Somehow, mixed with misery, I felt an urge to help others. I decided to find a volunteer opportunity and revive serving others again in my life. Still resistant to anything affiliated with religion, I began searching websites and classified ads. Almost right away, I found an organization, The Children’s Literacy Network, that takes children’s books […]

One day, as I was preparing to teach a Prison Fellowship job readiness class, I noticed approximately ten men missing. Worried about these trainees, I asked the group what happened. Steve, an intelligent, sweet-spirited young man spoke up: “The substance abuse class time changed. The new time interferes with our class.” Substance abuse is a […]

Love is personal. Love does not place people into categories; rather, it sees each person as the unique being they are. Five years ago, I met the wife of a detained immigrant man. She reached out to me for help: transportation to work and an immigration lawyer. They had 3 small children. I called a […]

“Daddy, Daddy,” she whispered soft and gentle, her tiny fingers tenderly tapping my shoulder. I awoke to my daughter breathing in my ear. Her quiet voice continued, “Daddy, it’s time to wake up. We’re going to the bookstore.” I rolled over and saw her smiling at me. She was snuggled warm in her pink footie […]

Because I’m driving I cannot close my eyes, but I can imagine that I do. I see her sitting next to me. I can feel her hand. We hold hands, like we did when I was a child. I can feel her soft, motherly touch. I smile as I see her bobbing her head to […]

“Jesus took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it.” He puts you into His hands. Not just one hand, but both hands. With all of His ability to hold you, He holds you. “Jesus took the bread.” Then He raises you up, close to His face. He places His […]

In Henry James’ The Beast in the Jungle, he tells of John Marcher’s conviction that an extraordinary event will occur in his life. Where and when this event will take place, he has no inkling, but only that it will one day certainly take place.7 Because the notion is so grand, he keeps the promised […]

Henri Nouwen was at the pinnacle of his career. Having taught at Notre Dame and Yale, he was now a Professor at Harvard. His books were bestsellers around the world. He was famous and in demand.1 The success in academia was substantial, teaching at the best universities, with the best contracts. Henri was able to […]

There is something lacking even in a perfect relationship with God. The progression of Eden’s words were: “good,” “very good,” “NOT Good.” The Genesis poem says: The LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone,” so He made family. Life is not complete until there is divine love between you […]

I know what it’s like to have someone love you more than anything else in the world…know what it’s like to have that lift you, give you value, hide in it… And then my mom left this world. There is something about love that proves our immortality. The longing to be with another again…it must […]