Transform our suffering
byOur responsibility as humans is to transform our suffering in order to transform the suffering of those around us. Thich Nhat Hanh Creating True…
A river gone wild in the city
by Tom Springere live in two worlds, writes Minnesota poet Tom Hennen. The first includes “airplanes and power plants, all the machinery that surrounds us, the…
Displacement
by the daily asteriskOptimists may be willing to believe in the promise, perennially made to inner-city residents by promoters of development, that a community of racially mixed…
Abbey Cemetery
by Naomi Wengerfor Kilian McDonnell, OSB This gentle hill heaves, pushing up crenellations— those markers of surrendered life secured even in death. A phalanx of gray…
Journey toward humanity
by the daily asteriskWhat is the task before us? It is as large as life itself, and remains so even when times of crisis or war narrow…
The wisdom of a lonely, tidal land
by Alex Joynerary Lee came to visit this spring. Possessed of an impressive set of teeth and a wandering spirit, she just showed up one day…
Economic equality
by the daily asteriskI feel absolutely confident that the biblical understanding of “economic equality,” or equity, demands at least this: God wants every person, or family, to…
Courage to Cry
by Debra DieppaI have always been told growing up to keep my emotions inside. Crying was a weakness. Being loyal to my Father was my first…
Better off
by the daily asteriskThe world would be better off if people tried to become better, and people would become better if they stopped trying to become better…
Stigma
by Name WithheldEditor’s Note: Each Thursday, we feature a throwback piece from Topology’s predecessor, catapult magazine. This essay, published in 2011, has always stuck with me….