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THE OLD HOMESTEAD A friend recently sent me a picture from back home in rural Quebec where I was born. She had told me that she was sending a picture of the house in which I grew up. I was indeed shocked and disheartened to see that the picture was that of an empty lot. My parents, now dead, had left this home in 1987. On visits back to Quebec, I would always drive by the property and sit in front of it, remembering moments of happiness, sometimes sadness, mostly contentment and things as … [Read more...] about The Old Homestead

The traditional and very old hymn, How Great Thou Art, begins with, "O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars, I see the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout, the universe displayed". Flying to California last week, I casually began singing this song ( in my head) as I gazed out the window. We were flying over a mountain range interestingly enough, called Sangre de Cristo (blood of Christ) It was a clear day and I was struck by the … [Read more...] about Awesome Wonder

On a recent trip to California, I found myself walking along the Pacific coast. I turned around and saw that I had left a long trail of footprints in the sand. I begin to think about the footprints that we all leave in this world. What will our legacies be? We all make differences with our lives. We are here for a purpose and sometimes it takes a lifetime for us to determine what that is. What choices do we make that will affect others in a positive way? What are our priorities? How will we be … [Read more...] about What Will We Leave Behind?

As I sit patiently in a waiting room of a busy Toronto hospital this morning, I look around at the faces of others. So many people, so many different ailments and concerns. A lady rests her head on a backpack waiting for her husband's tests to be over. She is tired. Her name is called. She jumps, startled and unsteady, and goes off to sit with him now that the procedure is done. A man is wheeled in by his daughter.  He is pale, a blue mask covering his nose and mouth.  He sits and patiently … [Read more...] about Let Go….Let God

I am currently reading one of Pope Francis’ latest books, The Name of God is Mercy. Of course, for the Catholic Church, this is the Jubilee Year of Mercy. It is a time for the church to reach out, to recognize and understand that we, as humans, are wounded in so many ways. It is a time to let people know that they are truly beloved divine sons and daughters and that there is nothing that causes separation from God except for our decision to alienate ourselves from the source of love that created … [Read more...] about Unexpected Directions

What is Blesséd Blending? Hi, I am Jim Dunn and I am hoping to begin a conversation. I am a motivational/spiritual speaker and talk about the importance of blending with something greater than self to achieve higher purpose and meaning. Have you felt a connection with the divine, something that has made a difference and led to a personal transformation? Some encounters are more powerful than others. In scripture, it is clear that when someone encounters Christ, he/she becomes different. They … [Read more...] about Blesséd Blending with Jim Dunn

I have always loved the song "This Little Light of Mine". This is a new year, a new beginning, a new opportunity to go deep within yourself and discover what makes you shine. What about you makes others want to bask in your light? What can you do for others to lighten their darkness? Search for the flicker that is you. Allow it to grow into something more brilliant and extend it so that it is shared and easily accessible by others. You have this ability. Develop it. Use it for good. Do not keep … [Read more...] about Let your light shine!

Christmas is now over and people are getting ready to go back to work and school and the normal routine as we all know it.  Decorations will soon be removed.  For some, the excitement is over and the beauty that was Christmas is an event of the past.  But here's the good news.  Bethlehem stays with us.  The light that shone in the darkness tends to linger and we bathe in the glow of what has happened, if we choose to do so.  Two years ago I photographed a sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico slowly … [Read more...] about Sitting in the Light

Finding Stillness in the Christmas Rush By Jim Dunn On a recent trip to Halifax, I passed the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality which had a sign outside stating “ring doorbell for entry”. Intrigued by the open invitation, I did. When the bell was answered and I was asked what my inquiry was, I replied that I did not know. I was only responding out of curiosity to the very welcoming sign. I was not turned away for lack of reason. Once inside, I was encouraged to visit the chapel and I readily … [Read more...] about Finding Stillness in the Christmas Rush

It is hard to believe that Advent is almost over and Christmas is right around the corner.  This year I am really trying to place myself in that stable of so long ago and feel what it must have been like.  The shepherds were the first to hear and see the Good News.  They were, as the song tells us, watching their flocks by night.  Do we take the time to hear and, more importantly, see the good news as we attend to our daily responsibilities?  We often don't see the joy in our lives as we could.  … [Read more...] about December, A Time to Remember