Listening for the words

I recently spent the weekend in silence and centering prayer at a retreat center run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Cape May.  It’s a glorious place overlooking the dunes and sea.  I was there with some other folks who, like me, are trying to stay sober one day at a time. I had…

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What's more important, plot or great prose?

My Best Beloved was recently at an insurance industry conference, from where he sent me an email saying he was in the midst of a discussion with an associate about literature. I can’t tell you how gratifying it is to think of business folk taking a break from discussions of annuities and risk prevention to…

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Justice. And conflicted emotion.

“JUSTICE has been done.” In this way, President Obama began his speech announcing the death of Osama bin Laden. Navy Seals led a raid on a compound in a small, affluent Pakistani town and killed the “mastermind” behind Al-Queda and the unspeakable events of 9/11. The world, or at least those who aren’t bin Laden…

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