Author Archives: kmwanek

I used to hate driving on interstates/highways.  I would avoid taking routes that required big highway roads as much as possible, because multiple lanes, merging, faster moving vehicles, exit signs, and a lot of traffic were things that I did not want to deal with.  I would always go through town, even if that meantContinue reading “The Best Route”

We’ve all heard the parable of the prodigal son countless times.  In a book I started reading, the author brought up this story to demonstrate a point about trust.  She explained that neither son truly knew their father.  The younger son thought he had lost his father’s love due to leaving and disobeying him.  TheContinue reading “Love that Can’t be Earned”

I recently listened to a homily from Fr. Mike Schmitz where he talked about how comfort breeds complacency.  This is something we’ve probably all heard before.  However, when it comes to our spiritual lives, it can be so easy to fall into this way of living without thinking too much of it.  When we areContinue reading “Rejecting Complacency”

A few weeks ago, I was at a meeting and was struck by some words from the person leading us in the closing prayer.  We were sitting outside and she prayed, “Lord, thank you for these mosquitoes, because being able to feel these bites means that we’re alive.”  Wow- what a powerful perspective. She tookContinue reading “Rooted in Gratitude”

I’m currently reading a book called, Heart of the Christian Life: Thoughts on Holy Mass, by Pope Benedict XVI.  The book has been filled with countless pieces of wisdom and many statements to reflect on.  One passage towards the beginning of the book that jumped out as I was reading is, “The Sunday precept is not,Continue reading “Nourishment for the Journey”

Last Wednesday was the first session of faith formation.  As we worked through the first class of the year, the moments of quiet were few and far between.  Most of the students just kept talking and having side conversations.  Eventually, we began working through the first lesson in “Encounter: Discovering Jesus”, which is an exercise/experienceContinue reading “Breaking Down Walls”

A few weekends ago, we painted our living room.  Now, we are preparing to paint the kitchen this week.  Over the weekend, we moved stuff from the kitchen to the living room and to other parts of the house so that we could get the ceiling done.  Our kitchen table chairs are in the livingContinue reading “Not Worthy”

Last month, as I sat at the front of the church basement as my parish held the annual meeting, I hoped that someone else would volunteer to be a new nominee for treasurer.  Not to my surprise, no one jumped up to volunteer or to nominate anyone else for the position.  Instead, I was votedContinue reading “Serving Generously”

I spent the weekend helping paint our living room.  As we worked on this project, I was thinking about how much work and preparation there was before we could start painting.  We moved all the furniture to the middle of the room, took picture frames and all decorations off the walls, washed the walls, tapedContinue reading “Doing the Work No One Sees”

Over the weekend, I heard a song called, “Just Want You” by Sarah Reeves.  In the chorus, the artist sings, “I don’t want it if You’re not in it, I Just want You.  No, I don’t want it if You’re not in it, I just want You, God.”  It is a beautiful song that allowedContinue reading “How We Respond”