It’s a stunning moment in one of the great books: Jim Hawkins doesn’t jump the stockade. The other day when reading Treasure Island aloud with the family, I fairly wanted to jump out of my skin when we came to it. For the fortunate hearer, a moment like this can change everything—or reaffirm everything—about what […]| LifeCraft
There is more at stake in hospitality than meets the eye. The realm of hosting is a privileged context for discovering and enacting our human identity, which means also our divine calling. And home will always be the central place of hospitality. Guests are sent from the gods: such is a recurring theme in Homer. […]| LifeCraft
My father-in-law once explained why he wanted to ‘homeschool’ when almost no one else in the state was doing so. “I wanted my children to be like their mother rather than like the teachers in the schools.” Whether this was or is the best practical conclusion, it in any case indicates a key starting point: […]| LifeCraft
Home is our workshop of life, and we are artisans. We discover, pattern and forge–for spouses, friends, children and others–the key features of a human life. In an unforgettable line, St. Benedict enunciates a key to the whole project: “Never despair of God’s mercy.” In his Rule, one of the most influential documents ever written, […]| LifeCraft
We know that how we earn and spend wealth are significant issues. But often due to the press of life we do not give these the reflection we should. ‘Practical’ demands tend to override deeper human considerations. Our philosophical and theological traditions have much to offer here. In the Republic, while with some very problematic […]| LifeCraft
For many of us it is hard to find time to listen to great music. Even though convinced it would be good for us, we struggle to fit it in. Perhaps we can combine two good things: doing dishes and great music. In any case, both are worth making time for. This is a suggestion […]| LifeCraft