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Dr. Tom has been sharing refreshing, insightful essays on his Sunday Morning Cafe blog since 2009. Each Sunday, he brings his extensive experience from resilience research, counseling, and consulting to help you find more connection, meaning, and joy in life. We're so glad you're here to grow with this community!
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A Muscular Gratitude
In the chaos of life, what happens when you stop long enough to savor? This article explores how small moments of grace can soften even the hardest memories.
Dr. Tom Wagner
1 day ago6 min read
Fire
“Fire” was once a cry for safety. Now, it’s the spark of a calling. This reflection follows the transformation of one woman’s fear into fierce compassion.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Oct 195 min read
Bending the Universe
What happens when love seems unlikely to prevail in fractured times like these? This reflection offers perspective—and quiet hope—from the past.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Oct 124 min read
What’s In Your Back Seat?
When anxiety and division crawl into your back seat, how do you keep them from taking over the whole ride? This piece explores one way to set boundaries with what you can’t eliminate.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Oct 54 min read
A Prison Guard Becomes Best Friends with His Inmate
What if your quietest acts of love hold more power to change the world than you realize? This story invites you to see love as your greatest superpower.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Sep 216 min read
South of Eden
What does it mean to move from Love toward Love in a world that often seems anything but? A reflection on nature, faith, and our messy human role as co-creators.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Sep 145 min read
Out of Africa
A pilgrimage isn't measured in miles or expensive plane tickets to exotic locations—it’s measured in attention, openness, and the courage to let go. Join a journey through nature, Sacred Presence, and the practice of surrender.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Aug 317 min read
When’s the Next Time You’re Going to the Rainforest?
You don’t have to keep living the story you inherited. This week’s post is a reflection on internalized messages, intergenerational wounds, and the slow courage of rewriting the script.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Aug 35 min read
Summer Reading
What if the right summer novel could help you see your everyday life in 3D? This reflection explores how stories help us come more fully alive to the moment we’re already in.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jul 205 min read
Growing Second Half of Life Skills…Even If You Happen to Be Living in the First Half
You don’t have to wait for gray hair to grow elder wisdom. This reflection invites you to begin now—wherever you are on the journey.
Dr. Tom Wagner
May 256 min read
Comedy Roundup
Comedy isn't a distraction, it's a doorway. In this installment, SMC readers share their favorite picks.
Dr. Tom Wagner
May 115 min read
Seriously Funny: Uncovering the Sacred Roots of Humor
When a late-night comic and the Pope start saying the same thing, you listen. Read on to discover what their surprising agreement reveals about the connection between resilience and grace.
Dr. Tom Wagner
May 45 min read
A Touch of Easter in Every Laugh
What if every laugh—especially the ones that sneak in during sorrow—held a hint of resurrection? Discover how humor can carry you through the dark and into something deeper.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Apr 206 min read
Hip to Be Humorous: How laughing got me through surgery and why it is what you need today, too.
What if laughter was the key to overcoming stress? See how humor turned a pre-surgery panic into a powerful lesson in resilience.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Apr 134 min read
Wake Up Your Lizzie the Lion
Facing fear head-on leads to resilience and growth. What roar are you running toward?
Dr. Tom Wagner
Apr 63 min read
Co-habitating with Cobras & Other Common Human Experiences
How do you co-habitate with a cobra and not get bit? Discover spiritual reflections and practices for life’s toughest moments.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Mar 304 min read
How We Spent Our Spring Break Navigating “Small “g” grief.”
How do you navigate life's small "g" grief? Explore how noticing, naming, and nurturing can turn loss into new adventures.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Mar 235 min read
Pick Up the Call…Please.
Explore meaning, resilience, and connection through inspiring stories of everyday heroes. How do you listen for—and answer—your calling?
Dr. Tom Wagner
Mar 165 min read
The Road: Intentional Defiant Love.
In a world that can feel as bleak as Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, what does it mean to love—intentionally, defiantly, and against all odds?
Dr. Tom Wagner
Feb 224 min read
The Boundary of Freedom: Acceptance.
Ever felt stuck wishing life were different? A soggy trip to Ireland, a rocky marriage, and a monk’s quiet wisdom all lead to one surprising truth: maybe peace begins with acceptance.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Feb 85 min read
Explore the full archive of Sunday Morning Cafe blogs from 2009 through 2024.
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