Last week, the priest who was presiding at the Ash Wednesday service at my son’s Catholic elementary school opened mass by asking, “Who thinks that Lent is about giving something up?” A majority of the children, as well as a good portion of the teachers and parents present, raised their hands. Many of us whoContinue reading “Giving Ourselves over to God”
Category Archives: Claire Bischoff
A New Lent
At my grandparents’ house, yellowed palm leaves were seemingly ever-present behind the silver-framed mirror that hung on the wall near their front door. Immediately after Palm Sunday, the palms would add a splash of green to the mauves and light blues of the room. Yet as the church year wore on, the palms would fadeContinue reading “A New Lent”
Praying Away the Anxiety Spiral
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? –Matthew 6:27 A few weeks ago, I came upstairs from starting a load of laundry toContinue reading “Praying Away the Anxiety Spiral”
Perfect God, Good Enough Humanity
I went trick-or-treating for the first time when I was just over one year old, dressed as a clown and carrying my orange plastic pumpkin in which my parents had placed a few pieces of candy before I left the house. At my first stop, when presented with the tray of candy from which toContinue reading “Perfect God, Good Enough Humanity”
Speaking the Truth
Recently I boarded a puddle jumper at 10:30 p.m. for the last leg of a trip to Lexington, KY. I would not get in until midnight and knew I had an eight hour day of teaching beginning at 8 a.m. the following morning. Not long after I slumped into my seat, hoping at least toContinue reading “Speaking the Truth”
Let Your Light Shine
It was just over two years ago that my sister invited me to a fundraiser for the KGSA Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the Twin Cities whose mission is to engage globally by providing resources and advocacy to support the needs of local communities. Knowing my interest in education and empowerment for young women,Continue reading “Let Your Light Shine”
Connection to Something Greater than Ourselves
A few days ago I started reading a Gillian Flynn (author of the bestselling Gone Girl) novel entitled Dark Places. (I promise not to spoil anything of the plot in what follows!) In this story, the reader is introduced to the Kill Club, a secret society whose members investigate, discuss, and otherwise obsess over famousContinue reading “Connection to Something Greater than Ourselves”
A Great Light
Last June I started working with a counselor because I was finally ready to face and move toward recovery from patterns of disordered eating that have followed me most of my adult life. This past December I sat in her office with Kleenex pressed to my eyes, wishing against reason that this action would stemContinue reading “A Great Light”
Knit Together in Your Mother’s Womb
Language in this Sunday’s first reading from Isaiah gives us a remarkable image of God forming Isaiah to be God’s servant even before Isaiah was born: “The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from theContinue reading “Knit Together in Your Mother’s Womb”
Beloved Children of God
In this Sunday’s gospel from Matthew, we hear the story of Jesus’ baptism. Jesus goes to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist, who had been performing baptisms for Jews who wished to repent of their sins. At first, John is uncomfortable with the idea of baptizing Jesus, since John had beenContinue reading “Beloved Children of God”
Keeping Faith Today 