Lifelong Catholic, theological librarian, occasional blogger, husband for 43+ years to the LOML, father of 3, grandfather of 9, lover of baseball - especially the Red Soxhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3mmgqitadnc2cSurely the AI video of Trump deluging “No Kings” protestors with feces — a video posted by the President himself — is a weaponization against Americans. Perhaps a collective application for slush fund compensation is in order.22 May 2026 10:37 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmgqitadnc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3mlj3s346d227In memory of my beautiful mother… http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2015/07/19/my-mothers-hands/10 May 2026 15:39 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlj3s346d227https://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3mapzlbhcws2aOn a Christmas Eve and morning many years ago… http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2015/11/20/believing-in-santa/24 Dec 2025 10:11 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mapzlbhcws2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3m6im5n4vvs2fBlueSky friends, earlier today, I posted a new essay with a Thanksgiving theme on my blog. The essay title is: "Icons" of Hope and Encouragement. And, here is the link: http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2025/11/25/icons-of-hope-and-encouragement/26 Nov 2025 00:32 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6im5n4vvs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lnxf6sthpk2kI hope this doesn't spoil the surprise for anyone, but life can be tough.29 Apr 2025 13:29 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnxf6sthpk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lmnxdbyoxc2qOn Palm Sunday, 11 years ago, my grandson reminded me to listen more attentively. http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2014/08/16/heeding-jofys-ears/13 Apr 2025 02:02 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmnxdbyoxc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lfzts7j7t22oIn memory of Peter Yarrow… http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2013/09/01/make-way-for-other-toys/18 Jan 2025 17:34 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfzts7j7t22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3leolwkr7zk27God, thank you for the beginning of this New Year and the hope that it brings. I don't know if I will share in all 365 of its sunrises and sunsets; but, on every day of 2025 that finds me breathing, please let the remembrance of you be the deepest habit of my heart.01 Jan 2025 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3leolwkr7zk27https://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3le2zvwpctk2eMerry Christmas, friends! May the awesome humility of God, so perfectly demonstrated in the manger in Bethlehem, move in all of our hearts during this holy season and forever.24 Dec 2024 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3le2zvwpctk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3ldtvneu3uc2kThis is the story of a little boy (me, age 6) who learns the truth about Santa. I hope it will bless you. Merry Christmas! http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2015/11/20/believing-in-santa/21 Dec 2024 22:01 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldtvneu3uc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3ldm5z2cais2rThis short essay tells the story of Christmas in my childhood home back in 1963, when I was 6 years-old. That was when I learned the truth about Santa Claus. I hope it blesses you. Merry Christmas! http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2015/11/20/believing-in-santa/18 Dec 2024 20:09 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldm5z2cais2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3ld255rkxbs2oFrom boyhood, I have felt God tugging on my heart. This persists even when I choose distance from God, even at times of deepest grief and confusion. Study helps me understand this tugging, but it is not a thing I have learned or achieved. It is a gift, and I pray that it will never leave me.11 Dec 2024 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld255rkxbs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lcfteyjvn22kI was writing a note of congratulations to two friends who became first-time grandparents. Alluding to the rapid passage of time, I wrote: "Drink in every moment." The automated editor suggested that I change it to: "Drink at every moment." Hmmm. That advice may be more helpful for new parents.03 Dec 2024 14:18 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcfteyjvn22khttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lbmnvswdds27New BlueSky friends, I have an annual tradition of posting a Thanksgiving essay to my blog as an expression of gratitude for the many blessings in my life. This year’s entry is titled “Holy Ground.” I hope you’ll check it out. Happy Thanksgiving! http://musingsamidthethorns.com/2024/11/23/holy-ground/23 Nov 2024 14:03 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbmnvswdds27https://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lbfclw3yac2eI’m curious. When someone follows you from an account lacking any profile info and with no posts, do you follow back?20 Nov 2024 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbfclw3yac2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lb5thmkbok2w Something strange just happened. I remembered leaving my phone on the bookshelf in our bedroom and went to retrieve it. Walking into the room, I saw that my phone had somehow dialed a friend’s number - on its own - and his line was ringing. Apparently I’m posting this from the Twilight Zone.17 Nov 2024 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lb5thmkbok2whttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3layz4fdqf22xMy wife and I watched the excellent Netflix documentary Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War. Considering the devastating lethality of modern weaponry, the fragility of peace, and the violence already raging in Gaza, Ukraine, etc., the threat of incompetent political leadership terrifies me.15 Nov 2024 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3layz4fdqf22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3lay2c6ct322zI am forever fascinated by Thomas Merton.15 Nov 2024 09:19 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3lay2c6ct322zhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmlsteve.bsky.social/post/3laxzsqkyds2oHi, BlueSky community. I’m new here, and I’m already encouraged by what I see. I probably won’t post often, but, when I do, I’ll likely touch on what I love - God, faith, family, friends, vocation. Oh, (fair warning) I may also post links to my blog. Blessings!15 Nov 2024 09:10 +0000at://did:plc:ec2olowjx6s5bsmiteytbbbt/app.bsky.feed.post/3laxzsqkyds2o