My Ramblings

  • Mardi Gras (Friday Fun)

    Last Updated on October 20, 2022 by Brad The first post will be here.

  • Sing a New Song

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad I originally wrote this for our Providence Associates’ weekly e-news. It appeared there on September 28, 2021. In a radio interview, Sir Elton John (age 74) discussed how he almost immediately went to the task of finding ways to make music in the environment of social distancing.…

  • Take Up Your Cross

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad In Mark 8:34, part of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Take up your cross. We are pretty familiar with the phrase. It is in the hymns we sing, sermons that are…

  • Remembering Our Patriotism

    Last Updated on September 11, 2022 by Brad I originally wrote this for our Providence Associates’ weekly e-news. A slightly edited version appeared there on September 8, 2021. “Sometimes I am disheartened with this country that I feel as if I were carrying on my shoulders the weight of its highest mountains and in my…

  • What Would Jesus Do?

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad A few years ago, this phrase was the popular response to almost everything. People wore bracelets, and for a short time in the relatively early social media world, the hashtag was common: WWJD The issue that I always had with that was the appearance of this phrase…

  • Father’s Day Presence

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad I originally wrote this reflection for the Providence Community for Father’s Day 2021. When I learned that I was to become a father, it took a while for that reality to sink in, mentally.  Over time, I began to wonder if I was capable of being an…

  • The Associate Relationship

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad When I share with someone that I’m a Providence Associate, the natural question arises: What does that mean? It means that I have joined the Sisters of Providence community in a very real and concrete way.  Now, you might be saying to yourself, “but you’re obviously not…

  • Catholics Reading the Bible

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad This post was originally written on January 26, 2020, but another act of Providence in the time of COVID quarantine is that many people actually did turn to reading the Bible more often and attending virtual Bible studies where they may never have attended otherwise. Also, 2021…

  • The Avenue Moment

    Last Updated on January 3, 2021 by Brad This post has been carried forward from an older site (see Content Note below). Any modifications to the original content are indicated by a change of text color. The Sisters of Providence call it the “Avenue Moment”. It’s that indescribable feeling that you can only recognize by…

  • Funeral Reading for Grandfathers

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad When my grandfather passed away in April 2017, I came across a reading that I thought captured our sentiments in a poetic and succinct way better than I ever could have, proving once again the great treasure we have in sacred scripture. This reading is in the…

  • Where the wind blows…

    Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Brad This post has been carried forward from an older site (see Content Note below). Any modifications to the original content are indicated by a change of text color. One of my favorite discussion sites of the last 7-8 years that I would participate in multiple times each…