Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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The Good Life Part 6
November 20, 2024
In the spiritual life, we live The Good Life when connected to our divine spirit. This week our Daily Reflections on The Good Life include the Nine Fruits of the Spirit named by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians. These nine soul qualities are of supreme value. Today, we reflect on the last three Fruits of the Spirit.
The Good Life Part 5
November 19, 2024
It’s easy to be tricked by our culture’s fascination with the good life. Look at advertisements that feature young and beautiful models. They stand against the backdrop of elegant estates in front of fabulous automobiles, clad in haute couture with elegant jewelry. Such advertisements suggest that this is their life, and we can have it too. It elevates riches and privilege to a supreme value in our culture. It’s as if the people in the commercials have it all — youth, beauty, riches, and everything those things supposedly bring us. But if we were to go to the photo shoot when the ad is being filmed, we would likely find a rented Maserati, a castle booked for the day, and “borrowed” clothes and jewels. The model would be a struggling youth with a modest bank account and a family who, like all families, is dysfunctional. Even the truly rich and truly royal are humans with the same issues as everyone else. Nevertheless, the advertisements continue because they work — they appeal to the undying desire to attain bliss which our ego translates as being attainable through the material. However, these things cannot bring the authentic joy for which we yearn.
The Good Life Part 4
November 18, 2024
What are the qualities of spirit that make a good life? The Apostle Paul gave a wonderful list of such qualities in his letter to Galatians Chapter 5, verses 22-23. Paul’s nine fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.