Stranded on the Mainland: Inner Pilgrimage and Living Alone as a Spiritual Path:

Politics 2025:  "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's word's await another voice" --T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding, Four Quartets .  Makes me think of Ecclesiastes,  "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."  ( 3:1: NRSV Catholic Mission Edition). That said, I am writing this blog as United States is on the doorstep of Trump inauguration, and Canada is in the midst of a race to replace Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada-- anxious times. Next.  I am remembering back to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.  I'm so thankful Justin Trudeau was prime minister during that time; and Chrystia Freeland too, as our finance minister.  I'm observing now, how generosity is a political risk (even a spiritual path). Deep breath. This afternoon Mark Carney is scheduled to announce he is entering the race to be the new leader of the National Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada. I...

A little story for my first post of 2025. First a quote from St. Elisabeth of the Trinity -- I came across it doing my Lectio this morning after writing the story below: "There is a Being who is Love who wishes us to live in communion with Him. Oh Mama, it is delightful, for He is there keeping me company, helping me to suffer, urging me to go beyond my suffering to rest in Him; do as I do, you will see how that transforms everything." (Source: Essence of Prayer, by Carmelite Ruth Burrows). Here's the little story: I'm having an encounter with a burly workman dressed in full orange construction or hydro gear.  The encounter takes place at Little Caesar's Pizza near where I live.  I'm commenting on a new item on the menu wall-- "Detroit Deep Dish Pizza."  I engage the workman in conversation saying, "I lived in Windsor growing up and don't remember Detroit having deep dish pizza?  I do remember both cities had amazing pizza though, best I...