CowPi Journal

Sentiments on the phrase, “have a good day.”

“Old Man” Malcolm died yesterday. He was 17.5 years old. Pretty good for a cat. Massive stroke. Maybe a brain mass. Vet wasn’t sure. It was bad whatever it was. Best thing for him was to put him to sleep. My wife and I got him as a kitten six months after we were married. […]

I was talking with one of my seniors this morning. She is a very bright student, in contention for valedictorian. She is probably one of the top ten math students I have had in my whole 13-year teaching career, and maybe the smartest overall. She also has a great personality to boot. I only hope […]

In the previous journal entry, I used the word stewardship instead of the word ownership in regards to faith. We do not own our faith. We are stewards of it. Faith is a gift. It is the acceptance of friendship with God. We are free to do what we wish with that gift. What are […]

Souls who do not practice prayer are like people whose limbs are paralyzed. — St. Teresa of Avila In the last three days, in three different situations with three different people, I asked each if they prayed, or at least prayed often. I have much love and respect for each of these persons. I am […]

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. — St. Francis of Assisi

The following story is making the email circuit. I like it, even though it is a little sentimental. It has a good message. A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his backpack with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack […]

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was…

I walked into Braums Ice Cream store this evening to buy a gallon of ice cream for the holidays and to pick up a sundae for my wife. Nothing usual in this except that I was wearing a bright pink t-shirt. Like any normal, red-blooded American male, I do not usually wear pink. I was […]

Yesterday, I posted the story “The Room”. Thanks again to Neely for the link to a short film adaptation of the story. At the end of the film, Joshua Harris, the author of the story, makes some very important comments: Do you see God’s love for you? It doesn’t matter who you are or what […]

Thank you Father for it all, especially for the people in my life. You already know the details of what I am thankful; but I most grateful to You for finding me, for opening my heart, and for letting me see You in others. The door to my heart is not open all the way […]

I had the great privilege and honor to be a co-director of a three-and-half day long retreat last weekend for high school juniors and seniors. This was only my second time to be on team for this retreat. It was my first with the girls. (It was on my first experience with this retreat as […]

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. — St. Augustine