All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day come right next to each other, November 1 and 2. We honor the saints and the holy souls, but also the everyday loving people now in heaven.

A joyful Christmas to you! Thanks for spending a minute with me on this great day. I hope that you feel the warmth of Jesus’ love in your heart and are surrounded with loving family and friends.

I know that Jesus being born with no fanfare in a cave to a young mother seems almost too wonderful to be true—but it is. Saint Francis of Assisi was passionate about making the birth of Jesus real to us.

I hope this blog will help you find the contemplative experience you seek. What you and I may indeed need at this juncture is what some spiritual guides and writers call the “Prayer of Inner Quiet.” One of the richest forms of prayer can occur when the heart is absolutely quiet. As the psalmist says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

I’ve read several reviews of Mariel Hemingway’s memoir, Out Came the Sun: Overcoming the Legacy of Mental Illness, Addiction, and Suicide in My Family. One of her strategies for steering clear of the tragedies that plagued her family and maintaining a balanced, healthy life struck me as a practice that would benefit many of us. Her strategy is spending as much time in nature as she can. She hikes, bikes, swims, and enjoys being outdoors. It may seem like a small point, but the benefits can be great.