Latest Thoughts
Explore My Reflections
Following the contemplative rhythm of Lectio Divina
Moving from Attentive Reading (Lectio)
To Reflection (Meditatio)
To Prayerful Response (Oratio)
And finally into Silent Resting in God (Contemplatio)
Grappling With Divinity invites a slow unfolding of Scripture, Spiritual Wisdom, and Lived Experience.
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Lectio: Definitely Loved
“I am definitely loved and whatever happens to me, I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good.” ~St. Josephine Bakhita
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Scriptio: First Day Nerves
Equal parts nervous and excited, I log into Zoom to attend orientation for the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola of Chicago. I double check-the time and the timezone because I always doubt myself, and my math. I have the correct time and I used the link they emailed me. On the screen, it…
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Oratio: Leaves Of Change
The leaves of changesignal the quiet departureof summer’s warmthbeckoning inthe cool winter windsbringing us togetherto gatherand huddlearound one anotherfor it is not goodfor any one of usto be aloneand when we gatherfor His sakewe are not alone ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: As You Are
“Humility is nothing but truly knowing and feeling yourself, as you truly are.” ~The Cloud of Unknowing
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Oratio: Holy Longing
I want to rejectthis feelingI want to runaway from fearbut I must pursuethis holy longingthough it maytear me apartthough it mayshake me to piecesfor I believeGod’s promisenow and forever ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: More Craft Than Feeling
“Faith, I’ve come to believe, is more craft than feeling. And prayer is our chief practice in the craft.” ~Tish Harrison Warren
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Scriptio: At Least For A Moment
Halfway into my morning centering prayer session, my nose began to itch. It was subtle, but noticeable, quietly demanding my attention. Out of instinct and habit, I was tempted to scratch it. It occurred to me, however, that part of the practice of centering prayer is the practice of letting go of these instincts,…
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Oratio: When You Are Pleased
Heavenly FatherI hear your whispersthe word upon my heartI see the winkof your divine eyeI feel you smiling upon mewhen you are pleasedand you want nothing lessthan for me to sharein your eternal joywhy I strayremains a mysteryand so I pray ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: When Our Defenses Fall
“This is not to say that God desires for us to suffer. Rather, when our defenses fall, our ultimate connection is revealed. Thus, vulnerability is another way in which we can experience our desire for God.” ~Fr. James Martin, SJ
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Oratio: I Am Enough
Releaseyour possessionswhispers the Lordcome to metrust in mefollow meabide in melet go of allthat you hold dearfor I am enough ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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The Yoke We Were Not Meant To Carry: Brother Lawrence and the Grace That Meets Our Powerlessness (Lectio Divina)
What if the surrender you keep circling never comes by trying harder, but only by the trying finally giving out? Brother Lawrence asks for a total trust that sounds simple and costs everything, and this reflection sits with the exhaustion that finally lets God in.
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Owe Nothing But Love: Theodoret of Cyrus on Love as the Fulfilling of the Law (Lectio Divina)
What if the command to love was never a debt you could actually pay off? Theodoret of Cyrus reads Paul’s warning about owing nothing but love and finds something stranger than an obligation — a debt that grows the more it’s paid, rather than shrinking. This reflection sits with what it feels like to carry…
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No Longer Carved in Stone: Augustine of Hippo and Love as God’s One Law (Lectio Divina)
What if the law you can’t seem to keep was never meant to be kept from outside at all? Augustine insists something was written into you long before you ever tried, and failed, to obey a command pressed on you from without.
