Spiritual

Abbey

by

After a lovely trip through Letchworth Park I made it to Abbey of the Genesee. I haven’t been here in awhile. I was afraid I tarried too long in the state park, but pleasantly I made it in time to get some gifts in the store. I purchased four Monks Brownies and two packages of … Read more

Inspiration Point

by

I stand perhaps a couple hundred feet above the Genesee River as it winds it’s way through the gorge that is central to Letchworth Park. I come here often because of the peaceful surroundings that are punctuated with lovely vistas like this one. It is quiet except for the distant roar of falling water from … Read more

Evening of Re-Creation

by

Tonight I sit in Holy Peace Chapel with others seeking solitude and community. This is my first opportunity for an evening of peaceful re-creation here at Mt. Irenaeus this summer. I came tonight with a heart full of questions longing for answers. Earlier today I gathered on the campus of St. Bonaventure University to reflect … Read more

Love and tolerance

by

Today I received an email message that was a wolf in sheeps clothing. A hateful message masquerading as a national security issue. I replied by asking the person not to send anymore of these missives. I welcomed uplifting messages but asked to be excluded from the prejudicial messages. I received a response that excused the … Read more

From the heart

by

Parker Palmer has been a favorite of mine for a number of years now and this recently released video of his upcoming book, Healing the Heart of Democracy really speaks to a topic that I wrote about yesterday. We have to get past partisanship and bickering to solve our larger issues as a country or … Read more

End the squabbling now

by

“I never remember a time when we had such deadlock, paralysis, almost unrelenting rigidity. We were able to work across the aisle and shape what I call American solutions to big issues. Something happened to shatter that essential ability to compromise and build for the future.” – Former Vice President Walter Mondale on how a … Read more

Evening on the lake

by

Evening has fallen on Lake Murray in Chapin, SC. The stillness is punctuated by fireworks around the lake. Lake Murray’s official 4th of July fireworks occurred on Saturday evening. We viewed them from my brother’s boat in the middle of the lake near Dreher Island State Park. Nonetheless there is a staccato of firecrackers, Roman … Read more

The Leader in Me

by

I’ve been reading “The Leader in Me,” by Steven Covey today as I sit in a boat rocking gently on the shores of Lake Murray in steamy South Carolina. It’s been quite a year and just prior to the ISTE Conference I went on retreat. Retreats are restorative. Prior to the retreat I had been … Read more

A July Morning

by

I am sitting on the porch and looking at Lake Murray. It’s very still and quiet. A restful time for all of us. My Mom is 84 and last night as we arrived and gathered sharing stories across generations. Mom stood up with tears in her eyes and said she was glad we could all … Read more

One moment at a time

by

It is not hard to live through a day, if you can live through a moment. What creates despair is the imagination, which pretends there is a future, and insists on predicting millions of moments, thousands of days, and so drains you that you cannot live the moment at hand. –Andre Dubus, “A Father’s Story,” … Read more