by Barbara | Dec 11, 2013
Oh December...why must ye fly so quickly by? I've much to do, no time to sigh. Cards to mail, gifts to buy and chocolate to bake, I'm not gonna lie. Perhaps we might consider, elongating this month, a simple fort nigh'? Why imagine the time it would buy! We could...
by Barbara | Dec 8, 2013
Everywhere we look there are signs. They point us to destinations, tell us when to use caution, where to go to find something, seek help and so on. What are the signs we find at this time of the year? The weather has changed, the leaves have fallen, brilliant light...
by Barbara | Dec 4, 2013
Arrival of what perhaps you ask . What is so important, am I up for the task? There are presents to buy, wrap and give, I have a life and I've got it to live. It's Christmas after all, what's else matters, Lights and trees, and gifts that flatter. What does it matter...
by Barbara | Dec 4, 2013
Tis the season for sweets to be sure. Amateur and professional bakers and candy makers let visions of possibilities dance in their heads. I am no different and have a particular affection for all things sweet. My training, albeit incomplete was in pastry and it has...
by Barbara | Nov 23, 2013
Trying to come up with an intentional and authentic name for a blog is challenging. It needs to encompass a bit of who we are, and inviting enough for further readership outside of ones own loving mother. I ended up choosing; Poured Myself Out In Gift. It is not...
by Barbara | Aug 31, 2013
I really can’t remember the last time that a homily made me squirm in my seat and cast a downward glance at being convicted of my sinfulness. I can’t call to mind ever leaving mass with a zeal and fiery passion to go make a difference that was so hot I wanted to jump...
by Barbara | Aug 19, 2013
I would like to think that it all started with the “Y” cord, but I know that is not so. Maybe it would be more accurate to state that perhaps it started with the words, why not. We were presenting a marriage preparation class to thirty-five couples the other day, and...
by Barbara | Aug 17, 2013
"Just about the worst thing we can do with Jesus is to domesticate him, to turn him into a nice, harmless figure, simply a teller of tales and wise spiritual teacher. He announces himself as an arsonist: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were...
by Barbara | Aug 6, 2013
I awoke before dawn and was assaulted by the knowledge that today the President of the United States was coming to our little neck of the world. From the moment I heard about his little visit I have been torn, frustrated and angered. Why here, why come to a high...
by Barbara | Jul 13, 2013
In my previous article (Marriage Changes People) I outlined a hypothetical and all too common scenario observed among young couples today. Decisions made early in their relationship can have an impact on their future marriage. How can we effectively help our young...
by Barbara | Jul 13, 2013
"Marriage changes people, she's different now" stated the young man speaking about his new wife. “We lived together for two years, then suddenly”, claims the new husband, “the ring popped on and she changed?” Is she really different, I wonder? Did the marriage really...
by Barbara | Oct 3, 2012
By Barbara Lishko I am a worker in the vineyard of the Lord in a bona fide way; I work at the Catholic Church. That certainly does not imply that only those who work in churches are in the vineyard, no, the world is the vineyard and there is lots to do in every corner...
by Barbara | Sep 18, 2012
It has happened to all of us...more than once. More times than I can calculate. We think we are helping, but sometimes we are not...and a big 'ol ugly mess ensues. Hurt feelings, lost tempers, words that cannot be taken back. They are out there in the oxygen floating...
by Barbara | Sep 13, 2012
I have a very dear friend I have known since high school. We were both baptized Catholic as babies, raised in Catholic homes, and received all of our sacraments. I was in her Catholic wedding and she was in mine. We are Godparents of each other’s children. Where we...
by Barbara | Sep 10, 2012
By Barbara Lishko "Where did all the time go" we often comment as we wonder out loud. I might say the same thing as I look at my dusty, neglected, first attempt at blogging and my sadly forgotten writing. What's the deal? How could so much time pass by without as much...
by Barbara | Oct 3, 2011
Today's Gospel is about the Good Samaritan. Everyone knows the story for the most part (Luke 10:25-37). Right? It's a real "feel good" story and I think we all would want a chance to be a Good Samaritan if it ever came about. I believe that this scenario presents...
by Barbara | Sep 9, 2011
Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those people on theTitanic...
by Barbara | Sep 2, 2011
By Barbara Lishko “Our hearts are restless Lord, until they rest in thee.” St Augustine knew well what he was writing about, having spent part of his life filling the void with everything but God. It is difficult to watch people you care about “fill their voids”...
by Barbara | Feb 2, 2011
“You just don’t understand.” she told me in exasperation. “No”, I sighed. “I guess I don’t.” We had just finished this amazing day and a small inconsequential occurrence, that any other time would have been easily dismissed, caused her to rethink everything as the day...
by Barbara | Nov 30, 2010
While at work the other day I got a text from one of my sons, “where is the video camera?” After spending five minutes making sure I had each word spelled correctly and had properly punctuated, I texted him back. Ten seconds later his response indicated that he had...