Lawrence Klimecki is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith and the spiritual "hero's journey" that is part of every person's life.
In front of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, in the middle of the great square, there is a unique witness to four thousand years of human history. Four huge bronze lions, their tails intertwined, wrap around a large square base, on the base is an Egyptian obelisk that dates back toContinue Reading
Do you remember the story of Odysseus? It used to be required reading in school. The Odyssey follows the pattern of the Hero’s Journey. But it is also the pattern for our lifelong spiritual journey. Odysseus, the king of the island nation of Ithaca, is called to fight in theContinue Reading
In all of the Gospels, there is only one time that a person refers to Jesus by His name. Usually people call Him master, or rabbi, or teacher. But one person turns to Him and says, “Jesus.” The penitent thief, no doubt gasping in pain, calls to Him, “Jesus… remember me… whenContinue Reading
One of the great mysteries of Christianity is how God uses the virtues of humility and persistence to achieve great things. We see this throughout the Bible and throughout the history of Christianity. It even shows up in the least likely places, such as the old west. The Reverend Dr.Continue Reading
Faith truly can move mountains. It can even win a battle against overwhelming odds. The tension between the Christian and Muslim world is nothing new. It has been going on for centuries. In 1571, Christian Europe was in chaos. The Protestant Reformation had broken the unity of the Church andContinue Reading
The history behind La Calavera Catrina, “the dapper skeleton,” is long, complicated, fascinating, and not without some controversy. But in contemporary culture it has become associated with the “Day of the Dead” celebrations. Dia de Muertos, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, are the days in which we rememberContinue Reading
What is prudence? In 1845, two ships under the command of Sir John Franklin left England. Their goal was to discover the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean, across the Arctic, to the Pacific. Neither of the ships nor any of the 138 men ever returned. For more than twentyContinue Reading
Corrie Ten Boom lived in Denmark during World War II. She and her family helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust. Acting on information from an informant, the Nazis arrested the entire ten Boom family and sent them to Scheveningen prison. While in prison, Corrie watched her sister Betsie starveContinue Reading
Many of us are familiar with the traditions of the Amish from movies such as Witness. We know that theses traditionalist Christians generally avoid modern technology. Their homes do not have telephones or televisions and even electricity is relegated to the barn but not the house. To many people thisContinue Reading