Finding My Father

Originally published at One Peter Five Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting in the back of my father’s car, listening to the music he loves. He would pick me up from daycare in the late afternoon, and I would close my eyes and fall into whatever song was playing – “Dear Prudence” by the Beatles, maybe, or “Through […]

The Sleepy, Hollow Labyrinth Within

    “A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere … the place still continues under the sway of some witching power, that holds a spell over the minds of the good people, causing them to walk in a continual reverie.”   When I was 13, I attempted suicide for the first […]

About Anna, A Friend of Mine

  I want to tell you about Anna. She is one of most remarkable people I have ever met. She immigrated to the United States from Poland in the 1980’s. Actually, “immigrated” is not the most precise word—“defected” is more accurate, as her native country was still under a Communist regime, which was by no means willing to let her […]

On Resurrection and Renovation: The Agony and Ecstasy of Being Made New By Christ

“Those eyes wherewith men see the dead in heart rise again, all men have not, save those who have risen already in heart themselves.” —St. Augustine “And he who sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’” —Revelation 21:5     When I was first coming into the Church, I was listening to a lot of Catholic radio. One of my favorite shows was Mother […]

On Freedom

“ And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” –John 8:32     There was a time not so terribly long ago that I did not believe in God and practiced no religion. I had various reasons that seemed compelling at the time—anyway, they’re not particularly relevant. I believed my lack of faith gave me […]