A smell, a taste, a melody, or a forgotten texture can suddenly collapse the distance between past and present. Inspired by Marcel Proust and the idea of the “Madeleine de Proust,” this post reflects on how memory always lives within us, not to hold us back, but to remind us how deeply we have lived and been shaped by time.
A mandatory unpaid workday in France after Pentecost leads to a deeper question about charity, civic duty, and whether generosity still has meaning when it is no longer voluntary. From the deadly 2003 French heatwave to modern debates about social obligation, religion, and collective responsibility, this essay explores the tension between compassion and coercion.
The Ascension did not end with clarity, but with instructions to wait. In that space between what was and what comes next, we are invited to resist the urge to rush ahead and instead learn to recognize Christ’s presence in the stillness by living in each moment.
We often believe God will never give us more than we can handle—but what if the real lesson is learning we were never meant to carry it alone?
Rainbows draw us out of distraction and into wonder. What if we are not meant to chase them, but to live inside their light?
I have a love-detest relationship with the French language. It possesses remarkable depth and nuance, flowing elegantly while never pronouncing the last part of any word. However, its conjugations are … Continue reading “That’s not false”
He is risen! Let every creature rejoice and every heart give thanks, for the Lord has conquered death and filled the world with new light! After carefully arranging the best … Continue reading Christ is Risen! Now what?
At the moment of Jesus’ death, the temple veil tore from top to bottom, signifying the end of separation between humanity and God. This reflection explores what the torn veil means for grace, access, and how we still rebuild barriers God has already destroyed.
The Mistral has raged for the past few days, a freezing wind from the north that knows no mercy. This wind doesn’t whisper; it roars. You don’t bargain with it; … Continue reading Finding Light and Wisdom in the Maddening Mistral
Last weekend, we visited a small village in the Languedoc region of Southern France. On a little street was a water fountain. Sammy was thirsty, and with a few pumps, … Continue reading Led to Believe
Amy L. Griffin 