According to the Italian news media, Pope Francis told a little boy who was grieving over the death of his dog that "One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures."
Posted by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat on December 12, 2014
Posted by Frederic Brussat on December 9, 2014
When researchers asked people to rank their own well-being, those who rated themselves most highly were individuals from 82 to 85. This startling statistic comes from a column written by David Brooks in The New York Times. Psychologists say this occurs because of changes in the brain but it also has to do with elders letting go of anxiety, being more relaxed about the future, and getting more pleasure out of small things.
Posted by Frederic Brussat on December 1, 2014
In a thought-provoking article in theatlantic.com, Jonathan Rauch shares some of the feelings of middle age and then moves on to an exploration of wisdom in the last stages of life. Many individuals in their 40s and 50s are decked by unexpected divorce, heart attacks, and the death of parents. Studies have confirmed that middle age "nearly doubles" a person's likelihood of using antidepressants to cope. Rauch hits the nail on the head when he characterizes this stage of life as "a constant drizzle of disappointment."
Posted by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat on November 25, 2014
The immensely talented artist Vincent Van Gogh wrote a letter to his brother Theo in which he spoke from his heart: "I think that the best way to know God is to love many things." In a sensitive and exquisitely written essay, Patricia Adams Farmer charts the movement of this artist from the harsh, judgmental, and narrow Calvinism of his upbringing and early adult life to a more spacious, beautiful, and bountiful vision.
Posted by Frederic Brussat on November 12, 2014
Heard about the Internet's creepy next wave? If you haven't, Sue Halpern's coverage of four recent books on the subject gives you a front-row seat on the spectacle that is slowly and quietly unfolding behind closed doors.
Posted by Frederic Brussat on October 22, 2014
In an essay written on his blog, Richard Louv writes about his desire to share with his children the glory of witnessing a sunrise on a mountain. He feels that this experience can be "a window to something larger." But Louv's boys stay asleep in their beds and do not get up in time.
Posted by Frederic Brussat on October 14, 2014
Most people who attend a museum want to leisurely explore and savor the art on exhibit. But in this article, Stephanie Rosenbloom reports that researchers have discovered that the average visitor spends 15 to 30 seconds in front of a painting. A large number of people rush through the museum snapping photos of the most famous masterpieces.
James O. Pawelski, the director of education for the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, states that "you can't really see a painting as you are walking by it." When he takes his students to a gallery, he counsels them to spend at least 20 minutes with a painting that speaks to them in some way. He also suggests that you spend a half an hour wandering and then take another half hour to deepen your connection with one work that stretches your mind or soul. A third activity is to research the museum's collection online and then customize your visit by choosing a theme of special interest to you such as music, horses, or sunsets. A fourth way to make the visit special is to curate your own music soundtrack at home and enjoy it as you stroll slowly through an exhibit; that way you will not be disturbed by the chatter of other people in the gallery.
Posted by Frederic Brussat on September 22, 2014
In his blog called "The Haystack," Edward Hays, one of our favorite spiritual teachers, ponders the question "Who Are You?" and comes up with our capacity for awe and wonder. In the creative biography on his website, he portrays himself as "walking the razor's edge between madness and magic." He relishes his enchanted childhood and has brought into adulthood and the "Eldergarden" the "wonder-world of stories and imagination."
Posted by Frederic Brussat on September 15, 2014
In a fascinating article on theatlantic.com, Derek Thompson admits to being a creature of repetition when it comes to entertainment. He has almost memorized the movie Dumb and Dumber and is perfectly capable of filling a weekend watching an entire season of a comedy series he's seen before.
Posted by Frederic Brussat on September 8, 2014
In the LosAngelesTimes.com, Sandy Banks writes about how she first heard about the sharing economy. Her daughter was able to travel cheap in Europe by going online each day and finding a couch at a stranger's place where she could sleep. She called this the "peer-to-peer economy."
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About This Blog
Spiritual literacy is the ability to read the signs written in the texts of our own experiences. It is recommended and practiced in all the world's religions. Whether viewed as a gift from God or a skill to be cultivated, this facility enables us to discern and decipher a world full of meaning. More