meditation | Dr.TomWagner

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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“I Shall Die, but That Is All I Shall Do for Death”: The Sequel

Could years of small surrender prepare you for the hardest letting go? This reflection explores Mary’s story of illness, recovery, contemplative prayer, and the kind of peace that does not arrive by accident.

Dr. Tom Wagner

May 3112 min read

A patient holds hands with a visitor in a hospital bed. Blurred medical staff in the background. Bright, calm setting, with soft colors.

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 7, 20255 min read

A person in a light shirt stands by the ocean at sunset, gazing at the horizon. A distant ship sails under a pastel sky, creating a serene mood.

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 30, 20257 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 31, 20257 min read

Sunlight filters through vibrant yellow autumn leaves on tall trees in a forest, creating a warm and serene atmosphere. Signifying changing of seasons

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 25, 20256 min read

Easter cross with sunrise coming through behind it signifying resurrection with birds flying nearby

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 20, 20256 min read

Cobra with a flared hood is poised at attention on a sandy beach, ocean waves in the background.

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 30, 20254 min read

A person sitting criss-cross with their arms open meditating on a mountain with the sunrise in the background coming through the clouds

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 2, 20254 min read

standard poodle looking into the camera, mouth open, smiling, sitting on the grass outside

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 25, 20255 min read

glaciated hill country of southwestern Wisconsin sunset river with sky reflection trees changing color in the fall

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 19, 20255 min read

Wooden cross on a grassy hill against the sun rising soft skies and mountains in the distance signifying holiness

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 11, 20254 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 5, 20254 min read

Explore the full archive of Sunday Morning Cafe blogs from 2009 through 2024.

BLOG ARCHIVE

CATEGORIES

“I Shall Die, but That Is All I Shall Do for Death”: The Sequel

Hip to Be Holy Part Two

A Storied Life

Out of Africa

Growing Second Half of Life Skills…Even If You Happen to Be Living in the First Half

A Touch of Easter in Every Laugh

Co-habitating with Cobras & Other Common Human Experiences

Making Peace with Your Pet Monsters.

The Spiritual Life of Dogs Like Me.

De-mystifying Mysticism.

Hip to Be Holy.

Cohabitating with Cobras and Other Common Human Experiences

Explore the full archive of Sunday Morning Cafe blogs from 2009 through 2024.

Receive weekly Sunday Morning Cafe essays in your inbox.