Post-Tribune

Readers share the one question they would ask God

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:08:00 -0500

Recently I listened to a speaker who posed an interesting question. If you had the chance, what one question would you ask God? The speaker’s talk went on to explore much of what is unexplainable in the world but I was stuck on the question. What would I ask God if I had the window of opportunity? A lot of mundane things went through my head, but, in the end, I came up with one word. Why? If God is what we believe God is, why creation? Did God become so inspired one day that creation burst forth like water …

Lenten sacrifice should be a true test

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:18:00 -0500

For many Christian religions, we are now in our second week of observance of the season of Lent — a 40-day period of prayer, fast, penance and good works leading up to the feast of Easter. As a cradle Catholic, Lent, along with all its customs, is implanted in our DNA. For instance, unlike some other faith traditions, we fast and abstain from meat on all Lenten Fridays. But I have to confess, I love fish so while I dutifully abstain, it’s no real sacrifice for me. I know I’m following the letter of the law, but many years ago, …

‘Talk to the Paw’ dog trick has owner seeing stars

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:50:00 -0500

As a way of frittering away the long, cold nights of winter, I decided I would teach Issy the Terrible (my terrier) some new tricks. She made no pretense that her preference was to lie on the couch, curled up on a blanket, but after some coaxing with the new training treats, she decided she’d be a sport and play along. So, the first one we’ve been working on is called “Talk to the Paw.” When I say the phrase, she’s supposed to place her paw gently on my nose. We started to practice. I provided lots of positive reinforcement. …

It’s all relative for National Family Week

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:58:00 -0500

In case you didn’t know, this week in National Family Week. There was a time when the ideal family looked like something out of “Father Knows Best” or “Leave It to Beaver.” There’s the father who comes to the table and then reads his evening paper, still smartly dressed in his shirt and tie. The mom was perpetually at home in her starched apron and pearl necklace. And then there were the prerequisite kids — a freckled boy, just naughty enough to be cute, and his sister, skipping in and out in her frilly dress and shiny patent leather shoes. …

Pampered pets are part of the family

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:42:01 -0500

I ran across an ad the other day for April as National Pet Month. I laughed. In my house, every month is pet month and pampering is the expectation. While I try to keep the words “spoiled, rotten dog” out of my vocabulary, I do admit that, in some ways, Isabella the Terrible is spoiled. No, I don’t buy her fancy designer coats and sweaters. She doesn’t sport serious bling, and I don’t take her for monthly appointments at the doggy spa. Baths usually consist of me chasing her around the yard with a soap bucket and hose. But, if …

Take time to appreciate loved ones

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:39:31 -0500

You know that old saying, familiarity breeds contempt? While we might not be contemptuous of those we are closest to, we certainly might develop a propensity, over time, to become indifferent. Elie Wiesel, writer and Holocaust survivor, noted that the opposite of love isn’t hate but rather indifference. Scary, isn’t it? When daily life becomes a habit and we get comfortable in our zones, we start to take the ones we love most for granted. For Roger Doherty, of Crown Point, the sudden death of a friend shocked him out of his indifference and motivated him to make a more …

Take time to reflect on power of forgiveness

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:06:01 -0500

For all Christian believers, tomorrow — Good Friday — is one of the most sacred days of the year. A precursor to the Easter resurrection, the events of the day of Christ’s death on the cross provides one with a poignant pause for reflection. A theme I come back to again and again is the significance, richness and depth of this notion of forgiveness and how it should apply to our own lives. After enduring hours of horrible torture and agony, Jesus, hanging from the cross, found the strength to keep forgiving. He asked God, “Father forgive them for they …

While away winter with some good books

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:38:00 -0500

The two best times of the year for hunkering down and reading a good book seem to be summer, out on our lounge chairs, and the dead of winter. Well, here we are in the dead of winter, so here are my recent picks and some from our neighbors. Over a well-deserved Christmas break, I finished “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks. Lo and behold, we’re seeing commercials for the movie. I can’t vouch for the film, but I did enjoy the book — the story of a beautiful, yet secretive, young woman fleeing an abusive past. She finds friendship and …

Choosing right vocation is part of life’s journey

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:48:01 -0500

When talking about vocations, most people assume it only refers to ordained ministry or the religious life. But everyone has a vocation in life. Some would call it their life’s work or their passion. Others might say it’s their career or profession, such as medicine or teaching. Vocations don’t even need to be tied to a paycheck. My friend, Marie, and her husband, Roy, faithfully visit the sick and homebound in our parish weekly. They’re committed to what they do and the people they visit. And, they clearly have been gifted with a bounty of care and compassion that makes …

Liverwurst sandwich ‘proves’ Santa exists

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:40:00 -0500

I must admit, I was always suspicious of Santa. It wasn’t a matter of not wanting to believe; I did, desperately. But I never believed all those Santas who filled the department stores and stood on street corners were valid. Santa, of course, would never sport a cheesy-looking, obvious artificial beard. Smelling of mothballs and having bad breath just seemed so wrong. Still, I felt I needed to hedge my bet. What if there was a Santa, but my skepticism ticked him off? What if there were no presents under the tree on Christmas morning? What should I do? At …

3rd century saint might be prototype for Santa

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:10:01 -0500

I love Christmas as a religious holiday but, to be honest, I’m not a big fan of the secular celebration. Impossible traffic, hoards of snarky people, cheesy decorations and the pressure. There’s pressure to do everything; make everything perfect; and get it all done now. Today, however, is a special day I always enjoy celebrating — St. Nicholas Day. In case you aren’t familiar with this 3rd century saint, he came from a region that’s now in the southern part of Turkey. As a fairly young boy, both parents died in an epidemic. Taking the teachings of his Christian upbringing …

Comfort foods warm body and soul on cool days

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:42:00 -0500

At some point in October, it hits me; I’m sick of making dinners on the grill. There’s something about shorter days and that defining nip in the air that makes us yearn for comfort foods. This year, I hit the wall earlier than usual and, a couple of weeks ago, made a big pot of chicken soup. Chili won’t be far behind. And this weekend, Quick Pigs, the lazy person’s stuffed cabbage casserole, is on the menu. As good as grilled meats smell coming off that Weber, nothing’s better than the warm scents of slowly baked comfort foods wafting from …

Holiday chaos turns laughable

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:46:00 -0500

We all have them — those moments in life that, at the time, seem horrible, disastrous, total chaos. But then, with some hindsight, become times that can be classified as “one day we’ll laugh about this” occasions. I recalled one over Christmas as I celebrated with my family. It was six or seven years ago. Zoey, the Big Black Dog, was still alive. Expecting company, I set out a fairly good-sized bowl filled with Hershey Kisses, wrapped in red, green and gold foil. Without much further thought, I went back into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on our …

Creativity isn’t merely an extracurricular activity

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:08:00 -0500

After school enrichment programs have become part of the fall-out of a failing economy. And with them, so goes the effort to foster creativity in today’s generation of children. The loss of funding for what those in charge deem unimportant could mean that potentially millions of children will lose the fine art of how to be creative, an important life-skill. Another downside is that they most often are left alone after school in the hours once filled by enrichment programs, opening the door to becoming a couch potato, falling into the wrong crowd of friends or exploring things on the …

Thanks to hubby, empty-nester returns to class

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:20:01 -0500

The time has come to clear my basket of a couple of bits and pieces that somehow just never made it as a full column. Jessica Bates of Lowell received the surprise of her life from husband Larry at their daughter Julia’s graduation party this past summer. Julia was the last of their three children to graduate from college. The couple worked hard to make sure their kids wouldn’t graduate with a pile of debt to pay off when they finished their educations. “Jess not only worked two jobs over the last nine years but she put her own plans …

Memories of frozen turkey, football

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:47:15 -0500

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that provides the perfect backdrop for family traditions and brings back memories of loved ones now gone. In the Bosak family, as far back as I can remember, Thanksgiving was celebrated each year at my aunt and uncle’s, both now deceased. The turkey was my uncle’s baby. Sitting on the counter to cool, it always looked like a bronzed work of art and smelled divine. Several of us were turkey skin fanatics, so we hovered around the counter like vultures, waiting for pieces of the crispy delights. I can feel my arteries clogging just …

‘Good reads’ make longer nights bearable

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:08:01 -0500

Bummer! Daylight saving time has ended. We gain an hour, but we’re plunged into darkness an hour earlier. Trying to find the plus in this miserable time of year, I look forward to spending these long, dark evenings with a cup of hot tea (OK, sometimes, it’s a glass of wine) and a good book. My friend, Gloria, who lives in Indianapolis and is also a voracious reader, graciously shares piles of books with me when she’s finished. For a reader, they are as good as gold. I most recently finished “State of Wonder,” by Ann Patchett, the story of …

Simplicity can lead to a more meaningful life

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:00:01 -0500

Back in the mid-90s, a book hit the bestseller list and was a run-away success, selling millions of copies and changing the lives of readers all around the world. The book? “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.” The author: Sarah Ban Breathnach. Almost overnight, it made Breathnach a household word for women who longed to learn how to live a more authentic, simpler life. Why do I bring up a book now almost 20 years old? Because Brethnach was recently interviewed by Oprah, because, it seems, she failed to follow her own advice. Seduced by her new-found wealth, …