There is not much written on how to die, much less a spiritual preparation for death. Read this, if you are diagnosed with AIDS, or some form of cancer, or told you are going to die. Now what? Panic? Hopelessness? Fear? Maybe all of the above? We are more fearful of talking about death than we are about sex. Remember how you felt when you first found out about sex? As you get older, you forget those feelings of insecurity and embarrassment. People are reluctant to talk with you about dying, because they must face their own dark side. This is a book about how to die well. It is actually a book...

These thoughts are not meant to be a quick fix for the clinically depressed or for those on medication, or hospitalized for mental illness. It is meant to open up your horizon to expand the thinking of those of us who experience functional or everyday depression on the journey of life. This is the depression of being human, a low-grade struggle between your animal and spiritual selves. Read this book if you have lost, or can't discover the focus of your spiritual life, and want to get back to center. These gentle, meditative thoughts allow you to think outside the lines, and even outside of...

Communication is the bond that connects two humans together in relationship. On a broader scale, it is also the way in which churches, governments collide or connect with each other. When two persons meet, the conventional wisdom goes like this: what is your name and what do you do? Pleasantries? Formalities? Yes, but more than that, much more. A name contains who I am, and that I am. My occupation tells of my worth, my status, my importance. Sharing names and occupations is a primitive attempt at bonding. We meet many people in our life, and often go on our way with no type of relationship....

Married or not, relationships are like tires, they get old, need air, and sometimes have a blowout. When you form a relationship, there is no 80 year guarantee on your tread. You must check your tread for wear and put the proper amount of air in the tires, or they won't last. If you have a blowout, you might need to replace your tires altogether. You see any parallels between the wear and tear of your automobile tires with your human relationships? This is a book about relation-ships, the key place where you will find meaning in your life. If your relationship is worn, you may need to put air...

A Lay Cistercian Reflects on Mercy, Forgiveness, Confession, and Penance to grow in faith, love and service. Going to Confession, for me, has always been like going to the dentist; you know you need it, but it is painful and often seems irrelevant. Why? I don't usually go around committing the "biggie" sins, called mortal, because they cause a break in the covenant relationship between God but also with the ecclesia (bodies of the faithful believers).I do fail at loving God with all my heart and soul almost every day. God did not just instruct us about how to act as believers, as he certainly...

Tabletop Exercises for Facilitators of Adult Learning Adult learning programs, discussion groups and book clubs will find these tabletop exercises useful for discussing the topics in the book, HOW TO GRIEVE WELL. It is a good way to begin the difficult, and often reluctant, discussion of death and dying. Something must fill the void of loss. Christ says to come to Him with your burden and He will refresh you. (Matthew 11:28-30) That may not happen for days, for weeks, or sometimes never. You may be assured, it does happen. Using this one book alone, you can a tailor an adult learning program...