I think there is a danger for us in the two famous scriptural pericopes on a good woman, one in Proverbs 31 and the other in Sirach 26. I do not know what a woman thinks when she hears these remarkable texts. I want to consider how a man hears them. There is much beautiful […]| LifeCraft
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
By staycation I simply mean a sort of vacation done at home. It could be very short (even a day or two) or it could be a week or more. Ideally not a replacement but rather an addition to a vacation (a going way of some kind), a staycation can be an excellent enhancement to […]| LifeCraft
“He has no other teachers besides the oaks and beeches.” Words we might expect about Thoreau in fact are about one of the great Christian intellectuals of the Middle Ages. Today when a focus on trees too often betokens a turning away from the Creator of trees, we can restore trees, and the whole natural […]| 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
I sat down to ponder an amazing proverb from Scripture about using words well. As I reflected, I was struck by another maxim: use it or lose it. Using words well is a prime example of a key human ability now critically threatened through lack of practice. Two factors are contrary cultural habits and AI […]| 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
WQ #171: May 29: People – Families Inspire Happy Wednesday! Welcome to #WQ (Wednesday Quotes). Here’s your chance to showcase your photos, poems, thoughts, and stories about beliefs tha…| Marsha Ingrao - Always Write
WQ #169: May 15 Inspired healing and hope in people Wednesday Quotes (WQ) 2024 Logo “Wednesday will be amazing so wake up and smile.” Unknown Happy Wednesday! Welcome to #WQ (Wednesday …| Marsha Ingrao - Always Write
WQ #167: May 1 Month-End-Review & Inspiration of Music in Art Wednesday Quotes (WQ) 2024 Logo “Wednesday will be amazing so wake up and smile.” Unknown Happy Wednesday! Welcome to #…| Marsha Ingrao - Always Write
WQ #166: March 27: Beliefs/Easter Happy Wednesday! Welcome to #WQ (Wednesday Quotes). Here’s your chance to showcase your photos, poems, thoughts, and stories about beliefs that inspire. On M…| Marsha Ingrao - Always Write