Alva Review-Courier -

Holy. It’s a word we shy away from. It seems too daunting, too strict, too boring, too demanding. We use it as a put down: “holier than thou,” as if holiness is a bad thing, something to keep well more than arm's length away. Even within the Church, we think of holiness as something beyond us, something we shouldn’t even want. But I believe holiness is actually what our world is longing for.

Most of the time we think of holiness like a white suit. It’s impractical. You can’t wear a white suit just anywhere. You have to be cautious because dirt and grime can be found almost every...