Author: tomstellawebsite

We are all just a car crash, a diagnosis, an unexpected phone call, a newfound love or a broken heart away from becoming a completely different person. How beautifully fragile are we that so many things can take but a moment to alter who we are for forever.      We don’t like to think about it, … Continue reading Beautifully Fragile

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied, Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a … Continue reading The Gate of the Year

GLORY TO GOD IN THE LOWEST “Now at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken… So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and traveled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem…in order to be registered together with Mary, … Continue reading Glory to God in the Lowest

     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 … Continue reading Advent, a Time to Ponder

“Familiarity need not breed contempt, but it can breed a complacency that encourages us to take things for granted. Too often, we fail to appreciate the people and experiences that enrich our daily lives. Their proximity to us dulls our sensitivity to their beauty and uniqueness, and they start to come across as unremarkable landmarks … Continue reading Thankful is Not Grateful

“In our consumer-driven society, an image of flawless proficiency is crucial to success. To admit failure in a world that judges value by polished surfaces is to lose your edge as a commodity in the marketplace… We’re expected to exhibit a quality of perfection we know we don’t possess. All we can do is attempt … Continue reading Enter Grace

“Authenticity is first and foremost a matter of being attuned and responsive to the sacred within – to an instinct, an intuition, a sixth sense, a deep voiceless voice that can be “heard” even in a crowd. This inner guide may at times call us to live apart from others, but it surely summons us … Continue reading Heeding the Voiceless Voice

     “Everyone wants to feel the fullness of a life fully lived. The difference is in the strategy. Most think that fame and fortune will be their flowering. Others see their fruit to be in their family. Some strike out on wild adventures, while a few devote themselves to prayer and meditation. Whatever the method, … Continue reading Longing for Wholeness

“So – true story – I’m walking down Jefferson Blvd. and this old, long gray-haired hippie dude…leaps out of the bushes and grabs me by the lapels…and he shouts at me, “You won! You won, my friend! You won!”… I said “What did I win?” The old man cackled “Hah! Don’t you know?! You won … Continue reading Cosmic Lottery

Curve your straight Widen your narrow Don’t crouch in a gully Sample the peaks Down in the dumps your doom is secure Resuscitate your ardor Heat up your pizzazz Put roller skates on your pussy feet Welcome the peril of passionate dismay      Have you ever felt that your life is small? Have you allowed … Continue reading Curve Your Straight