A Spiritual Lesson From the Salamanders
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A Spiritual Lesson From the Salamanders

Over Christmas break, after the brutal winter storm gave way to unseasonal warmth, my sister and I made a clandestine visit to the property where we lived during our teen years. We were looking for the freshwater spring where, every day, no matter the weather, the two of us filled jugs with cold water and…

The spirituality of dumpster diving
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The spirituality of dumpster diving

I started dumpster diving because of free boxes. I live on the edge of Hyde Park, an affluent neighborhood surrounding the University of Chicago on Chicago, Illinois’ south side. My boyfriend and I used to go for neighborhood walks and stop to pick through curb-side boxes, often left by students moving out of their school-year…

Judith Valente and Brother Paul Quenon: The Beauty of Simply Being?
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Judith Valente and Brother Paul Quenon: The Beauty of Simply Being?

Season 5, Episode 7 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. “We have more than one calling, depending on the will of God.” – Judith Valente LISTEN HERE: IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business, Sister Julia Walsh talks with authors Judith Valente and Brother Paul Quenon about their…

Jennifer Grant: Childlike Wonder and the Mystery of Faith
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Jennifer Grant: Childlike Wonder and the Mystery of Faith

Season 5, Episode 1 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. “I want to dignify and honor the real emotions that kids have, whether it’s joy or grief.” – Jennifer Grant LISTEN HERE: IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business, Sister Julia Walsh talks with author Jennifer Grant about…

Something to Believe: How Advent Can Lead the Way
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Something to Believe: How Advent Can Lead the Way

I was a little mystified when, in mid-November, I got an email ad announcing 25% off the price of Christmas decorations. The great day of feasting was not yet upon us, the calendar promised one more month of fall and yet, when I went to check out the sale, I couldn’t find autumnal decor items…

Ellen Salmi van Cleef and Joshua van Cleef: Missionaries Rooted in Presence
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Ellen Salmi van Cleef and Joshua van Cleef: Missionaries Rooted in Presence

“The mess and the beauty are really tied together.” – Joshua van Cleef Season 4, Episode 5 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. LISTEN HERE: IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business, Sister Julia Walsh talks with Ellen Salmi van Cleef and Joshua van Cleef about how they…

Caring a Hair for the Birds of the Air
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Caring a Hair for the Birds of the Air

Since I began homeschooling my children last year, I’ve felt compelled to raise them as amateur naturalists.  We take walks together as a family. I casually acknowledge the lifeforms we pass if I happen to know their names, trying not to intrude too much on our experience by making it sound like a lesson.  “Hello…

Spiritual flexibility in times of abundance and VUCA
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Spiritual flexibility in times of abundance and VUCA

Over a week ago I celebrated a milestone: my 40th birthday. In the days since, my life has been a whirlwind of joy, labor, celebrations and commotion. I drove hundreds of miles, celebrated my younger biological sister’s 35th birthday, celebrated my Franciscan Sister Meg’s first profession of vows and her birthday, helped empty a house…