The War Prayer

I may have mentioned I have been reading an excellent volume, The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart: Poems for Men.  I come upon poem after poem that demands and commands my attention.  I so much like this book that I purchased four copies, one for each son and one for my son-in-law. Last …

When You’re Feeling Like George Bailey

“I had the blues ’cause I had no shoes until I met a man on the street who had no feet.”  When my kids were growing up, that is how I would teach them to respond to even their legitimate woes:  someone is always in a more dire strait.  Sometimes, however, a person gets the …

Henry David Thoreau: Concerning Civil Disobedience

Amid the tsunami of political rhetoric that threatens to annihilate us all, my mind forever returns to Henry David Thoreau.  We have so much government and so many laws they we can no longer do the right thing.  We are merely forced to do whatever the majority – if it is even possible to define …

You Are the Light of the World

 We can all have extraordinary days if we pay attention and open our hearts and minds.  Father Paul spoke about the Transfiguration of Christ at church this morning.  I couldn’t help but think about the post we put up last Friday.  “Look for the light,” Father Paul implored us, and in his intercessions I heard …

Back to the Garden

I’ve recently been viewing the 1988 PBS presentation “The Power of Myth,” 342 minutes of fascinating conversation between American mythologist Joseph Campbell (1904 – 1987) and journalist and former White House Press Secretary Bill Moyers.  The depth, rather the height of their intellect humbles me.   A passing clip and statement captured my attention.  The …

Si’ahl and Non-violence

The Dawes Act and subsequent legislation may have benefitted white settlers, but it provided the framework that reduced many proud Native American tribes and their holy traditions to poverty and disrespect. In honor of Si’ahl’s stand on non-violence, tVM is proud to print the ‘Prayer to the Four Directions’ attributed to Chief Seattle with the …