Journal

Relief for Nepal. . . There is much to grieve over

By: Gabriel Dodd There is much to grieve over. As I found out about the Earthquake in Nepal, I immediately thought of a colleague of mine who is from Nepal, and who’s wife and family are still in Nepal.  Today, I found out that his wife and father have survived,...

Meeting Gabriel Dodd

[Some people have gotten divine messages from Gabriel the Angel. Many of you have gotten emails from Gabriel Dodd, the Program Manager. I asked him to tell you a little bit more about himself. He did. – Bill] My name is Gabriel. I’m 26, a husband, and I have been the...

He is risen indeed!

Hallelujah! The Lord is risen!  He is risen indeed! With great joy and relief and gladness and hope and thanksgiving we celebrate today the resurrection of our Jesus Christ from the dead!   It changed, and changes everything.   Glory be to you, Lord Christ! “The good...

He Didn’t Have To Do It

These past couple of years I’ve had the chance to go a couple of times to the Holy Land.  Every place where Jesus was has deep meaning.  A couple of places meet me with a special power each time.  One of them is the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem.   It is a place...

There and Back Again

Our pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine had several purposes.   We went to meet the peoples of this land.  We went to better understand the reality and complexity of the contemporary Holy Land.  We went to walk where Jesus walked.  Most importantly, we went to learn...

Henri Nouwen on Spiritual Direction (kind of!)

“Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego, which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When...

Monastic Life Experienced for a Weekend

[What does a monk do and why?  Members of the Coracle community just got some answers as we returned from an experiences that you’ll read about below.  It was great, truly great.  I asked the Abbot, Fr. Robert Barnes, “What is the deepest essence of why a monk does...

The Joy of Being a Pencil

This past weekend a young woman came to Corhaven to talk about Mother Teresa.  A freshman in high school, she’s working on a year long research project and had heard that Tara and I had met her. It’s true. I met Mother Teresa in 1995 when I spent a month in Calcutta...
Mother Teresa and Spiritual Maturity

Mother Teresa and Spiritual Maturity

Several years ago, I was given the opportunity to teach on how Mother Teresa’s life exhibited spiritual maturity, and it afforded the opportunity to explore the meaning of her long “dark night”.   It was a privilege for me, and this talk became...

“There and Back Again”

Our pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine had several purposes.   We went to meet the peoples of this land.  We went to better understand the reality and complexity of the contemporary Holy Land.  We went to walk where Jesus walked.  Most importantly, we went to learn...

A Hymn for Ash Wednesday

“Just As I Am” by Charlotte Elliot 1. Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 2. Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to thee whose...
“On Theosis” Audio

“On Theosis” Audio

A few years ago at St. Brendan’s in the City, I gave this sermon which was the result of about 10 years of journey.  It remains to feel like one of the most important sermons I’ve ever given, an attempt to wrestle into clear and simple words the goal and...

A talk on World Religions, Jesus, and Journey

Recently I had the opportunity to reflect on comparative world religions, Jesus, and my first trip around the world.  I sought to answer the nagging question, “If I had grown up in, say, Iran, would I be a Muslim?”   Confident that Jesus is true, the...

Abide in Me- John 15

To me, abide is synonymous with comfort and peace. So many stresses surround us, and fear/anger are easy reactions for me… especially when I have an imbalance of coffee or sleep (or exercise or quiet …).  And reactions can be lethal. Obey, respect, and accept are...

Accelerated Parenting

As a dad of young children, I sometimes think that my wife and I are workers at a muddy and chaotic construction site — setting (I hope) solid foundations. Every once in a while we emerge from behind the construction perimeter fence and go out on a rare date together,...