Author: tomstellawebsite

“She was sitting at a table, talking with a woman who was, I quickly realized, quite drunk, yet determined to carry on a conversation… I found myself increasingly confused by what seemed to be an interminable, essentially absurd exchange taking place between the two middle-aged women. When would it end – the alcoholic ranting and … Continue reading Every Person is Worthwhile

When something is important to us we do what is necessary to prepare for it. If we have an exam and want to get a good grade, we study. If we have a performance, we rehearse. If we have a game, we practice. If we have a report to write or a presentation to give, … Continue reading Advent, A Time to Ponder

“When I was a kid, “sanctuary” meant only one thing. It was the big room with the stained glass windows and hard wooden benches where my family worshipped every Sunday… Today, “sanctuary” is as vital as breathing to me. Sometimes I find it in churches, monasteries, and other sites formally designated “sacred.” But more often … Continue reading Seeking Sanctuary

“Satisfaction, mystic Thomas Merton says, requires contentment with imperfection. It may sound strange, but a word that speaks to this truth is ‘sincere.’ This word is made up of two Latin words, sine cere, which means without wax. As I learned it, the word came about in relation to sculptors and merchants in ancient times. … Continue reading Sincerely Yours

  “With spiritual maturity the basis…shifts away from ambition, idealism, and desire for self-transformation. It is as if the wind has changed, and a weather vane – still centered in the same spot – now points in a different direction: back to this moment. We are no longer striving for a spiritual destination…We are home. … Continue reading Spiritual Maturity

  “We live in a culture that begs us to conform. Through its various messages, it calls us to squeeze into its mold. It exerts external pressure on our minds to believe in and buy its opinions, hopes, and aspirations. Yet, the pursuits that define most of our culture never fully satisfy our heart and … Continue reading In Sync with the Sacred

“I’m a “contemplative by catastrophe.” My wake-up calls generally come after the wreck has happened and I’m trying to dig my way out of the debris. I do not recommend this path as a conscious choice. But if you, dear reader, have a story similar to mine, I come as the bearer of glad tidings. … Continue reading Contemplative by Catastrophe

“William James distinguished between what he called the once-born and the twice-born. The once-born are those who do not question existence and live out their lives with contentment. They are at home in themselves and in the world because they do not wonder why. It’s as if someone gave them a happiness gene. The twice-born … Continue reading Looking for Home

Who is the spiritual master? The master limps. The master is not perfect. Like the rest of us, the master is flawed. But unlike most of us, the master is not handicapped by his limping because he knows his limping doesn’t have the power to name who he is. Like everyone else, the master is … Continue reading The Master Limps

“Until a few years ago I had spent the greater part of my time in a more or less covert struggle with life. However well things were going, I often felt that something was not quite right. Either I didn’t want what turned up in quite the form it appeared, or I wanted something else … Continue reading Drop the Struggle