Abraham's Journey
By Charlie Johnston (This piece originally appeared on December 4, 2017 at The Next Right Step. It is moderately edited for content here, but I thought its themes are important in these times. I used to get frustrated that people were so certain that they knew what was going to happen that I feared many […]
Read More Fractured ExpectationsFor those who may not be aware or who have not had the opportunity to view it, Charlie was interviewed by Fr. Richard Heilman and Doug Barry of the US Grace Force. Everything about this video is delightful and heartening, filled with signs of hope. Kick back and enjoy, Friends! I L.O.V.E. the title of […]
Read More Our Charlie with the US Grace ForceBy Charlie Johnston I hit the wall on Wednesday this last week. Utterly exhausted after getting into St. Louis, I realized I hadn’t taken a full day off for over a month and a half. Back when I was running big campaigns, I was pretty insistent that the candidate should take at least one day […]
Read More Hitting the WallBy Charlie Johnston As it turns out, being sprinkled with ashes does not feel as solemn and serious as having your forehead thumbed with ashes by a Priest. It’s kind of like being anointed with silly string. Of course, one year into “two weeks to flatten the curve,” a lot of our religious practices seem […]
Read More Random Musings at the Start of LentBy Charlie Johnston Of late, I have taken to warning people that a key reason for deliberation and restraint is that the devil is inspiring people on the left to float specific false instances of evil practices they generally use in order to discredit criticism of those practices altogether. They hope that over-aggressive folks on […]
Read More The Lion in the StreetsBy Charlie Johnston Ten years ago today, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes, I took the first step on the 3,200 mile walk that was my great pilgrimage across this land. When I left, I didn’t know much about what I was doing, only that I would do it, figuring I would […]
Read More Strength for the JourneyBy Charlie Johnston When I departed on my pilgrimage across the country 10 years ago this February, I only did two things to physically prepare for the journey (other than getting basic equipment necessary for an extended hike). First, I read a little about nutritional strategies for such a thing. Second, a couple times a […]
Read More Your Audience is GodBy Charlie Johnston I have a piece I was holding for today. I’m going to hold it for another day. I have spoken to many people today – and many more since the weekend. Most I have spoken to are grieving; some are angry, some are scared, others just plain despondent. I’ve even had a […]
Read More Catch Your BreathBy Charlie Johnston It has been revealed that the FBI knew in advance of the Washington protest on Jan. 6 that some people were planning ahead to commit actual violence. That is despicable. Anyone who plotted violence is a criminal who should be arrested. If they are from the right, they should be arrested. If […]
Read More Fragmentary Thoughts From the Great DivideBy Charlie Johnston For many years I puzzled over the enigma of Judas Iscariot. Why would he betray Christ and then hang himself when Christ was given up to the power of corrupted men? None of the forced pious explanations satisfied me. When I am contemplating a story from the Bible, I like to immerse […]
Read More Living Springs
A Sign of Hope 