Tag Archives: spirituality

More than a century ago and under the Swedish name of the Rev. Eric August Skogsberg, a distinctively Christian institution was built near the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. For more than 100 years, Minnehaha Academy has developed from its initial Christian foundation. As a vibrant institution in …

The blazing Middle East sun scorches the backs of a group of men, huddled along a dusty dirt road. The straps of their sandals are worn and their bodies are weary, but their eyes are alive with their leader’s teachings. He stands at the head of the group, describing an …

The vice of greed is more than wanting more presents, even budging the lunch line is greed Every year you read the story. That one about the true meaning of Christmas, and how it’s not about getting, it’s about giving. This year, The Talon will give you a break from …

Considering the bonds between body, spirit and mind “You just think that because you’re a bleeding heart Minnesota liberal,” my aunt accuses. “Maybe I am,” my dad declares loudly, “but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Please pass the turkey.” I sigh. Just a normal Thanksgiving dinner in Wisconsin. Not everyone’s …

Controlling indulgence over small things can open the door to larger growth, freedom This continues a seven-part reflection on the Virtues and Vices. Temperance, or self-restraint, is the control that people have over themselves when they resist eating another cookie, watching just one more show on Netflix or quickly sending a …

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:8. What does it mean to act justly? Justice itself means to “do the right thing” – things …

As humans, we are often faced with unfavorable circumstances––financial trouble, the mishandling of valuables, injury and the like––that expose our inner feeling of anger. Experiencing this anger, however, is an inevitable aspect of the world that we live in. Just as someone would naturally experience joy if they were hired …

In the well known Greek myth of “Pandora’s Box,” Pandora, the first woman created by the gods, was given a box by Zeus along with instructions never to open it. Naturally being extremely curious, Pandora unlocked the box and peeked inside. Out of the box flew all of the hardships …

In Greek mythology, there is a story about an inventor and his son who are imprisoned on the island of Crete, within the Labyrinth, which they had helped to build. To escape, Daedalus the father builds two pairs of wings, which he had cobbled together out of twine, feathers and …

Like a parasitical relationship, sloth latches on There’s a certain level of relief that comes from putting aside anything that generates stress; to sit back, relax, and watch the hours wane away as you curl up in your favorite recliner, isolated from a world packed with things that you don’t …