In today’s episode I share a great quote about how the Holy Spirit does not replace our natural skills but actually elevates them in powerful ways. In recent decades many teachers and schools have fallen back on more effort and professionalism as a response to the challenges of modern education. In this episode I focus upon how we can let the Holy Spirit truly transform our vocation.

Yesterday’s podcast Talked about the idea that we often need to go into the desert to experience gods grace and presence. However, I received a great message from a listener that their school feels like a metaphorical desert where faith values are not prominent. In today’s message I want to offer another take on the desert metaphor. What do we do when it seems Jesus has called us into a place that seems dry and arid?

In today’s podcast I want to share with you a message from Charles de Focauld. He reminds us of the great truth that we need withdraw into the desert to encounter the grace of God amidst the craziness and distraction of daily life. As a Catholic teacher it can be so easy to feel that we are too busy to pray but the truth is that God is always waiting for us in the silence. Don’t miss this episode.

In every one of my live Catholic teacher seminars I talk about the importance of daily prayer within the vocation of Catholic education. Much of the time teachers feel that the busyness of modern life rules out the likelihood of making a firm commitment to daily prayer. In this episode I want to talk about the importance of daily prayer and how it can transform your daily teaching life.

As many of you know, I was involved in a bad accident last week and have just got home from hospital. If you've ever found yourself lying in a hospital bed you may remember that it's a place where we can end up wondering where God has gone. It's a question at least as old as the Book of Job. In today's episode I want to share how we can apply these ideas and experiences to challenging moments in Catholic education.

In today's episode I share with you a very special quote from a very special saint. It's a reminder that the peace that we all seek in life can come when we finally realise that we are exactly where God wants us to be. It may not always feel that way amidst the demands of each day but you can trust that if God has called you to your work then He is going to sustain you. I also share with you a simple daily prayer that can help get you moving in the right direction.

The other day on Twitter a prominent Archbishop asked for some advice. My response forms the basis of this podcast and I think you will find it interesting. Do you ever get tired of the next new program or system or idea in the education space? Ever get tired of the idea that maybe if we worked harder or had more computer tools or funds we could finally get some results? In this message I want to share the one sure path to helping young people encounter Jesus.

Yesterday I finished the iconic American novel, 'On The Road.' It's an important work for many reasons. It captures a transitional moment in Western culture and also highlights how the incredible gifts that God gives us can be turned to less than ideal ends. In this episode I want to talk about what this book has to do with every Catholic teacher and how it can help us see our students and their potential in a new way.

A few weeks ago I was speaking in Nashville and had time to visit the Country music Hall Of Fame. Our family had, for some reason, slowly become fans of Johnny Cash so it was great to visit a place where he had a strong presence. I want to share a simple insight that I have been sharing with teachers based on a famous photograph taken of him in 1964. It captures a great idea about how we can not just survive our teaching life but actually thrive and grow. Let me know what you think.

So many young people live in a world of comparison. Social media provides a daily diet of images and ideas where so many of our students can come to feel inadequate or simply not good enough. In today's episode I want to share with you the incredible way in which every Catholic teacher can help young people experience a very different reality. It is not easy to do but our daily efforts to share and speak the truth can have extraordinary results in time.