Posts by Ralph Patrick

“Rejoice in The Lord always.” “PTL: Praise the Lord.”  Sandy “GIBM:  God is blessing me.” Sandy Sandy is a corker, a crackerjack, a whirling dervish of delight.  She’s a bundle of joy that is constantly moving and in motion.  Sandy is a diminutive woman, standing five feet tall on her tiptoes.  She might weigh a…

“Don’t love your brother only with words, but with what you do.” 1 John “I consider all things as loss . . .”  St. Paul Recently I had lunch with a couple of friends, Franchot and Marion, that I hadn’t seen for quite some time.   I first met Franchot and Marion at Fort Lyon.  “The…

“And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13 “Oh you’ll find out someday.”  Aunt Lucille A week ago Aunt Lucille turned 104 years old. That’s right, ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR! For all but three of those years Aunt Lucille has lived in Exeland, Wisconsin,…

“Celtic spirituality was deeper and more primal that we are to ourselves.” Esther de Waal “If you’re looking for theology, seek a poet.”  Welsh saying Esther de Waal is a well-renowned author and expert on Benedictine and Celtic Theology.  Her books include “The Celtic Way of Prayer”, “Every Earthly Blessing” and “The Way of Simplicity.” …

“Do you betray me with a kiss?”  Jesus to Judas Iscariot “Et tu, Brutus?”  Julius Caesar I would invite you to read John 13. Jesus is The Way.  As we enter the season of Lent we are on The Way WITH The Way. The Way of Jesus to the cross began in earnest on the…

“Be kind to one another.”  St. Paul in Ephesians “The best good work is the one we’re not aware of.”  Martin Luther When was the last time someone did something kind to you?  Something really small and seemingly insignificant that made a big difference in your day.  Maybe a kind word or a simple gesture…

“You can’t go back and change the ending, but you can begin where you are and change the ending.”  Teddy “Jonathan committed himself to David, and David loved him as himself.” 1 Samuel 18:1 Who do you love?  And who loves you?  Pertinent questions as we approach St. Valentine’s Day.  Most likely we are inclined…

“I am your handmaiden . . . all that you say to me I will do.” Ruth “Make it a great day for Jesus.” Ruth Koenig Who do you know that is a handmaiden of The Lord?  A living example of Christ?  A person who in their words, their actions, and in their very spirit…

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thou are with me.”  Psalm 23 “Love is patient . . . Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13 Monday afternoon I met a dear friend, Craig, for coffee. I first met Craig six years ago.  He…

“The one who truly follows Christ will draw people unto Him without speaking a word.” Marshall Davis, “The Tao of Christ” (Father Les and me at St. Columba Church. Note the icon of Columba in his coracle behind the altar) Wisdom Incarnate.  A Renaissance Man.  Spiritual Yoda.  Humble Servant. Those are some of the ways…