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🌿 Transformation Tuesday: Franco Zeffirelli — Finding Faith in Assisi

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Franco Zeffirelli came to Assisi as an artist, not a believer. He wanted to capture the beauty of St. Francis — the poet of poverty, the troubadour of peace. But as he filmed Brother Sun, Sister Moon , something deeper unfolded. The story he was telling began to tell him . Amid the quiet of Assisi’s hills, Zeffirelli found what Francis had found centuries earlier: simplicity, humility, and joy. The film’s light and music became more than art — they became prayer. Those who were there, including Sr. Maria del Rey, saw the change firsthand: the director who came to portray conversion experienced his own. Zeffirelli later said that Brother Sun, Sister Moon was his most personal work — not just a film, but a confession. His transformation reminds us that beauty can be a doorway to belief. When art seeks truth, it often finds grace. post inspired by A Believer-in-Waiting's First Encounters with God  by Elizabeth Mahlou. Book description: It begins with a single, transforming encounter ...
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When Nobody Tells the Baby the Due Date!

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  Babies have their own calendars. They don’t check the app, they don’t read the birth plan, and they certainly don’t wait for the hospital bag to be packed. Sometimes they arrive early—days, weeks, or even months before anyone expected. And sometimes, they arrive in the most unexpected places: a car, a parking lot, or after an accident that turns into a miracle. 🚗 When the Baby Comes Early (and You’re Not Ready) If your baby decides to debut before you’ve finished packing or even before your doctor says “any day now,” take a deep breath. Early doesn’t always mean dangerous. Many babies born a few weeks early do beautifully with a little extra monitoring. What to do: Call for help immediately. Whether it’s 911 or your midwife, get professional guidance fast. Stay calm and safe. If you’re at home or in the car, focus on breathing and keeping warm. Don’t try to control the process. Your body knows what to do; let instinct lead. Have someone stay on the phone with emergency servic...
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Depression: Genetic Predisposition and Family History

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  Depression can run in families, but not in the way eye color or height do. What’s inherited is not a single “depression gene,” but a constellation of biological sensitivities — how the brain regulates mood, how stress hormones surge and settle, how sleep and appetite respond to change. These tendencies can make some people more vulnerable when life’s pressures mount. What It Is Genetic predisposition means that certain patterns in DNA influence how neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine function, how the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis manages stress, and how inflammation interacts with mood. Family history adds another layer: shared environments, learned coping styles, and emotional modeling. A parent’s way of handling despair or anxiety can become part of a child’s internal script. How It Contributes to Depression When biology and family experience intertwine, the threshold for depression can lower. A person may inherit a nervous system that reacts strongly to ...
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