So, for some reason, after a long hiatus I was finally inspired to write a Catholic-themed essay again.

The essay is called The Beauty of Suffering; it was recently published by Catholic Insight, a Canadian journal.

I know that suffering is a heavy topic; everyone suffers differently, and we all have different kinds of coping mechanisms.

But if this essay can in any way make suffering more bearable (especially for those familiar with the Christian tradition), I’d be very grateful.

I was also inspired to write another essay, called For a More Peaceful World, promoting religious tolerance and diversity. This particular essay was written for a secular publication, and I tried to put myself in the shoes of my readers, most of whom are atheists or agnostics.

Note again (since I have friends who come from various religious traditions, and some who are not religious at all, and do not wish to limit myself only to certain types of friends) that none of my essays is intended to urge anyone to adopt a particular religion. Also, as my thoughts and opinions are constantly evolving and may not be identical with my past or future thoughts, each reader is encouraged to be brave in finding inspiration from all sources in order to find the best paths in his/her life journey. Peace!