Polls indicate that 93% of people believe in God. Between 70-80 million people claim to be active in church (i.e. attend at least once a month.) Nine out of ten Americans indicated that they pray frequently. So, where are we “spiritually?” The Barna Research Group of California surveyed the unchurched, asking a simple question: “Why don’t you go to church?

Age cannot reach me where the veils of God have shut me in,

For me the myriad births of stars and suns do but begin,

And here how fragrantly there blows to me the holy breath,

Sweet from the flowers & stars & the hearts of men, from life & death.

We are not old, O heart, we are not old, the breath that blows

The soul aflame is still a wandering wind that comes and goes;

And the stirred heart with sudden raptured life a moment glows.

A moment here – a bulrush’s brown head in a gray rain,

A moment there – a child drowned and a heart quickened with pain;

The name of Death, the blue deep heaven, the scent of the salt sea,

The spicy grass, the honey robbed from the wild bee.

Awhile we walk the world on its wide roads and narrow ways,

And they pass by, the countless shadowy groups of nights and days;

We know them not, O happy heart, for you and I

Watch where within a slow dawn lightens up another sky.

- Susan Mitchell (1866-1926)

Download here

The Second Vatican Council happened from 1963 to 1965. We all have experienced the dramatic and, to many, the unsettling changes that have taken place in the church since then and continues to take place.

People have reacted to these changes in different ways. Some still object to the changes because they see it as a violation of their faith. Some, who because of past hurts with the church, see the changes as a continuing way to experience the hurt and isolation they feel. Some grew up with an image of a church that was unchanging and when changes took place, it began to shake the foundation of their faith. Others see the changes in the church as the church going “Protestant,” meaning that the church became too lax, adopted a “anything goes” attitude to things and the world. Some feel that the church, with its changes, is trying to “fit in” with the modern world. Many have reacted positively to the changes in the church. Some even feel that it has not changed enough and needs more drastic changes. These people are comfortable with change and they see change as a necessary and worthwhile component of life in the world and in the church

Download here

The Road Ahead

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I cannot see the road ahead of me

and I do not know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I know myself, and the fact that I think I am

following your will does not mean that I am actually

doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in

fact please you.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from the desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the

 right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always.

Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death,

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone.

                                                                              - Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

Download here