Category Archives: prayer

War is not the answer

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Don Watkins

“War is not the answer,” is a bumper sticker I’ve frequently posted on my car. It’s from the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Never was that slogan nor the bumper sticker more appropriate than now. In the middle of our … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer, veterans | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

When all you have is a hammer…

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Don Watkins

There’s an old expression, “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” That seems to be the case in the spate of police killings of black men and women in the United States of America. There … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer | Leave a comment

Remembering Theo

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Don Watkins

Yesterday marked the two year anniversary of the birth of our third grandchild. Theo Joseph was the light in an otherwise dark year that marked by the sudden death of his grandfather Joseph Driessler due to cancer. But then Theo … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer, Spiritual | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

He has cast down the mighty

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Don Watkins

This magnificent image from Thomas Mainardi was shared on Fr. James Martin’s Instagram feed. It’s one of the most powerful depictions of the Mary I have ever seen. I carry a rosary with me everyday and pray it frequently. Maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Catholics for Biden

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Don Watkins

Just last week I learned of Catholics for Biden. Actually the group is part of a larger “Believers for Biden.” I was happy to learn during the campaign that Joe Biden carries a rosary with him everyday. I do too … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic, prayer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Those who have eyes to see

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Don Watkins

I’ve come to believe that white supremacy is so embedded in Eurocentric American Christianity that most folks can’t believe that Jesus and the early church were not white. That they were in fact brown and/or black. Look at the statues … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic, prayer, racism, Spiritual | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

We hold these truths to be self evident

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Don Watkins

Thus begins the Declaration of Independence that we Americans celebrate on July 4th. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer, racism, Spiritual | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Home Again

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Don Watkins

This afternoon I returned to Mount Irenaeus for the first time in over three months. It’s been the longest absence in the past twenty plus years of my life. It was Sunday March 8, 2020 when I last walked the … Continue reading →

Posted in Franciscan, Gratitude, prayer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Shelter Us

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Don Watkins

This has been an apocalyptic day in an apocalyptic time. We have had nearly a week of looting and rioting following the murder of an innocent black man by police in Minneapolis. The country and world are enduring a pandemic … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A call to holiness

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Don Watkins

There’s been a lot of pushback on social distancing and mask wearing. Many consider theses measures as umbrage. It isn’t always a pleasant experience. It is an annoyance to have to wear a face covering. When I was a little … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer, Spiritual | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment