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Is virtual life really life giving?
… the money in the world. Tramping barefoot in the mud, jumping on the hay in the barn, climbing trees, playing hide-and-go-seek in the dark, and building everything under the sun in Dad’s shop …
Christmas in Beijing
… Edmund Chia … Gemma Cruz … A 50-foot Christmas tree outside the Catholic Church of North Beijing A 50-foot Christmas tree outside the Catholic Church of North Beijing … BEIJING … -- We knew that Christmas was in …
The gift of Christmas presence: Mindfulness exercises for the 12 Days of Christmas, Part 2
… its weight and texture. Think about the seed and the sun and rain that became the orange tree and led it to blossom and bear fruit. Peel the orange, inhaling the aroma of the zest. Taste …
Pilgrims celebrate lives of US churchwomen
… were discovered by residents who heard gunfire the night of Dec. 2, 1980. Today, under an old tree, a simple monument marks the spot where the women died and “God received them in his …
Book review: Replenishing the Earth, by Wangari Matthai
… with the Green Belt Movement to help women in rural Kenya plant and sustain millions of trees. With their hands in the dirt, these women often find themselves newly empowered and at … in one's lifestyle. It motivates one to take actions for the earth, such as planting trees and nurturing those that are standing. She writes that the spirit of service and … characterizes prophets, saints and local heroes. She writes at length about the power of the tree, documenting the importance of trees in African religion and in the wider world. "In fact, …
The gift of Christmas presence: Mindfulness exercises for the 12 Days of Christmas
… and in our rituals, we attempt to reflect God’s abundance: More gifts! More lights! A bigger tree! Richer food! Ironically, it is that very seeking after abundance that leaves us feeling … at Christmastime, what with all the colorful lights, ceaseless Christmas music, aromas of pine trees and cookies baking, and heaps of presents to wrap and unwrap. Again, however, we are …
Earth Hope: A Franciscan education ministry
… grow; study the birds of the air; hear the divine voice in a gentle breeze in cottonwood trees by the Little Tongue River; learn the story of life’s emergence by dating rocks in the Big …
The Jesse tree: an alternative timeline
… liturgy celebrating the birth of Christ. A beautiful Catholic Advent devotion is the Jesse Tree which also describes Jesus' lineage. I would prefer this alternative timeline though. 13.7 …
Winter's little grey bundle of life and energy
… heat from the winter sun. In winter mixed flocks of chickadees and other birds forage in the trees. The flocks stay together because the chickadees call out whenever they find a good source … much more than the sum of its parts. Its bright, shining eyes and lively motions through the tree branches give it a personality that is unmistakable. It’s an acrobat, an actor, a clown, a …
Advent is about waiting
… for Christmas a couple of weeks ago. As I took the box from her to wrap and put under the tree, she balked. She wanted it NOW and I wanted to teach her the value of delayed gratification. …