As I’m sure is the case for many of us here, reading the newspaper is a key part of my morning routine. Coffee is, of course, key as well, making the news of all that’s going on in the world somewhat more digestible. This is a morning routine that my parents follow, learned from their parents before them, I’ll bet, and on up the generational line. There are a couple of differences, though, in how this routine gets carried out these days....

A couple summers ago my wife and I piled the kids into the minivan and headed West. It was to be our big vacation of the year – all the way to California coast. Why fly when the classic “road trip” offers so much more? More sites to see; more local cuisines to sample; more time together – the latter, of course, adding some emotional depth to the experience, one might say....

Imagine, if you will, a group of Episcopalians standing together and talking just before the start of the Pentecost service. It’s the annual bishop’s visit and last minute preparations are being made. The acolyte master says, “Lay eucharistic minster, the verger will meet you in the narthex.” And one of of the eucharistic minster’s adds, “right near the acolytes and the thurifer.” The associate rector then says, “Anyone seen the canon to the ordinary?...

One of my favorite pastimes is doing yard work. I grew up doing it, and some of my earliest and fondest memories are of my dad pushing the lawn mower and me following behind with a rake, clearing the clippings. Maybe it’s the smell of fresh cut grass, or of earth and gasoline on your hands and clothing after a good day’s work; maybe it’s the sense of accomplishment you feel, turning energy and sweat into a good looking lawn that you can play in with your kids or your dog; or maybe there’s just something about caring for creation that’s innately satisfying for the soul, obeying God’s ancient and fundamental commandment to “tend the garden,” so to speak....

This is a map of Evagrius’ eight thoughts and the corresponding virtues. The research conducted on the eight thoughts detailed in the excerpt from my thesis below led to my development of this diagram. It serves as a quick reference to the meaning of each thought and virtue and places them within their corresponding Platonic categories. One of the most critical concepts to understand while studying and applying Evagrius’ work, is the nature of the deep connection between the eight thoughts and their corresponding virtues....