Dianne Bergant

Genuine hospitality is a social art It might also be characterized as an intricate dance Both partners have to know the steps but they also have to be able to feel the rhythm of the other They have to know when to move forward and how far they have to know when to step back and to what extent

Too often saints are depicted as people who are so extraordinary that we could never identify with them Their commitment to God and virtue is unwavering their trust in divine providence unshakable and their unselfish service of others puts everything that we do to shame Such a depiction is unfor

We probably all have long lists of things we would never do I would never rob a bank or attack a helpless person or run off with the pool man It is beneath my dignity to cheat on a test or purchase clothing I intend to wear only once and then return for refund God am I good But then I have n

We are not a patient people We want immediate results We depend on ldquo fast rdquo food we are used to instant communication This disposition is particularly obvious in the popularity of quick weight-loss programs Perseverance is not high on our list of cultural values We hardly ever hear i

We may think that leprosy known today as Hansen rsquo s disease is an ancient affliction that has been eradicated from today rsquo s society In fact the current World Health Organization considers it one of the major health problems in developing countries But what is called leprosy in the Bibl

We don rsquo t hear much about faith nowadays except faith in ourselves Ours is a culture of self-reliance and self-determination However if we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit that we are all burdened with a measure of self-doubt mdash not necessarily the unhealthy kind of self-

The phrase Its none of my business can mean more than one thing It can be an acknowledgment that we must respect the right of others to self-determination and personal privacy On the other hand it can be used as an excuse for not stepping in to help when it is clear that another needs our help T

It is very difficult to talk about financial equity in a market-driven economy Some entertainers and sports figures earn extravagant salaries while people in essential service professions like teaching often find it difficult to make ends meet So many people struggle with some form of money probl

When I was much younger I used to think that obedience was hard Now I realize that it may be unpleasant but I don rsquo t think it is really hard At least I knew then what was expected of me Knowing which decisions to make that is hard This is particularly true when there are so many options