabbatical, dealing with the flu myself and sleepless nights helping my family come through it, I'm back to my writing.** I'm beginning again, with my daily writing, and the daily practice of self-improvement and growth that I started at New...
Outside the Box
"Thinking outisde of the box keeps you from suffocating inside of one." - Matshona Dhliwayo
One Month In
It's been a month. I've thus far accomplished what I set out to do. I've exercized every day, prayed every day, written (almost) every day. One month in, I can attest to the clarity that this has already brought me. I've been so much more aware of myself. So...
Action
Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what...
Addiction
"You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious." - Anonymous Addiction isn't a cause. It's almost always an effect, caused by something deeper. It's often self-medication of a deeper...