Some time ago, as I was sitting on a plane, I started to envision what would happen in the event of a crash: turbulence, a sudden loss of pressure, airbags dropping, a drop in altitude, the doors flying off, the wind blowing through the cabin. I saw myself offering a prayer in the final moments. I saw us all brace for impact and felt the jolt as we hit the earth. After a momentary loss of consciousness, I imagined myself slowly becoming aware: lights flashing over bags …

I have been thinking a lot about anger lately, probably because there is a lot to be angry about. Most of my anger is directed toward those who seem unable or unwilling to see the reality of the environmental challenges facing the world at this moment in time. As anyone who pays attentions is aware, the list is long and growing. Even if the worst case scenarios do not play out, there will still be significant and serious changes to the earth’s environment that will be irreversible. …

I have now been living and sharing life with the Word Made Flesh community in Buenos Aires for two and a half years. While I consider myself a novice in Ignatian spirituality, I am grateful for how the process and practices continue to shape my posture of observing, listening and learning. Since first being introduced to the practice of examen five years ago, the intentional attentiveness of Ignatian spirituality has significantly influenced my discernment and vocational discovery.

Today it poured rain in Omaha. I ran through it to get from my car to the school where I teach a early morning dance class on Fridays, then from the school to my car where I sat, hoping it would let up so I could make it into the office without arriving totally drenched. At this moment, mid afternoon, outside it is a sunny, bright Nebraska  clear sky sun day that makes you squint your eyes just from looking out the window. Appropriately my eyes are drawn to a Mary Oliver poem that …