Posts by Joanne Huestis-Dalrymple
The Summit
Driving up the hill of Aspetuck Ave, one could sense she was happening upon something very special. The quiet road was lined with trees as large and ancient looking as the mind can imagine. Up, up, until at last a scene out of a movie sat before me. A gorgeous New England boarding school campus…
Read MoreA New Heart, A New Spirit
Last weekend our priest gave a homily challenging us to focus on the virtue that is the opposite of the sin(s) we commit most. I thought it was a highly creative way of encouraging some deep self-reflection with sound solutions for the problem of sin. Not coincidentally, a couple of days later, I happened upon…
Read MoreNoah, a Flood, and a Promise
Today’s first reading tells of the story of Noah and the flood that wiped the Earth of all living things aside from Noah and his family and the animals he was told to take. God promised not to destroy the Earth in this way ever again a few chapters later in Genesis 9. How merciful.…
Read MoreThe Path Less Traveled
Today’s first reading brings me back to childhood. My mother used to remind us children over and over that God sees all. He knows what we are thinking and going to do before we even do it! So, make the right choice she would always remind us. In the same breath, we were to understand…
Read MoreThe Sixth Day of Christmas
Dear Readers, As we Catholics continue to celebrate the Christmas season, many other people have taken down the Christmas trees. They have carefully put away the decorations until next year. The stores are putting out Valentine’s Day decorations. Christmas is already a memory. I find myself whispering, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what…
Read MoreSt. Joseph
Today’s gospel reading is the story of the angel coming to St. Joseph in a dream and assuring him not to divorce Mary, but to take her as his wife. The angel explains that the baby, who is to be named Jesus, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and will save the world from their…
Read MorePerseverance
Today’s gospel from Luke is a story from when Jesus is walking through Jericho, the crowds are following him, and on the roadside is a beggar. He is not only poor, he is blind. He hears the crowd and asks what is going on. Once he finds out Jesus is passing through, he calls out…
Read MoreA Message and A Mission
Years ago, I was on the hunt for a journaling bible; a bible that allowed notetaking on the margins. A bonus was if it had commentary at the bottom of the pages as well. A dear friend showed up at my door with her journaling-commentary bible that she thought I would get more use of…
Read MoreIt All Comes Down to This
Everything begins and ends with love. It all comes down to this. I recently read a short story by an author I enjoy very much, What Men Live By by Leo Tolstoy. While this is a work of fiction, Tolstoy has some interesting points and left me thinking about them more than once. I will…
Read MoreOn Suffering and Thanksgiving
In May, I fell and broke both of my wrists. Other GVM contributors have graciously stepped in to fill my Day 18 reflections for the past few months. To them, thank you! The long story short is that I quite literally was without use of my arms and hands for a bit. I learned very…
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