“Without a vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). This biblical wisdom comes to mind as I ponder the state of our nation. I write this reflection in the...
The Examined Life
Discover The Examined Life columns, highlighting the intersections between contemplation, lived faith, and social justice in daily life.
It’s that time of year when the parental back-to-school glow lights up playgrounds and parking lots. I drive past an elementary school every day on my way to...
In February I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The sights and sounds of Galilee were captivating. Sitting on the Sea of Galilee, I closed my eyes and...
Let me tell you about Maria. Maria is a white woman in her late 50s who cleans toilets at a major sports arena. She lugs three bulky duffel bags bursting with...
“Your sons and daughters will prophesy . . .” (Acts 2:17). I write this when hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students across the nation joined...
The holiest of weeks began in procession, then and now. At some point we exchanged dirt roads and donkeys for concrete sidewalks and poster board, but the...
Art covers the walls of a hip storefront in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. On the Saturday before Halloween, 500 kids make their way inside to claim a piece of...
In April we will mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. He was killed in Memphis while supporting sanitation workers on strike...
January is a month of possibilities, full of the hope and newness of a new year. In this spirit of renewal, we reflect on the past and discern our desires for...
In mid-September I spoke at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota where I met with about 25 middle-school students of the local Black Catholic parish...
