In, beyond Waldo: silver linings on Easter
One of my favorite parts of a recent virtual church service was a challenge to find the silver linings that are a part of our […]
Faith
Day of the Dead: Time to relive fond memories
First comes the shock, the tears, the numbness of emotion. Calls to far-away relatives. Awkward and heartfelt expressions of sympathy. Temporarily all-consuming are the many […]
Greece: Seeking the holy in Meteora
First of three parts. It’s one way up and one way down – around and around – when traveling the stone forest of Meteora, about […]
‘Holy Rover’ finds value in spiritual pilgrimage, near and far away
With the new year comes motivation to begin anew, perhaps with hope for significant change that starts with a public resolution or private vow. Maybe […]
Shopping within Wisconsin’s Amish landscapes
Friends near Cazenovia (Richland County) always invite us to their farm during this time of year, and it is a joy to simply follow the […]
Wisconsin’s Holyland: rural roots with German heritage
With the arrival of spring comes the promise of renewal, revival and – especially for Christians – rebirth and resurrection as Easter approaches. It was […]
Dells Bells: Low-cost weddings inside Vegas-style chapel
Between the Showboat Saloon and Old River Mini Golf, downtown in Wisconsin Dells, Katie Chandler and Evert Reeve officially began a new chapter of life […]
Sacred spaces to retreat, seek peace of mind
December is a month for reflection, even during an ordinary year, but I think 2012 nudges us more than most. The massacre of innocents in […]
Bible stories as tourism in Israel
This week’s column, an introduction to Christian tourist sites in Israel, can be found here.
Walking the ‘Way of Grief’ in Jerusalem’s Old City
This week’s column, about seeing Jerusalem’s Old City for the first time, can be found here.
Sacred sites produce something to savor
Most authors who choose food as a research topic head to restaurants, markets, factories or farms. Madison native Madeline Scherb opted for convents and monasteries. […]
NYC’s Leo House: safe haven for travelers
Hundreds of police and firefighters in need of respite during 9/11 rescue and recovery work found their way to The Leo House, three miles north […]
Chambers Island: open for quiet exploration
Mysterious Chambers Island is a 45-minute boat ride from Door County’s Fish Creek, but most of us only see it from a distance and hear […]
Dandelion Fest: enemy weed to edible green
What does it take to turn your enemy into a friend? A May 7 visit to Wisconsin’s Holyland – the German-Catholic towns that dominate parts […]
Fairfield, Iowa: Full of influences from India
I dunk a wedge of focaccia into the day’s soup – Bogota Potato, spiced with a mild curry – at Revelations Cafe and Bookstore, while […]
Faith, hope energize Our Lady of Guadalupe
The pavement zigzags gently but assuredly uphill, past spindly trees, rustling branches and the occasional chirping bird. The din of car traffic fades with each […]
Christine Center: a simple, stunning retreat
My reward, at the end of a 200-mile drive, is hearing the rhythmic click of hoofs and watching the sinking sun brighten a clump of […]
Iowa abbeys offer caskets, caramels, hotel
When you hit the road for a fall colors tour this year, consider heading to the other side of the Mississippi River, for a slice […]
Church architecture: studies of love, promise
This month ends with the promise of spring and new beginnings, as Easter celebrations fill restaurants as well as churches. You don’t have to be […]
A good retreat uplifts spirit, connects friends
My heart is enriched and eased because of a recent retreat for women in Lake Geneva. It was one of the rare quiet times for […]