As most of you know, I’m still pretty new to New Jersey. I moved here in March from Pittsburgh. It was actually pretty convenient for me to change my address – the post office prefers that you do it online. Easy peasy! Well, when I checked my mail for the first time in New Brunswick, I found a packet of coupons and fliers from the post office. It was kind of a welcome-wagon in today’s world. One of the coupons caught my eye. It was from PODS, the storage unit company. It simply read, “Store your excess with us!” I … Continue reading Emptying our closets; changing our minds

It was in the basement of a small church in Munich that she saw him. He was balding, heavy-set. He clutched his brown felt hat between his hands. The year was 1947 and Corrie ten Boom had been giving a talk on how Europe could move forward after World War II. They had all been through so much and lost so many loved ones. Her talk had been very healing for many in attendance. As the man waited his turn to speak with Ms. Ten Boom afterward, Corrie struggled to recollect his face. Where had she known him? All at … Continue reading The Choice to Forgive

I was in a novelty store in Delaware a few years back. Among the antique road signs and various other bits of kitsch, I came across a series of little statuettes commemorating some of the lesser-known saints. They were clearly meant to be funny. There was St. Gertrude, patron saint of cat lovers, and St. Rufus for dog lovers. I saw St. Bibiana (aka St. Vivian), the patron of hangovers, and St. Andrew, who, because he is the patron saint of Scotland, is also the patron saint of golf! Then I came across the patron saint of waiters and waitresses. … Continue reading The Better Part