I’m glad you’re visiting my website. I’m Carl — and here’s a little bit about me. I am a writer, blogger, podcaster, spiritual director, and speaker. While I work with…
Less than 12% of the Catholic Catechism is devoted to spirituality. That, in a nutshell, is what’s wrong with the church today.
Over the years I have discovered that there are three types of people interested in Christian mysticism and contemplative spirituality: Some are practicing Christians, active in their local parish or…
Magic and Miracles: What’s the Difference?
The other day I was having a conversation with an acquaintance who asked me to comment on the difference between “magic” and “miracles.” It was an interesting conversation, especially given…
Can Contemplation Change the World?
Four years ago I wrote a blog post titled Is Contemplation Dangerous? It was a review of a book called The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You? Written by two…
Martin Luther King Jr, the “Arc of the Moral Universe,” and Maintaining Faith in Difficult Times
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” When I thought I would write about Martin Luther King, Jr., that was the first quote that…
The Power of Powerlessness
At the climax of the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, young Harry meets his nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort, who was functioning like a parasite…
A Video to Help You Practice the Daily Examen
Dear friends, I’m excited that a new video in which I lead the practice of the Daily Examen is premiering this Saturday, January 18, at 1 PM Eastern Standard Time….
“Blessed are the Peacemakers” — Jesus Said It, and It Still Applies Today
A couple of days ago in a dream I was instructed to write about “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” At first I put it off, because it’s such a huge topic…
White Supremacists use the Celtic Cross as a Symbol of Hate. But True Celtic Spirituality is Anti-Racist.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s website, the Celtic Cross — particularly when rendered as an equal-armed cross — is used by white supremacists as a symbol of their racist beliefs….
Kindness, Cynicism, and a Better World: A Contemplative Approach to Social Media — and Digital Civility
I don’t think it’s very shocking to acknowledge that we live in a cynical world. We have learned, especially over the last fifty years, to take pretty much everything our…
Some Thoughts on the Roaring 20s — for 2020 (and Beyond)
I’m writing this on the second day of January 2020 — and I’m mindful of an amusing meme that made its way around Facebook last week. By the time you…
How the Beatles Help Me Overcome Writer’s Block
I suppose most writers don’t like to talk about writers’ block. It’s not a pretty sight — to have a deadline looming, and every time you sit down at the…