spiritual insights on religion, social justice and comparative theology
Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in the history of the sport, recently pulled out of competitions choosing her mental well-being over Olympic gold. She is being praised for her choice and rightly so. A recent article in the New York Times opinion piece written by skiing world champion Zoe Ruhl noted that it was … Continue reading Winning At All Costs by William Klein
The act of birth itself is traumatic. We enter from a womb of comfort and security into a bold, daunting and dissonant, chaotic, hurried fluorescent lit world – bloodied and wet, sticky, being handed from one to another and relying on multiple sensibilities to hold a frantic awareness calmly, serenely with understanding and poignant culpability. … Continue reading Coping With Trauma by William Klein
The Police wrote a song titled “Rehumanize Yourself.” It was a song written about “people becoming disconnected from their humanity when placed in certain circumstances.” The song was inspired by a real incident. Lead singer and songwriter Sting heard about some skinheads kicking a man to death outside his house. “Policeman put on his uniform/Had … Continue reading Rehumanize Yourself by William Klein
In a talk given at the Religious Education Congress in LA, Father Ron Rohlheiser reminded the audience, “There’s an old saying that ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. That’s why G. K. Chesterton wrote, ‘Our perennial [enduring] spiritual and psychological task is to look at things familiar until they become unfamiliar again’”. There have always been those times in our lives where … Continue reading “Mindfulness” by William Klein
The invisible is made visible in fascinating ways. Vibrant energy is popping all around us and the act of creation is the life-giving flow that stimulates more life and opens the floodgates of grace to produce more beauty. I once heard that Picasso would look at a blank canvass for over twelve hours. He wouldn’t … Continue reading “Invisible Made Visible” by William Klein
History has witnessed mighty individuals fall due to callous egos. Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin come to mind and in recent years Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden. Shakespeare wrote compelling tragedies and histories about people who were caught up in the whirl of their own narcissism and the great bard depicted how it would ultimately be … Continue reading “The Power of Humility” by William Klein
“Every discord in life is the result of a mental concept entertained in the mind. Always remain above the situation…” Shared by my friend Art Miccio when I was working in business, it’s a quote that I recall every now and then to make sense of my feelings or difficult situations, or when I’m worried … Continue reading “Detachment” by William Klein
As I get ready to return to school, I was thinking about the things I want my students to learn. The most important lesson for me to teach in the first few days is “You’re an expert in your own experience.” The first few nervous days of school when students are trying to find their … Continue reading “You’re An Expert In Your Own Experience”
I was listening to a Q and A with the great theologian and historian Dominic Crossan. A person questioned whether there were texts of Jesus’ birth that didn’t exist. Crossan noted, “nobody was watching… except maybe for a few animals” he added with tongue firmly planted in cheek. I’ve heard this said of another academic … Continue reading “Iconic Moments Revisited” by William Klein
Sacrifice through devotion is life affirming. Our devotion to one another is an expression of our devotion to God. This idea of devotion is best expressed for me when I think of the powerful testament of the life of my aunt and uncle’s friend Irene Corcoran O’Brien. Irene’s story was recorded in her son Michael’s … Continue reading “Devotion” by William Klein
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