Back in high school a good friend of mine rebuilt the engine on a 1954 Ford V8 engine. He took it all apart, had the valves and pistons reground, and put it all back together. Expectations were high. On the big day, he got the engine started and took it for a spin. To everyone’s … Continue reading “Out Of Sync” →

Originally Posted July 2, 2020 Lenny Castellaneta wrote “God watches out for children, drunks and fools. ” Actually I never heard of Lenny until today, but others have said similar things. Anyway however I qualify, I feel that God has been watching out for me.  July 5, 1969 It was 1966 and a friend of … Continue reading “God Takes Care Of Us” →

Originally Posted July 1, 2020 Most of us can remember when some sports star made a dramatic error…perhaps a fumble or blowing an easy shot…. remember Scott Norwood missing the field goal against the Giants in the Super Bowl, or Bill Buckner letting the ball go thru his legs against the Mets in the World … Continue reading “To Fumble ….. You Have To Be In The Game” →

I’m in the process of reading one of my favorite books for the 3rd time. It’s the autobiography of Thomas Merton, entitled , “The Seven Story Mountain”. It’s his  spiritual odyssey from a young man growing up in the US and Europe,….  English prep schools, to Cambridge, and then to Columbia…a life of dissipation to gradual conversion, becoming … Continue reading “Our Weakness Should Not Terrify Us” →

A friend recently mentioned to my daughter that, “ when your dad gets up to speak and he has a little smile on his face, I know he’s going to tell a joke.” Hmmmmmmm, I didn’t know I was so predictable. In truth, often I don’t plan on telling a joke, but it just “pops … Continue reading “Is That Funny” →

Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb ? Hmmmmmm. Who painted “Whistler’s Mother”?  When was the war of 1812 fought? Give up? I have to admit that over the years I’ve been stumped by these questions…. maybe due to nerves or being distracted. How about these questions. What kind of horse was St. Paul riding when he was … Continue reading “ Don’t Be A Smarty Pants” →

No one likes to waste time…. or to waste pain and suffering… or to waste any kind of investment. I guess that’s why it’s frustrating to wait in line, whether in a traffic jam or on  line at the movies or being put on HOLD waiting for the service rep to help you. We’ve all heard, … Continue reading “Even Traffic Jams Work To The Good” →

It’s interesting to watch little children. It’s pretty common to see them looking for attention at various points of their little life…. .They want to be the “center of attention”… “hey look at me. I can do a somersault …. hey watch me, I can sing ….. I want a cookie …..”  At some point they … Continue reading “Be Encouraged” →

Originally Posted June 30, 2020 We were talking to a young priest friend the other day about intercession …”praying on behalf of another”. He mentioned that a number of people had agreed to pray for him and his priesthood. (The “Seven Sisters Apostolate” pray for priests…. one praying an hour each day of the week for … Continue reading “Intercession—Standing in The Gap” →

Originally Posted June 29, 2020 I’ve often been struck by Jesus’s words from the Sermon on the Mount where he speaks about the disaster that strikes those who ignore his words. "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the … Continue reading “Withstanding The Storm” →