Henry James famously said “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” Kindness is a fundamental virtue, one that is as basic to our preschool and kindergarten classrooms as counting to ten and learning our ABCs. And … Continue reading Kindness
One of the recurring themes in the teaching of Jesus is that small things can have an oversized impact. Normally this is in the context of his teaching of the Kingdom of God, which he compares to a tiny mustard seed which nonetheless grows into a large bush, or to a priceless pearl, which, though … Continue reading Leaven (A Reflection on Mark 8.14-21)
One of the traits I admire (envy) most in people is energy. When I see people who can succeed at their jobs, volunteer, and work on their hobbies, all the while raising kids and being attentive to their spouse, I’m simply in awe. You see, I’ve always been a bit of a low energy person, … Continue reading Zest
“There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mk 7.15f) This brief passage from today’s Gospel reading is one of the most revolutionary of Jesus’ … Continue reading Spotless (A Reflection on Mark 7.14-23)
I’ve been feeling particularly creative lately: I’ve been dusting off old writing projects that have been sitting in folders untouched for years, having ideas for things to write in this blog, and thinking of new poster designs and ways of displaying photographs in my apartment. It’s an exciting feeling, a wonderful embarrassment of riches that’s hard … Continue reading Creativity
Matthew Root 