The lake before me runs at an even pace with ripples breaking against the rocky, wooded shoreline. November trees adorned with crumpled, brown leaves shiver in a cold breeze. Evergreens standout, their pine branches waving as if to salute distant friends who never get any closer. This should be a […]
A Great Equalizer
Outside the sun shines on still-green grass while glistening spider webs rock in a gentle breeze. Dead, prickly flower heads bob on brown stems while clusters of rust-colored oak leaves rattle against the bare branches of neighboring trees. Even the indoor plants oppose each other in stark contrast. My green […]
Opportunities
Every now and again, an opportunity strolls up and shakes my hand. Over the years, my response has changed from over-exuberant my-life will-now-be-so-much-better fantasy to a take-it-as-it-comes-live-in-the-moment reality, saving me a great deal of disappointment and offering me a whole new take on life. Recently, I connected with two podcasters, Dick and Jay, who […]
We’re on the Same Island
Though I do believe that John Donne was right, “No man is an island,” since we are all connected to the God who made us, I must also toss in a clarification: suffering can separate us in ways that islands don‘t dare to dream. For the past several months, I’ve […]
Loneliness in America—A Growing and Deadly Epidemic spurred on by the Covid-19 Pandemic; where is God in all of this?
By Larry Peterson I have learned that loneliness has no boundaries. It stretches out its tentacles and wraps them around those who may have lost a spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling, or even a dear friend. I have been widowed twice and know full well how loneliness can […]
Falling in love with the Catholic Church
I grew up in a small Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Every Sunday, my mother would make sure that all five of my brothers and sisters and I were dressed in our Sunday best and march us down the street toward our little church. My grandparents, aunts and uncles attended […]
Francis Delalieu: this Good Samaritan saved a future Servant of God and her family from death — then he was gone.
There were no strings attached. He simply loved his neighbor One of the most famous Gospel readings is the one we all know as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. What follows is about someone who may be among the greatest Good Samaritans of all time, a man we know almost […]
The Story of Our Lady of Bonaria and the Miracle of the Chest Lost at Sea
By Larry Peterson There are numerous miracles that have taken place within the 800-year-old Mercedarian Order including that of St. Peter Armengol, who gave himself over to the Muslims to save another. He was hanged from a tree, only to be found alive six days later. He told everyone that […]
Always be ready!
An excerpt from the Preface of Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies, which made its debut April 30 on Amazon.com, JoyAlive.net and CatholicMom.com. AS A CONVERT, I’ve always loved stories about conversion and renewing our faith. Whenever I’ve heard such stories, the speakers always seem to bubble over […]
An unexpected Evangelization Moment—Distributing Ashes on Ash Wednesday in Walmart
The USCCB states that evangelizing means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation. So how can we everyday Catholics always be prepared to evangelize? Our behavior and our actions and the words we use are tools for evangelizing. They show that we are Christian. Saying grace before […]