PocketEpiphanies: A collection of insights

Getting a Peek at Heaven

For thousands of years, people looked to the skies and imagined what might lie beyond what we can see – and wondered if there’s a heaven out there.

Remembering Father Virgil

In centuries past, “saints” were people who lived exemplary lives of purity and often died a martyr’s death. For me, saints are people who show us how to live life with both joy and service.

Better to Focus on the Green than The Sand Trap (Some Spiritual Advice)

As maturing human beings, we have plenty of opportunities to recognize our own mixed motives, shortcomings and disappointments. But we don’t stop there. We are here for more than that.

Combining Spiritual Wisdom with Practical Know-How: Lessons from Hearing Father Boyle and Tom Vozzo

In my years in ministry and nonprofit work, I have seen many wonderful hopes and dreams fade when they haven’t been supported by practical, real-world know-how. Seeing Father Boyle and Tom Vozzo sitting side by side and sharing their stories of how they worked together to advance the work of their organization was inspiring to me.

Why Being a TV Analyst is Easier Than Being a Coach (And What That Tells Us about Life)

When you are the coach, you have to make quick, irreversible decisions on the field, not knowing what the outcome will be. When you are an analyst, you can see what just happened and evaluate the coach’s decision from the comfort of the broadcast booth.

Maybe Prayers Are Like Snowflakes, Part 2

…the people telling these stories believed that there are forces and energies beyond our ordinary understanding that are available to us if we seek them.

Maybe Prayers Are Like Snowflakes

I no longer expect to come up with a definitive answer to what prayer is and just how it “works.” But some stories come to mind. I’m going to share one this week and more in a future posting.

“Old Truth”

…I thought often of a recent poem by my treasured friend and long-time colleague, Rabbi Steve Cohen. To me these words are both timely and timeless.

“Have You Seen This Dog?” — Thoughts on Getting Away

It’s good to get away. It’s also good to come home.

Artificial Intelligence and Mickey Mouse: A Cautionary Tale (I Hope I’m Wrong, Part 3)

We may have grown in our ability to create amazing things and devices, but we have not always demonstrated wisdom in using what we develop. We have impulses that can lead us into places we do not want to be.