Maddalena Simonutti was born in 1904 in a small Italian town near Spilimbergo. When she was only four years old her mother, at age 29, died while giving birth to her fourth child, who also died at the same time. Ten years later World War I began, and near the end of the war, Maddalena’sContinue reading “The Story of US”
Hypocrisy of a “Christian” Nation
There is a story in Christian tradition from the book of Matthew, of the events that happened after the three wise men visited the baby Jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The story goes like this (Matthew 2, 13-33): When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared toContinue reading “Hypocrisy of a “Christian” Nation”
Quiet
In a time of tremendous noise from social media, 24/7 news, advertisements, and the constant temptation to escape every spare, dull moment with a hit of technology, we are called to unplug. We cannot escape the pollution around us, but we must make space for quiet, for without quiet there is no other way toContinue reading “Quiet”
You Gotta Start With Something
In the news this week is an upcoming vote about possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The NY Times reported on Tuesday, “Doctors are telling Congress to proceed with caution, insisting that no one should lose coverage. The American College of Physicians, representing 148,000 specialists in internal medicine, has sent letters to senators urgingContinue reading “You Gotta Start With Something”
Young Single Woman
Back in my twenties, when I was wandering through a string of temporary and contract job positions and I had no such thing as benefits (although I worked forty hours per week with each of these jobs), I remember the alarm expressed by one of my friends when she found out I didn’t have healthContinue reading “Young Single Woman”
Running of the Balls
Since the election, I’ve had to grapple with my own powerlessness, an uncomfortable but necessary experience we all must face at times in our lives. With each new cabinet appointment I frown as I watch the progress our country has made on climate change, human rights, and expanding healthcare coverage recede. Our recent election servesContinue reading “Running of the Balls”
Advent Light and Darkness
When I turn on the news lately, I can’t tell which is worse: the fake news, the real news, or the real news resulting from the fake news. Just last week a man from Salisbury, NC drove from his home to Washington, D.C. and entered a restaurant with an assault rifle under the false beliefContinue reading “Advent Light and Darkness”
Map the World
After college, this small-town Southern girl moved to New York City to start my first “real” job; a job that offered a salary, health insurance, and a handful of vacation days. Those were pre-smartphone days. There were no car navigation systems or MapQuest websites to direct me to my destination before traveling. What I hadContinue reading “Map the World”
Welcome to Tree in the Breeze 