As quickly as human nature can leave you discouraged, it can turn around and uplift you.

Three atheists got me thinking about Pope Francis the other day.

The other day, I lost my so-called smartphone. It was kind of dumb of me. But the episode set off a range of emotions; from the pit-in-my-stomach initial feeling to panic and stress at figuring out what to do next, including a little prayer to St. Anthony, to contentment realizing life without that digital albatross around my neck actually feels pretty good.

Are you ever pestered by annoying telemarketers trying to sell you things you don’t want? Have you registered your phone numbers on the Do Not Call List and still the calls keep coming?

Reading through Pope Francis’ fascinating 12,000-word interview in the Jesuit journal America Magazine, many thoughts and sentences leapt out, especially this one.

The other day I had a “Count Your Blessings” type of day. It was courtesy of two friends; a new friend and a long-time friend.

It’s difficult to find anything more perplexing than the tragic shooting death of teenager Sammy Yatim, the former Brebeuf College School student. It has caused a great gulf in the community with people lining up to either detest or defend police actions. One web site called the Toronto Catholic Witness Blog posted a story entitled “Sammy Yatim: A victim of the Toronto Gestapo Police.”

Never have so many words been used to explain so few after Pope Francis said “Who am I to judge?” when asked about homosexuals.

It never fails to amaze me how much the secular media loves to take shots at the Church. Pope Francis offering indulgences — or opportunity for forgiveness of sins — to those following him on Twitter during World Youth Day festivities in Rio de Janeiro is the latest hit and gigglefest for the media.

As we celebrate Canada Day, it’s not too difficult to get down on our country right now.