When guests came bearing treasures

A first-person retelling of the visit of the Magi. I was sweeping the corner near the door when I heard the sound of hooves outside. Not the quick clatter of local animals, but the slower stately clop, of large beasts bearing heavy loads. We had been in Bethlehem for some time. Joseph worked at his …

For Venezuela, itโ€™s always about oil

Venezuelaโ€™s political history since 1950 has been profoundly shaped by oil. In the mid-20th century, Venezuela tentatively emerged from decades of often chaotic military rule. The pivotal turning point came in 1958, when a popular uprising โ€” joined by business leaders, students, and military factions โ€” overthrew the authoritarian regime of Marcos Pรฉrez Jimรฉnez. His …

10 benefits of recalling the yearโ€™s meaningful events

1. Strengthens identity Recalling past experiences reinforces our sense of who we are and how weโ€™ve grown through the year. 2. Strengthens relationships Sharing memories with others helps to builds connection, empathy, and mutual understanding. 3. Encourages goal-setting Reviewing the past year clarifies personal priorities and guides our decision-making for the future. 4. Boosts mood …

20 Christian mystics often regarded as โ€œGreat Soulsโ€

Throughout Christian history, mystics have been recognised as โ€œgreat soulsโ€: women and men whose lives display an unusual depth of prayer, moral seriousness, spiritual authority, and love for God and neighbour.ย  Here are twenty of them. Who else, in your opinion, should make the list? Augustine of Hippo Gregory of Nyssa Evagrius Ponticus Macrina the …

Christian mystics as “great souls”

In his writings, the Australian Baptist theologian G. H. Morling occasionally refers to โ€œgreat souls,โ€ people of extraordinary humanity or spiritual insight โ€“ those rare individuals able to express uncommon empathy or magnanimity, whether in actions or words. The phrase โ€œgreat soulโ€ echoes the classical Greek notion ofย megalopsychos,ย the โ€œgreat-souled man,โ€ย articulated by Aristotle, denoting largeness of …