“Out with the old, in with the new.” Where or how this saying got started, I’m not sure. But Italians take it to heart and throw old plates and other items out the window on New Year’s Eve. Although it has dwindled, some people still do it, even chucking furniture out the window!
Continue reading “Plans for 2023: Finding Purpose”
It’s time again to ring in a new year and make our resolutions. Yet only rarely do we manage to keep them. Both experience and statistics show this. So if you also fail to keep yours, take heart. You are not alone! Many of us have made them, only to feel discouraged or even guilty for not sticking to them.
Continue reading “Resolutions: Band-Aids or Solutions?”
We’ve mostly ditched Christmas. Because of the increase in materialism, not because we’ve become Scrooges. Finding true meaningful spirituality among the commercial trappings became more and more challenging. So for several years we did little during the holidays.
Continue reading “Advent: the Missing Piece of Christmas”
Matthew Henry in his commentary tells of Francis Junius, a 15th century reformed scholar and theologian, who reported that after his first reading of John chapter 1 that he “observed such a divinity in the argument, such an authority and majesty in the style, that his flesh trembled, and he was struck with such amazement that for a whole day he scarcely knew where he was or what he did; and thence he dates the beginning of his being religious.” (Matthew Henry)
Continue reading “The Amazement of the Incarnation”
I recently read an article marking the anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ death in November 1963. Many mourned his passing. But for his part, he was ready for his departure. During his final days he made the following memorable declaration: “I have done all I wanted to do, and I’m ready to go.” What a blessed state to live, and die, in!
Continue reading “We Each Have a Part to Play”
Italy’s public health system is a big blessing for us! Without it we would have at times had to go without medical care. We appreciate having high-quality care and treatment at no or low out-of-pocket costs. But it’s always been our family dottori (doctors) that we most value.
Continue reading “Tell Me More: On Sharing Your Faith”
Signora Sheila 