Reflections

I have been a member of a gym for some twelve years. It has 18 outlets/clubs all over our little island. I have been to nearly every one of these, according to my availability and convenience, to where I am and what is being offered (the group classes). I must say I am very impressed …

Your Body Matters: The Spirituality of Physicality Read More »

The title of this Reflection may surprise some, especially parents. You may be wondering, “what on earth has parenting to do with discipleship?“ We often associate discipleship with the Navigators, Campus Crusade or IDMC (Intentional Disciple-making Church), or think of it in terms of an older, mature Christian mentoring younger ones. The mission of many …

Parenting as Discipleship Read More »

The “empty nest” syndrome is something that many of us are going through or will be going through in due time (sooner than you imagine!). It is that time when the child leaves home or no longer needs the parents as much (except when they run out of money and/or need some favors or ferrying …

The Grace of God in Mid-life/Later-life Marriages Read More »

What is Self-Esteem? Self-esteem a complex idea, involving a global evaluation or judgment of one’s personal acceptability and worthiness to be loved, which carries with it pleasant or unpleasant feelings. It is strongly related to perceived views of the person by important others in his or her life. It is a way of experiencing a …

Pride & Low Self-esteem (III): A Psycho-spiritual Perspective Read More »

In the previous reflection, we attempted to get to the root of human problem by looking at both pride and low self-esteem. From a scriptural perspective, most of us would veer towards stating it as the problem of sin and pride. From a psychological perspective, however, most from the helping profession would pin it down …

Pride & Low Self-esteem (II): A Psychological Perspective Read More »

Many emotional problems (other than chemical imbalances) are due primarily to people having unwarranted feelings of low self-esteem. The underestimation (and even, hatred) of self is so prevalent that many of us can identify with it. Those who know me know that my favorite cartoon is Peanuts! Its main character is Charlie Brown, who is …

Pride & Low Self-esteem (I): The Root of Human Problem Read More »

When we talk about emotions, Western culture (and probably Eastern too) tend toward the Stoic position, thinking and arguing that emotion has little or no place in the virtuous or good life. Though classic Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle accepted that emotions had a positive role in human life, were adamant that they …

I Feel, Therefore I Am: The Value of Emotions Read More »

There are no easy answers to the mental and socio-emotional aspects of aging and there’s no one-size-fits-all and no one-time solutions either. The struggles have to be grappled with continually, but the process can often yield meaning and purpose as well as growth in emotional maturity. They also often point us to God and to …

The Travails of Aging (4): Mental & Socio-emotional Aspects Read More »

One of the hard facts of aging is not only the loss of our physical ability (as I wrote in Parts 1 & 2 of The Travails of Aging) but also a loss of mental acuity. Our memory is less clear, our thoughts are less cogent and arguments less compelling. We tend also to forget, …

The Travails of Aging (3): Mental & Socio-emotional Aspects Read More »