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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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Hip to Be Holy Part Two
You don’t get to choose when fear taps you on the shoulder. But you can choose what steadies you. This piece invites you to consider what might ground you when life shifts.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Dec 75 min read
A Storied Life
Some memories surface with more weight than others. This week’s reflection explores how to sit with them long enough to discover what they’re trying to say.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Nov 307 min read
A Place in Time
We make meaning long before we realize we’re doing it. This reflection invites you to slow down enough to notice the stories forming in you right now.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Nov 165 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
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
Father Time…Again…
Sometimes healing the father wound means rediscovering the gifts tucked inside it. This reflection explores what we keep, and what we leave behind.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jun 85 min read
Father Time
What if being a “real man” meant becoming more whole—not more hardened? This reflection explores how you can honor both strength and softness, in yourself and in others.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jun 14 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
Making Space for Awe
Research is showing that human beings are built for “awe.” Like other spiritual gifts, awe is not a thing you can grasp at. This article explores the ways you can slow down so that awe can graciously catch up with you.
Dr. Tom Wagner
May 185 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
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
The Still Point Below the Booming, Banging, Buzzing, Chaos.
In the noise of everyday life, where does your spirit go to rest? Grace-filled practices to help you return to your still point.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Feb 144 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 75 min read
Making Peace with Your Pet Monsters.
What do you do when the monsters show up—not under the bed, but inside your own mind? If you’ve ever tried to sit in silence and found yourself squirming, this one's for you. Read on to learn how facing your inner creatures might just lead you to unexpected grace.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Feb 14 min read
The Spiritual Life of Dogs Like Me.
What if every distraction, every restless thought, is actually an invitation back to peace? Explore how resilience, prayer, and a spirited poodle reveal the way.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jan 245 min read
De-mystifying Mysticism.
Think mysticism is only for monks and mountaintops? What if it’s been showing up in your daily life all along—disguised as beauty, kindness, or a baby bottle at dawn?
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jan 185 min read
Hip to Be Holy.
In a world that once dismissed the spiritual as silly or suspect, what does it mean to live unapologetically aligned with your soul? Step into a story of secrecy, spirituality, and the surprising freedom of coming home to your inner life.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jan 104 min read
Cohabitating with Cobras and Other Common Human Experiences
How do you cohabitate with a cobra and not get bit? Discover spiritual reflections and practices for life’s toughest moments.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Jan 44 min read
Making Space for Awe.
Research is showing that human beings are built for “awe.” Like other spiritual gifts, awe is not a thing you can grasp at. This article explores the ways you can slow down so that awe can graciously catch up with you.
Dr. Tom Wagner
Dec 28, 20246 min read
Explore the full archive of Sunday Morning Cafe blogs from 2009 through 2024.
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