The population of the world is approximately 7 billion, and nearly 60% of all men, women and children on this planet claim to practice one of these three religions: Christianity 2.1 billion Islam 1.5 billion Buddhism 376 million Common among these three religions is […]
Author Archives: tVM
Vision Quest, part I
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, a Vision Quest is a solitary vigil by an adolescent Native American boy to seek spiritual power and to learn through a vision the identity of his guardian spirit. Native Americans believe that each human is put on this earth for a special reason. That reason is not always clear to […]
Once an Eagle …
The eagle wins! After several polls and multiple questions, our readers and subscribers — by no wide margin, but close enough to claim victory — have chosen. If God allowed us to return to earth as a creature other than man, we would return as eagles! That is certainly as good a choice as any. […]
God is REAL
I went for a short hike this afternoon, 4.5 miles to be more exact. It is impossible to deny the existence of God when a person is surrounded by this.
Namaste
Last month, we suggested that the simple act of greeting your fellow man each day with a smile on your face is one of the most important acts you can accomplish. I’ve since crossed paths with the greeting “Namaste” from the Indian sub-continent. Pronounced “NAH-mah-stay” with the emphasis on the first syllable, it can be […]
Free the Angel
Several years ago, one of my spiritual guides introduced me to the work and spirituality of Thomas Merton. I continue to explore it every day. His frequent reference to “point vierge” [literally translated as ‘the virgin point’] has been an important concept in my continuing quest to learn who I truly am. Merton writes: “The […]
The Sign of Peace
I practice Catholicism because it is right for me. As we approach the International Day of Peace, I cannot help but think of a practice I enthusiastically perform each day I attend Mass at the Lady of the Desert Chapel at the Redemptorist Renewal Center at Picture Rocks. Shortly after the congregation prays “The Lord’s […]
International Day of Peace
This Wednesday, September 21, 2011 is the International Day of Peace. First celebrated in September 1982, the United Nations declared September 21st as the official International Day of Peace in 2002. Sadly, I would wager that most of us are not even aware of this event. Peace means more than the absence of war. Peace […]
Anne Frank, June 12, 1929 – early March 1945
Earlier this week, a tVM subscriber pointed me to the official website of Tom Shadyac’s film “I Am.” How or when I will see it, I don’t know, but I WILL see it. The trailer grabbed my guts and the final statement struck with power: “We started by asking ‘What’s wrong with the world,’ and […]
A Plea for Giving
“When dealing with others, be gentle and kind …” So wrote Lao Tzu as we posted several weeks ago when we presented verse 8 of the Tao Te Ching. The more I think about that single sentence, the more I am moved to action. A year ago, Deacon Ken McNealy, permanent Deacon of the Diocese […]