Your Pastoral Coach

Optimism and Wounds

"The optimist already sees the scar over the wound; the pessimist still sees the wound beneath the scar."

Ernst Schroder

Technorati Tags: Hope, Optimism

The pleasure of not been needed

The pleasure of what? That's right. Yesterday I had the wonderful pleasure a coach experiences when a client no longer needs him or her. I'm so proud of my client! She has significantly improved her optimism and resiliency to the point that it's second nature. She experienced a number of deep problems that come from life and she bounced right back. In fact, she saw the good in them.

Singing in the rain

When was the last time you sang in the rain?  When was the last time you played and splashed?  I bet Lisa has done this with her kids in the last year...  How about Donna?

I got this cute story through e-mail today and I thought I would share it with all of you...

Leadership and Administration... Spiritual Gifts?

In my years of supervisory experience, I have heard and learned repeatedly about leadership and management. Leadership as the art and science of influencing others, of helping a group do the right things. Management about helping the team actually do things right, accomplish things, and be in control. This weekend I was reading the book "Jesus on Leadership" and it mentioned Leadership (Romans 12:8) and Administration (Management, 1 Cor 12:28) as spiritual gifts. I had never thought of them a gifts...

Charlie Weis honors dying boy

Several days ago I wrote a post commenting that Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis was exhibiting Servant-Leadership traits and that I was impressed with him so far. Please read this article that my son found about coach Weis visiting and honoring a dying child's wishes. This article will move your heart, even if you don't follow football. It's in the small things that we show our Divine love...

Technorati Tags: Leadership, Notre Dame, Charlie Weis, Service

On effective action...

“It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to crying injustices and utter prophetic denunciations; these words will lack real weight unless they are accompanied for each individual by a livelier awareness of personal responsibility and by effective action.”

Pope Paul VI, Octagesimo Adveniens (1971) 48

Technorati Tags: Catholic, Justice

Sunday Reading Reflections Sept. 25

This is my reflection for today's readings, 26th Sunday in Odinary Time (A).

Today's readings speak to me of Divine Mercy and just action. They speak to me about the call from God to act selflessly for others and His forgiveness when we fail to do so...

Padre Pio, Pray for Us

Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints, Padre Pio, Capuchin Friar and Mystic (1887-1968).

"I need to love You more and more, but I don't have any more love in my heart. I have given all my love to You. If you want more, fill my heart with Your love, and then oblige me to love You more and I will not refuse You."

Technorati Tags: Catholic, Padre Pio, Saints, Spirituality

Magnificent Magnificat!

I'm so excited! I just received my first issue of the Magnificat spiritual guide for the month of October. I've been looking in the mailbox every day for weeks. It looks awesome! I can't wait for October 1st so that I can use it to guide me through my daily prayer practice.

Technorati Tags: Catholic, Prayer, Spirituality

The Joy of Joy

Don't you think we sometimes take ourselves too seriously? Today I had to give a presentation at work to 350 people and it was also to be broadcasted to another 650 people. The topic was about the value of this organization. I talked about the mission, relationship to business areas, control metrics, value to the brand, and many other important business topics. I used a presentation that was put together by my boss for another audience. As I reviewed it yesterday, I though it was too dry, too serious. So, I decided to spice things up.

Technorati Tags: Catholic, Happiness