IN LITTLE WAYS Twenty-seven years ago, I was invited to write a column on how a recent convert experiences Catholic life. “A Convert’s View” debuted on March 11, 1989. Seven years later, I changed the name to “In Little Ways” in honor of St. Therese, the Little Flower. I’ve written 574 columns in all. With […]

I have a theory as to why so many celebrities have miserable personal lives — too much free time. The first thing stars seem to do is hire lots of staff. No more washing laundry, scrubbing toilets or cooking dinner. With the help of drivers and nannies, even child rearing takes little time.

IN LITTLE WAYS I love that Pope Francis urged us to spend this year considering God’s mercy. I’ve found numerous Scripture passages which proclaim and illustrate God’s mercy and give me food for thought. Some passages, though, take work, such as these quotes from the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel: “Do not think that I […]

IN LITTLE WAYS The Long’s in downtown Hilo is a busy one, and the parking lot is usually full. The search for an empty stall often tempts drivers to ignore the directional arrows. The result can be two cars nose to nose with no room to maneuver. Few of those drivers would ignore arrows out […]

IN LITTLE WAYS My husband and I got married when he was 22 and I was 18. He still had law school to complete, but we thought we could manage. He would work summers, and I would find a full time job that only required a high school diploma. We started well. Then our secondhand […]

Take any large group of people and test their intelligence. About 10 percent will score poorly. About 10 percent will do astonishingly well. The rest of us will cluster in the middle. Make a graph of the results, and you’ll see a drawing that looks like a bell.

As I contemplate the events of Good Friday, I marvel at Jesus’ ability to pray while enduring fear and pain. I believe that inner strength came from the hours he spent in prayer in quieter times. Prayer had become his habitual response to every situation.

IN LITTLE WAYS How’s your Lent going? Mine’s been … unexpected. My plan was to refrain from sweets and donate money to a food-focused charity. I would read up on hunger issues and attend at least one extra worship service a week. I give myself a B- on sweets. I haven’t had dessert or forbidden […]

IN LITTLE WAYS CHORUS Back, back to the box, Got to get on my knees. Back, back, back to the box, Father, won’t you please Let me in, forgive my sin And set my sad soul free. Weekly Mass is a duty I know I should fulfill, But Sunday morning was cold and wet, And […]