Pause+Pray

Reflect Winter invites us to slow down, even when we resist it. The cold and dark are not empty; they are restful and protective. This season reminds us that not everything needs to bloom right now. Some growth happens unseen, ...

Reflect  In Mark 1:12–15 we read Jesus’ words after his 40 days in the desert: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.” Sometimes, though, it feels like the kingdom of God is nowhere to be found.  ...

Reflect  Early morning in Michigan, I am with a friend listening to bird songs, including a persistent loon. “I love watching loons on the lake,” she says. “They dive under the water, and you get surprised because you never know ...

Reflect  When confronted by your own sins, how often do you imagine God as looking upon you with wrath, ready to strike a blow that casts you away? Often, our perception of God is warped by our woundedness, and requires the balm ...

Reflect Wisdom from retired Sisters of Charity to new students at my university: “Start your day by being grateful.” “Remember God is always with you.” “Be open to surprises.” “Make friends that will last a lifetime.” “Live the Dance of ...

Reflect Change often arrives unannounced, without asking our permission. We brace ourselves for loss before we look for possibility. Yet sometimes joy slips in through the side door, unexpected and sincere. God has a way of surprising us with hope ...