Category: Christian Psychology
-
Wounded Vessels, Transfigured Soul: Healing through the Imago Dei
Wounded Vessel CallsImago Dei WithinWakens divine light ~ Dr. Thomas Maples “I am forgotten like the unremembered dead; I am like a shattered vessel.” ~ Ps 31:13 (NABRE) What happens when you remove the protective case from your phone, hold it screen-down above your head, and drop it onto concrete? (Please don’t try this at…
-
Caregiver Burnout: How to Heed the Call for Self-Care
Think about the most selfless, dedicated person in your life. Maybe it’s a healthcare worker pushing through back-to-back shifts. Perhaps it’s a teacher staying late night after night, a social worker, or that one friend who is always the designated shoulder to cry on. Many of these caring roles put people at risk for caregiver…
-
The Architecture of Identity: Mask, Persona, & The Psychology of the Pharisee
Whitewashed tombs aboundWhat lies beneath sacred ground Spring’s faith renewal ~ Thomas C. Maples Introduction Looking back at the last decade, have you noticed the unprecedented focus on narcissism? Have you watched the “selfie generation” delve ever deeper into a hunger for validation—snapping countless daily photos hoping one will finally capture, project, or manufacture an…
-
Yearning for the Yoke: Theosis, Self-Realization, and the Sacred Yes
Yearning for Your yokeDeep soul seeks light from your graceSpirit whispers Yes! ~Thomas Maples The Anatomy of Yearning: Why We Crave More Than the World Can Offer During the COVID-19 lockdown, I found myself wanting more than my vocation required. I felt as though I was carrying an invisible yoke, a weight on my shoulders.…
-
To Witness God’s Work: A Guide to the Spirit’s Gift of Wonder and Wisdom
To Witness Your WorkWonder and Wisdom Lead MeSpring of Spirit’s Gift ~Thomas C. Maples Cultivating Holy Wonder: The Psychology of Spiritual Awe “We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” — T.S. Eliot,…
-
Temperance: Finding Peace in the Age of Excess
Temperance to groundFaith unlocks the yearning heart. Pure Spirit to Spring~ Thomas C. Maples Temperance: The Sacred Architecture of Restraint For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. ~2 Timothy 1:7 Temperance; can you sense its presence? If you listen to the inspirational gurus on…
-
The Rhythm of Redemption: Life as a Practice of Return
Seeking redemption Inner voice calls upon me Grace springing within ~ Thomas C. Maples Redemption in the Integrated Self Have you ever felt that life is a practice? As I ponder this, it runs counter to my experience, which screams that people seek perfection. But sometimes, the true value in life comes from moments of…
-
Quiet Pathways: Healing the Interior Garden of Soul
Quiet clears a pathInterior garden of soulInner peace sprouts within Quiet surrounds us, but are we truly present to hear its voice? Shh. Listen. Can you hear the distractions? There is so much noise vying for our attention, yet we must ask ourselves: do we need to give in to its calling? In a world…
-
Obedience and the Blessed Heart: A Catholic Perspective on Love, Will, and Offering
Obedience and will—where does it begin? One of my favorite subjects to write about is happiness. It is a cornerstone of the entire industry that supports my livelihood: the practice of psychotherapy. People yearn for happiness, but when they focus their will solely on that end, they fail to realize they are setting their psyche…
-
Nurturing Grace: The Divine Equation of Love
Soul Eat’s Living Bread,Strong Spirit gives gentle rest,Grace falls upon me.~Thomas C. Maples The Divine Equation: From Vertical Ascent to Inner Wellspring When Christ gave us the Great Commandment, He established the divine equation for love, proclaiming the ultimate truth—a truth that can be closely related to Nuturing Grace in our daily lives. Embracing and practicing…
-
Love: The Essence of God’s Plan
I’ll Follow Your Call Libations of LoveLike a Fall Dew ReflectionI’ll Follow Your Call Love and the Alphabet of Virtues In the alphabet of virtues, this is the one I most looked forward to writing: Love. What a gift we have been given. For it is in the very act of loving that the gift of giving is as…
-
Embracing Kindness: A Source of Hope
To Spring darkness fadesKindness falls on open heartFaith will guide the way~Dr. Thomas Maples Miracles are possible in a world where kindness is the primary focus. Acts of kindness can bring about positive change, but only if we cultivate their presence individually. It is only then that we can lay the foundation for truly miraculous…