Today I’m working on my Your Daily Tripod column for next week. Tony De Cristofaro owns the blog, and he writes four days a week. The other three, his lovely wife, Beth; Father Joe McCloskey; and I take a turn. The blog grew out of Tony’s involvement in the Cursillo movement, which encourages all to find Christ in themselves and others through piety, action, and study. Similar movements include Road to Emmaus.
Beth De Cristofaro was on the team when I made my Cursillo Weekend in November 2006, and I met Tony afterward at the reception. I was feeling a little dry despite the intensity of the Weekend; Cursillo has a strong emphasis on praise through music, and I can’t carry a tune or play an instrument. I wasn’t sure what I could do to grow in faith through Cursillo beyond the Weekend. Then Tony mentioned his blog, and I thought, OK, writing is something I could do. I started out writing every other week, and moved to weekly after a few months.
My Tripod columns helped me learn how to write devotionals. I doubt I’d be writing for Living Faith today if I hadn’t first written a hundred columns for Tony’s blog. Our paths also have crossed outside of Cursillo, and we’ve become friends. I owe that friendship and so much more to Cursillo.
The readings for this Friday include a passage from Ezekiel 37 about God bringing sinew, flesh, skin, and spirit to dry bones. That’s what Tony did for me when he asked if I wanted to write for the Tripod. Never underestimate what a kind word or smile can do to show Christ to others… and nourish those dry bones.
