Author Archives: watchwordsblog

The greatest privilege of a human life is to become a midwife to the awakening of the Soul in another person. Plato Meditation: I remember how over 13 years ago, I was home alone for the first time with my twin girls after the delivery. Their Dad had to go back to work and myContinue reading “Midwifing as parents…”

The world, more suffering than sinning, turns toward Pope Francis as in a conversation people turn to the person who is making sense of things. Eugene Kennedy Meditation: Pope Francis is a guiding light in this dark period of history. Millions are losing their homes, their countries and even the basics for a peaceful and humanContinue reading “A World suffering…”

Nationalism is a form of collective narcissism, where the citizens possess an inflated self-love of “their own people,” to the exclusion of other human beings.  Bryant McGill Meditation: Our nation is led by a pathological narcissist who evokes the worst traits that our country is capable of: nationalism as collective narcissism. Decisions are being madeContinue reading “Collective Narcissism…”

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. Pope John XXIII Meditation: In these political times when it feels many gains areContinue reading “Consult not your fears…”

I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journey of discovery. It’s a journey of recovery. It’s a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. It’s already there. Billy Corgan Meditation: My teenage daughters are discovering who they are by engaging with friends, expectations of school and with hobbies they choose. At theContinue reading “Recovering my Self…”

Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death. Arthur Schopenhauer Meditation: Last night, on a Sunday evening, my daughter looked at me and said: “It seems like this morning was a long time ago. SoContinue reading “Each day a little Life…”

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer Meditation: Next year my daughters will attend High school. Many parents and children get very uptight and serious about this four year journey. Getting into certain classes and alreadyContinue reading “Success…”

What if Barack Obama established a Presidential Advisory Committee that would meet once every couple of months, bringing together the former presidents for a conference in order to seek their collective wisdom? There is a wealth of experience in former presidents that generally goes untapped. Tony Campolo Meditation: I am fascinated that even in theContinue reading “What if Wisdom starts with a “We”…”

Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground. Writing of the past is a resurrection; the past then lives in your words and you are free. Jessamyn West Meditation: Sometimes our loyalty to past generations can become our prison. Yes, we do need to revisit the stories of our ancestors. However,Continue reading “Resurrection from the past…”

The gift of piety is closely tied to gentleness. The gift of piety which the Holy Spirit gives us makes us gentle, makes us calm, patient, at peace with God, at the service of others with gentleness. Pope Francis Meditation: “Mom, please, don’t yell”. “Please, don’t be so critical.” When I am stressed and frustrated,Continue reading “Spirit of Gentleness…”