ContemplativeJourney

And so it begins! 2015 is off and rolling. Every year at this time I love the process of reflection that accompanies my personal celebration of the New Year's holiday. Perhaps I was born old, or simply born without a "party hardy" gene, but for whatever reason, I lean more toward the philosophical than the party animal, so I relish the chance to ponder what has passed in my life and what is yet to come.  It has been difficult this year to choose a topic for my New Year's blog.  I intended to blog on New Year's Eve...and then on New Year's Day...but there were so many things on my mind, nothing seemed just right to share, and I knew I had too many things on my mind to fit into a single blog.  For those of us who enjoy writing, choosing the limits of what we want to say is the most difficult task...and after that, editing down the length of content to that which will be of most interest to the reader.  I confess to being full to overflowing with words th...

It's time for a short break...these few days after the Christmas season and before the "back to normal" that comes upon us in January.  We have a rare opportunity for a life intermission... A period during which action temporarily ceases; an interval between periods of action or activity. Some years ago, I learned a very important principle from a very good teacher and spiritual director...the principle of intentionality.  It is very easy, and very hazardous, to go through our lives without intentionality.  We find ourselves tossed here and there by obligations and routines, busy with things to do and people to see, but without thoughtfulness.  Without much thought sometimes, we move from day to day.  The problem is, when we rush through life without any thought of intention, we run the risk of losing touch with our souls,...losing touch with the meaning of why we do what we do. I find myself guilty of this pattern quite often.  In my ...