For years I have been fascinated and enthralled by the love story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. It is not a typical one, not one that would set most young hearts a flutter, but I’ve always found it beautiful. When they met for the first time in person in 1952, Lewis was already in his mid-fifties, a confirmed bachelor with no intention to marry, an established professor at Oxford, and a world-famous Christian author. Joy Davidman Gresham was a…
So, I will be the first to admit that summer is actually my least favorite season, and as we now stretch into August I am almost desperate for cooler weather, turning leaves, and my fall wardrobe. My northern blood does not thrive in southern heat. I feel also like there is less structure to my schedule in the summer, and there is more pressure to socialize and make plans and yet it seems nearly impossible to coordinate as everyone is…
This article was originally published in The Catholic News Herald of the diocese of Charlotte. Mary Magdalene has been a complex character in Christian thought throughout Church history. She has been variously identified as Mary of Magdala; the “sinful woman” of Luke 7:36-50 who anoints Christ’s feet and dries them with her hair; and Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. What we know from Scripture is that Mary of Magdala was one of the women who followed Jesus during…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
This article was originally published in The Catholic News Herald of the diocese of Charlotte. One of my favorite books for meditating on Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary is Caryll Houselander’s “The Reed of God.” I was introduced to this book just a few years ago and it has since become one that I return to quite often for contemplation. Houselander’s prose writing is as lyrical as her poetry, which is also sprinkled throughout the book, and makes for a beautifully…
This article was originally published in The Catholic News Herald of the diocese of Charlotte. I have always been an avid re-reader of books, just as I also delight in re-watching favorite movies and television series. In some ways, this is due to finding comfort in the familiar and predictable, knowing that my imagination is not going to be assailed by inappropriate or untimely thoughts and images. But I have also learned that the pieces I enjoy returning to can be treasure…
There is a quote from C.S. Lewis that has haunted me for years. It’s one of those quotes that gets inside you, that can change your whole perspective on the world and how you approach your life. There was a time when I was, if not exactly content, at least resigned to idea of remaining single and unattached. It seemed easier, less messy, than seeking to give my heart to someone who could then potentially cause so much grief and…
A confession: for most of my life I’ve never really been one for libraries. I love books, and I’ve always loved the idea of libraries, but I’m also a very possessive person and I’ve never liked the idea of having to give things back. I often chafe under the idea of having to read a book or watch a movie within a certain time limit, with a due-date looming over me. For the last 20 years or so, I also…
This article was originally published in The Catholic News Herald of the diocese of Charlotte. Every time we pray the Our Father, the prayer Jesus Himself gave to us, we ask God to “give us our daily bread.” As Moses and the Israelites were given manna in the desert for just one day at a time, we also are called to trust God to provide for our needs one day, one moment, at a time. This can be a difficult act of…
The last few months of 2020 got a bit hectic. I ended up moving to a new house, somewhat unexpectedly, and have spent the last several months packing, sorting, moving, unpacking, sorting some more, fixing up the old house, and did I mention sorting? I had some lovely plans for writing projects and reading goals that I wanted to finish before the end of year and, well, none of that really happened. But now I’m slowly getting settled in the…