
“Learn to suffer a little for the love of God without telling everyone about it.” ~Teresa of Avila
It’s the first day of my master’s program at Loyola of Chicago, and I didn’t sleep well last night. Truthfully, I’ve been amped up all weekend with nerves and excitement. I have no idea what to expect or where this will take me, but I do know that I will be changed by the…

I have wanted so badlyto belong in this worldto have a home hereto find rest in this placeand there have been momentsever so briefwhere I have felt this joywhere I have been at peacebut this broken worldis not where I belongit is not my homein this placein this bodyI will find no restbut only…

“I am definitely loved and whatever happens to me, I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good.” ~St. Josephine Bakhita
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…

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

“Humility is nothing but truly knowing and feeling yourself, as you truly are.” ~The Cloud of Unknowing

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

“Faith, I’ve come to believe, is more craft than feeling. And prayer is our chief practice in the craft.” ~Tish Harrison Warren
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,…