Wheat Field

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Called to be Extremists

Called to be Extremists

Extremism is not the problem. There is a lot of talk in our country about extremism. The extreme right, the extreme left, the extreme this and that…the extreme factions in our society are frightening, and we may easily think everything will be okay if people stop being extreme. I can think of fewer ideas so misleading and dangerous. The problem is never one of being extreme. The problem is when we are extreme in the wrong way. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has issued a 60-da

Christ, Culture, & Brainwashing

Christ, Culture, & Brainwashing

“The maid dead in her house, is the soul lying dead in thought” (St. Rabanus). What does it mean to be dead in thought? This is a comment by a saint in the eighth century, who, in seeing this maiden lying in her casket, sees ourselves drowning in warped reality and dysfunctional thoughts. Christ came to raise her from the dead. In the same way today, God’s presence not only saves our souls, it clears our heads. I recently read a convicting statement by a radio talk show host.

The Weight of Faith

The Weight of Faith

No one can truly appreciate a huge, weeping willow tree the way a child can. When I was seven, my family moved into an old home at the foothills of the Shenandoah, built with all the charm of the antebellum south. It was the first time I had lived in the country, and the possibilities for adventure were endless. Of course, the height of my play revolved around a giant willow. You cannot help but admire these trees. Towering over the oaks and sycamores, with thick trunks and b

Christianity, Sinners, and Hypocrisy

Christianity, Sinners, and Hypocrisy

A young monk once prayed to God for patience. That day, the abbot told the monk that a visitor would need to share his room. The new roommate barged in through the door, threw down his pack, and immediately began to criticize and curse the young monk. This went on day after day. Finally, the monk bolted out of his cell, fell on his knees, and looked up to heaven: “My God, I asked for patience, not for a new roommate!” “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowe