Tom Adams
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In December, our monthly Racial Justice Conversation focused on the current, abominable mistreatment of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), offered a powerful...
The Sunday before Christmas, my extended family gathered for a holiday meal and gift exchange to celebrate the season together. My sister has hosted this event since my Mom and Dad became physically unable to do so. My Mom and Dad were in their late 80s when they passed and had hosted our family gathering for over 60 years. That is a lot of tradition—and a lot of love—handed down.
This time of year often brings my faith journey into new perspective—or shows me where I’m still stuck. Usually both. Today I want to share how this season of light has opened me again to hope, imagination, and trust, even when the world offers plenty of reasons to doubt.
Editor’s Note: The reflections below come from my personal experience as a member of the Greenbelt Reparations Commission, created after a 2021 citizen referendum directing the City Council to form a 21-person body to “review, discuss, and make recommendations related to reparations for African-American and Native American residents of Greenbelt.” These views are mine alone and do not represent the Commission.
Happy Thanksgiving! This year there is much for which I am grateful; that includes you as a reader of Critical Conversations. Thanks for checking out these posts and sharing your reactions. Knowing that you read and consider my words gives meaning to the creative process!
I’ve been focusing on gratitude this month as we head towards Thanksgiving, and in Twelve Step circles, celebrate Gratitude Month.
For lots of reasons, November is considered by some, including me, Gratitude Month. This week’s post offers some personal reflections on how I became a believer in gratitude, and some of the benefits.
Last week’s post featured remarks by Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington DC about how people without documentation are being treated in this country. He suggested strongly that they and all those being harmed by our current government are our neighbors. It is way past time to speak up and stop the fear-based oppression and deportations.
On September 28, Catholics in Washington DC held the 111th Day of Migrant and Refugees Mass.* This faith celebration followed a 1.9 mile march of over 1,000 people from the Shrine of the Sacred Heart Church, the neighborhood parish which is home to many immigrants, to the St. Matthew the Apostle cathedral in downtown Washington DC.
Readers often ask why I don’t say more about my own recovery journey in my posts. In exploring the Recovery Month theme of “recovery for all”, today’s post tells some of my recovery story and why I think it is important to share. While Recovery Month is ending, I will continue to write regularly on recovery for individuals and families.
Tom Adams writes and speaks on topics vital to the intersection of our personal lives with our community and global lives. He has for decades been engaged in and written about nonprofit leadership and transitions, spirituality and spiritual growth, how we each contribute to a more just and equitable world and recovery from addictions and the Twelve Step recovery movement.