I have hit upon the ultimate Ignatian gift—really-it is courageously perfect for anyone on your list, particularly people in the 1/3 minority, western, developed world.

In Ignatius’ Principle and Foundation for loving God, we are called to hold all created “things” in balance and use them so far as they bring us closer to God and the person we are called to be and rid ourselves of them in so far as they distract us or move us away from God and the person we are called to be. Read the rest of this entry →

I am thinking of the story in the gospel about the woman and the two gold coins (Lk 21:1-4). On the face of it, it is a story about an act of selflessness and faith. Every time we place money in a box, we do so with the hope that whoever takes it will put it to good use. For the woman in the story, though, it is an act of faith with very serious physical repercussions that left her completely at the mercy of others. We have to hope that she had a community that would support her. We hope that there were others who were there to ease her struggle. Or, maybe we just find ourselves shaking our heads thinking “I could never give away all of my money like that. How is she going to eat? How will she take care of her needs?” Read the rest of this entry →

Recently I took some time out to renew and refresh my understanding of Ignatian spirituality. While I consider myself very much a newbie to all things Ignatian, it was good to recall and remember how the themes and posture of Ignatian spirituality have impacted my life in significant ways these past five years. Ignatian themes of attentiveness, finding God in all things, contemplative activism, imagination, discernment and gratitude have all shaped and deepened my formation and vocation. All this has inspired me to give renewed attention to these Ignatian themes and practices in my own life. I begin with gratitude. Read the rest of this entry →

I did something really radical last week. I occupied Omaha.

Under the guise of taking my dog for a nice long walk, I marched through the streets of downtown with hundreds of other people carrying signs ranging from “Close the Fed” to “We are the balance to their checks!” Unlike the violent protests depicted on TV, the Omaha event was more parade of hope. Omaha protesters are obscenely nice. We love our police! We obey all traffic rules. We make way for people pushing baby carriages.

And yet, I found it awkward to yell out or chant or carry a sign. This protesting thing is somewhat new for me. I know I agree that policies and programs need to favor the poor over the wealthy. I know there is a place for government as our collective representation and voice to help create jobs for the unemployed. I know all society is better off with a vibrant and large middle class rather than a deep gap between the wealthy and the poor. I know wealth does not fill one’s soul. So why did I feel so nervous to stand on a corner and proclaim that? What is the fear that lies behind my hesitation? Read the rest of this entry →

I will be ordained a deacon in twelve days..
But…you know….who is counting.

The question comes: “So, are you nervous?”
The response: I have no idea what I am.

How do I explain that every day my stomach
wants to jump out of my mouth?

My prayer life is rocky, I cannot focus,
and I am completely restless.

How do I explain that my line of conscious thought
is whipping around like a downed power cable or a firehose; Read the rest of this entry →