Hearing is the simple physiological act of hearing sounds. Listening means paying attention to sound, hearing something with thoughtful attention, and giving consideration.
Mindwalk Podcasts: Latest posts and thoughts...
Be Honest! Do We Prefer To Serve the “Good Poor”
Who do I prefer? When
I am honest with myself, I realize I prefer to serve. those whose poverty I understand.
Are there conditions on who we serve? – Do we feel good serving the “good: the “good poor”?
Lessons From Those Flying Geese
Just about everyone in North America has seen flying geese in their trademark v-formation. On the ground we have found them messy and dangerous.
Yet fighter pilots ave leaned from them!
Is there anything we can learn about about church community today?
A Master Class – The Gift of Jesus’ Spirit
I thought I knew its meaning… until I “binged” on a master class on the Our Father given by Pope Francis.
In 16 five minute or so master classes I saw it as if for the first time.
This year I have had a similar experience when Pope Francis shared his insights into Pentecost and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Let Me See Again!
“Let Me See Again!” I never saw any connection between the life-changing experience of a blind beggar being given his sight and the Pentecost gift of Jesus’ spirit under the appearances of tongues of fire.
Now I cant “unsee” it.
Wildfires – Transforming Physical and Personal Landscapes
Wildfires are clear and present dangers!This Vincentian Mindwalk explores a vastly more powerful and long-lasting wildfire, one that has lasted over 2000 years and transformed over two billion lives today.
Politics – Did you know…?
What I learned about politics from Google and Alexa. And then there is how Pope Francis views politics and political processes through the lens of the Gospel.
Mother Theresa’s “call within a call”
Do we recognize our call within a call? Is our concept of vocation too small? Do we see ourselves as a “Church that together listens to God and the world?
Vincentian Mothers – “Saints” and “Saints Next Door”
Beginning with St. Louise we know some things of Vincentian mothers over a four-century span. They were mentored Vincentian dreams of following Christ the Evangelizer of the Poor.
Doubting Thomas – the Fact-checker
Fact-checker “Doubting Thomas” teaches us much in a world of misinformation. Note also he was transformed by experiencing the wounds of Christ. Are we afraid of the wounds of Christ today?
Mayday! Mayday! – Pope Francis and Vincentian Voices
This Mindwalkreflects on what some might call Pope Francis’ ‘Mayday signal’ for workers today. One of his recent weekly General Audiences triggered my juxtaposing workers today and mayday calls.
Learning To “Mercy” Is Like Learning To Walk
“There is no Christianity without mercy. If all our Christianity does not lead us to mercy, we are on the wrong path.” (Pope Francis) Just as we learn to walk, we must learn to “mercy” from our experience of God mercying us.
An Undervalued Gift
We live in God’s house as God’s children. But as children we haven’t matured yet. We neither appreciate the gift itself, nor the love of the giver.