My oldest three kids, Hannah, Will (also known as Eli) and Josh are all in New Orleans this week, working with a group, United Saints, which helps repair homes damaged in Katrina and other hurricanes. They are having a great time. They are enjoying New Orleans (first time visit there) and they are working hard at hanging sheetrock among other tasks. I was really delighted when I went to the facebook site and saw a picture of them and the rest of the very small group from our parish there. Josh is wearing the green t shirt with the cross around his neck. Will is the taller guy with the beard and his hair blowing. Hannah is the girl in the way back. Her boyfriend Peter is in the white t-shirt and blond hair. Kevin Flores, our youth minister, is the behind Josh. The guy in the blue t shirt next to Hannah is someone the kids have known for years from our parish. He is about to begin studying to be a Dominican! I don't know the rest of the group, but they all look happy. Hannah and Will have called home a couple times and the reports have been good!
Here's a link (so I can show off my great kids!).
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Lawn Chair Catechism - Forming Intentional Disciples - 1st session
This is the first post here on the book Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell. CatholicMom.org is hosting a discussion. The first session deals with the book's Introduction, where the author, Weddell, while gathering information for a motivational guide she wanted to write for lay parish leaders, comes to realize that most of these lay leaders did not have a relationship with God. Weddell relates that through these interviews they learned that many parish leaders are still at, "an early, essentially passive stage of spiritual development." The obvious problem is that in order to be a disciple of Christ one must have a relationship with Him in order to have the passion to follow Him. And this element was startlingly lacking! No wonder so many Catholics are lukewarm at best in their faith. Their leaders for some reason are stunted in their relationship with God.
As someone who is a cradle Catholic, who left the Church for a decade, and then underwent a long and slow reversion, I see the truth in Weddell's observations. I have had dealings with Catholic parishes for many of my 53 years. Many parish leaders are 'doers' who have a sense of community and a willingness to participate, but often they do not have a developed, intelligent spirituality. Not that they aren't often intelligent! But they just have not put their energy into growing further in their religion. The doing and companionship they find in their work seems to be the driving force behind their decision to be involved. Often it does not seem to be Jesus Christ Himself. Now I can not think of any specific experiences that I have encountered that makes me agree with Weddell. It is more or less a general impression of my own that resonated with Weddell's findings.
I do think that at our current parish, which we've been members of for almost 12 years, this is not the case. By and large, most of the parish leaders I know of seems very well grounded in their faith. But of course that is only my impression. I don't really know most of them very well at all. But my parish has a real vibrancy about it that is missing from many other parishes and I attribute that to the very reliable and long time leaders who really seem to be passionate about living out their belief in God.
The discussion question for the Introduction asks: How would you describe your lived relationship with God to this point in your life?
I describe my reversion to the Catholic faith as a slow falling in love, until one day, after a few years of this, I suddenly realized I was head over heels! It was a very quiet reversion where God just somehow nudged me along very gently and was very patient with all my stops and starts and hesitations. It is a good thing Love is so patient! One of the real turning points for me was when I decided to reject birth control. I had been struggling with the Church's teaching on it for several years, even though I had more or less stopped using it anyway. But intellectually I just didn't get the difference between using a barrier method and NFP. I just couldn't wrap my mind around why one was considered moral and the other wasn't. I was praying one day about it. And here I have to say I often feel dry or sad when I pray. I don't ever really feel like Jesus talks to me. I mean not in the same way that a friend or loved one would. I always feel kind of vulnerable and a little niggling doubt is always in the back of my mind asking, "is the real or just silly?" So I am not a confident pray-er. But one day while praying a memory strayed into my mind. I remembered how in high school, my friends all could stay out until midnight or 1:00 a.m. while my parents were the strict ones who made me come in at 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. I also remembered how my father would often wait up for me. Sometimes he'd be too tired and wouldn't wait up, so I never really knew, but many times he would be up still reading his book in our den. And often when I came home he would ask me if I was hungry and he'd get up and make me a little snack. This attention often put a damper on any temptation to drink or smoke pot while I was out, as you can imagine! Even then, when I felt annoyed at my father for infringing on my ability to join in and be as 'cool' as the other kids, I knew he loved me. Sometimes I would protest that it was ridiculous that I had to come in so early. My dad would reply: No one's up to good at 1:00 in the morning. Better to come home and get your beauty sleep!" And that was that. Anyway, when I was praying I suddenly saw the birth control issue in the same light. I didn't get why it was wrong, I didn't really comprehend the dangers involved in the contraceptive worldview, just like I didn't really see why I couldn't indulge in partying or staying out late. This lack of understanding wasn't my father's fault. It was my own immaturity and lack of experience that made me want to question and rebel against him. But my obedience to my father's curfew kept me out of trouble. It protected me from doing wrong. And so I decided to act as if the church were my father and I would just obey, truly obey, in my heart as well as my actions. And do you know, that once I did this the scales fell from my eyes and I began to understand why the Church teaches what she does about birth control? It suddenly began to make perfect sense to me and I couldn't comprehend what took me so long to see the light!
So my relationship with God is always me doubting, trying to make it better, trying to be open and focussed on Him, and not feeling like it is going anywhere at all. And this can go on for years, and then suddenly there will be a breakthrough and I'll feel like I have managed to climb one rung higher on a ladder that stretches into the clouds. It involves a lot of work on my part and in truth I am very sloppy and inconsistent about it. I go through spurts where I try to be more devotional, more habitually prayerful, and most of all, better read about the faith (because study is the most comfortable way for me to approach my relationship), but I am afraid I am not nearly as reliable as I could be.
The second question is: What does the word discipleship mean to you? Do you perceive a need in the Church today? I guess I touched on what I think discipleship means above. I think that to want to follow someone you have to feel passionately about them and their message. Christ is my teacher and I want to learn from him. He is my model and I want to imitate him. He is my consolation and I seek him when I need wisdom.
I do perceive a need in the Church today to cultivate lay leaders to become more fervent Catholics. Though I don't know if I would limit it to the word 'fervent.' I know 'fervent' Catholics who fervently believe the Church is wrong on women priests or contraception, abortion and gay marriage. They are prayerful, and do all kinds of things in the parish. They love the Jesus they perceive, but they lack the obedience and the true understanding of His teachings as promulgated by the Church. You can love Jesus and be a Protestant. You can love Jesus and be a disguised protestant who is devoted to certain Catholic things like Marian devotion. But it does not make you a good Catholic. So while having a strong bond with Jesus is important in a leader, I think the leader must also follow their superiors in the faith. They should be orthodox in their beliefs and a visible model of someone who is faithful to the Magisterium. I think a lot of these heterodox fervent Catholics actually can cause a lot of dissension and ultimately a disconnection that may in the end also result in other parishioners having a lukewarm relationships with God.
As someone who is a cradle Catholic, who left the Church for a decade, and then underwent a long and slow reversion, I see the truth in Weddell's observations. I have had dealings with Catholic parishes for many of my 53 years. Many parish leaders are 'doers' who have a sense of community and a willingness to participate, but often they do not have a developed, intelligent spirituality. Not that they aren't often intelligent! But they just have not put their energy into growing further in their religion. The doing and companionship they find in their work seems to be the driving force behind their decision to be involved. Often it does not seem to be Jesus Christ Himself. Now I can not think of any specific experiences that I have encountered that makes me agree with Weddell. It is more or less a general impression of my own that resonated with Weddell's findings.
I do think that at our current parish, which we've been members of for almost 12 years, this is not the case. By and large, most of the parish leaders I know of seems very well grounded in their faith. But of course that is only my impression. I don't really know most of them very well at all. But my parish has a real vibrancy about it that is missing from many other parishes and I attribute that to the very reliable and long time leaders who really seem to be passionate about living out their belief in God.
The discussion question for the Introduction asks: How would you describe your lived relationship with God to this point in your life?
I describe my reversion to the Catholic faith as a slow falling in love, until one day, after a few years of this, I suddenly realized I was head over heels! It was a very quiet reversion where God just somehow nudged me along very gently and was very patient with all my stops and starts and hesitations. It is a good thing Love is so patient! One of the real turning points for me was when I decided to reject birth control. I had been struggling with the Church's teaching on it for several years, even though I had more or less stopped using it anyway. But intellectually I just didn't get the difference between using a barrier method and NFP. I just couldn't wrap my mind around why one was considered moral and the other wasn't. I was praying one day about it. And here I have to say I often feel dry or sad when I pray. I don't ever really feel like Jesus talks to me. I mean not in the same way that a friend or loved one would. I always feel kind of vulnerable and a little niggling doubt is always in the back of my mind asking, "is the real or just silly?" So I am not a confident pray-er. But one day while praying a memory strayed into my mind. I remembered how in high school, my friends all could stay out until midnight or 1:00 a.m. while my parents were the strict ones who made me come in at 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. I also remembered how my father would often wait up for me. Sometimes he'd be too tired and wouldn't wait up, so I never really knew, but many times he would be up still reading his book in our den. And often when I came home he would ask me if I was hungry and he'd get up and make me a little snack. This attention often put a damper on any temptation to drink or smoke pot while I was out, as you can imagine! Even then, when I felt annoyed at my father for infringing on my ability to join in and be as 'cool' as the other kids, I knew he loved me. Sometimes I would protest that it was ridiculous that I had to come in so early. My dad would reply: No one's up to good at 1:00 in the morning. Better to come home and get your beauty sleep!" And that was that. Anyway, when I was praying I suddenly saw the birth control issue in the same light. I didn't get why it was wrong, I didn't really comprehend the dangers involved in the contraceptive worldview, just like I didn't really see why I couldn't indulge in partying or staying out late. This lack of understanding wasn't my father's fault. It was my own immaturity and lack of experience that made me want to question and rebel against him. But my obedience to my father's curfew kept me out of trouble. It protected me from doing wrong. And so I decided to act as if the church were my father and I would just obey, truly obey, in my heart as well as my actions. And do you know, that once I did this the scales fell from my eyes and I began to understand why the Church teaches what she does about birth control? It suddenly began to make perfect sense to me and I couldn't comprehend what took me so long to see the light!
So my relationship with God is always me doubting, trying to make it better, trying to be open and focussed on Him, and not feeling like it is going anywhere at all. And this can go on for years, and then suddenly there will be a breakthrough and I'll feel like I have managed to climb one rung higher on a ladder that stretches into the clouds. It involves a lot of work on my part and in truth I am very sloppy and inconsistent about it. I go through spurts where I try to be more devotional, more habitually prayerful, and most of all, better read about the faith (because study is the most comfortable way for me to approach my relationship), but I am afraid I am not nearly as reliable as I could be.
The second question is: What does the word discipleship mean to you? Do you perceive a need in the Church today? I guess I touched on what I think discipleship means above. I think that to want to follow someone you have to feel passionately about them and their message. Christ is my teacher and I want to learn from him. He is my model and I want to imitate him. He is my consolation and I seek him when I need wisdom.
I do perceive a need in the Church today to cultivate lay leaders to become more fervent Catholics. Though I don't know if I would limit it to the word 'fervent.' I know 'fervent' Catholics who fervently believe the Church is wrong on women priests or contraception, abortion and gay marriage. They are prayerful, and do all kinds of things in the parish. They love the Jesus they perceive, but they lack the obedience and the true understanding of His teachings as promulgated by the Church. You can love Jesus and be a Protestant. You can love Jesus and be a disguised protestant who is devoted to certain Catholic things like Marian devotion. But it does not make you a good Catholic. So while having a strong bond with Jesus is important in a leader, I think the leader must also follow their superiors in the faith. They should be orthodox in their beliefs and a visible model of someone who is faithful to the Magisterium. I think a lot of these heterodox fervent Catholics actually can cause a lot of dissension and ultimately a disconnection that may in the end also result in other parishioners having a lukewarm relationships with God.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Good News- Honor Flight
My husband and I watched this movie Memorial Day evening. I highly, highly recommend it! Make sure you have a box of tissues handy! It will make you realize just how much courage, decency, love and gratitude exist in the world! Here's a link to the movie. The web page for the program is: www.honorflight.org
We all participated in greeting some of the World War II veterans at the airport with Becky's American Heritage Girls troop back in the fall. It was an incredible experience. I'd really like to help greet at another one as well. It is a wonderful thing to do.
We all participated in greeting some of the World War II veterans at the airport with Becky's American Heritage Girls troop back in the fall. It was an incredible experience. I'd really like to help greet at another one as well. It is a wonderful thing to do.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Plans for the Week - 5/27/13
Well, Memorial Weekend is over. It was a fun weekend. We cleaned the garage, a task that was long, long overdue. Now, every time I pulled into my garage I get all happy seeing how neat and tidy everything is. We went to Viva Vienna. I just ate a hot dog and a funnel cake and walked around a bit. I think this was the first year nobody went on any of the rides. The weather was just beautiful. Poor Rick got sunburned on his head. Sunday, I attempted for the first to make and can homemade strawberry jam. I have no idea if I was actually successful but at least I got over my mental block about canning. I think the next time I do it I'll feel a little less overwhelmed. We went to Mass on Sunday morning of course (well some of us, Hannah and Peter went to another parish Sunday evening), but the highlight was going to Mass with Will on Monday morning. Will got up early and biked for 50 minutes to get to Mass on time. I took the car (and was a couple minutes late!). The Mass was held in the chapel which was completely full. Everyone sang and participated fully even though we had no cantor or music accompaniment. It was a very beautiful and moving Mass. Sometimes I just feel so blessed by my parish. When I hear others complaining about their parishes, I think wow, I am so. . well, blessed!
This week!
- Today Tillie has to go into the vet's this a.m. at 8:00 to get her teeth cleaned. They have to knock her out so no food or water for her until we go. I also have to make Sean's lunch for school (tuna sandwich!) Rick said he'd take him to school. Got to remember to pick both of them up this afternoon from their respective places.
- Also today, Hannah, Will, Josh and Peter all need to get ready to go to New Orleans tomorrow morning. They have to be at Reagan National by 6:30 a.m. They'll be gone for a full week.
- Big question - did Becky's art class end or does she have one more. I so haven't kept up with that class. I think because I don't actually take her or pick her up, so I just never really tune into it. I'll have to remember to ask her. If she already had the last class, I feel bad because I never got the teacher a little gift.
- Wednesday - get the 4 older ones to the airport by 6:30 a.m, Get Sean to school. Then it'll be just Becky and me. We should do something special I think.
- However, that something special can't interfere with Becky's dental appointment on Wed at 2:45
- Wednesday a.m. I also hope to start a group read of Intentional Disciples through CatholicMom.com
- I also committed to praying before the Blessed Sacrament 3 times this week as part of the 40 Hours at church. I wrote down the times but the paper is in my purse which is in the car in the garage. Gotta remember to mark it on the calendar.
- Also on Wednesday, I have to remember to drive Sean to CLC in the evening. This will be his first time going by himself since Josh will be away.
- Thursday, Becky has her gymnastics class.
- Focus on weeding - even though the weather folks are calling for hot and humid this week.
- Focus on giving the house a good vacuum/dust/scrub
- Friday, the cat Clover, is scheduled to go in and receive his final leukemia vaccination at 10:00 a.m.
- Also on Friday, Becky goes to a sleep over birthday party. Maybe that's what we can do on Wednesday right after every one else leaves - go birthday present shopping!
- I also need to find time to go visit Eileen. I was supposed to do so this weekend and forgot and on Monday evening they went out on some kind of excursion so I couldn't visit then.
So that's the line up for this week! Feels good to write it all out. I know I've forgotten something or other. Now it's time to get Sean up!
This week!
- Today Tillie has to go into the vet's this a.m. at 8:00 to get her teeth cleaned. They have to knock her out so no food or water for her until we go. I also have to make Sean's lunch for school (tuna sandwich!) Rick said he'd take him to school. Got to remember to pick both of them up this afternoon from their respective places.
- Also today, Hannah, Will, Josh and Peter all need to get ready to go to New Orleans tomorrow morning. They have to be at Reagan National by 6:30 a.m. They'll be gone for a full week.
- Big question - did Becky's art class end or does she have one more. I so haven't kept up with that class. I think because I don't actually take her or pick her up, so I just never really tune into it. I'll have to remember to ask her. If she already had the last class, I feel bad because I never got the teacher a little gift.
- Wednesday - get the 4 older ones to the airport by 6:30 a.m, Get Sean to school. Then it'll be just Becky and me. We should do something special I think.
- However, that something special can't interfere with Becky's dental appointment on Wed at 2:45
- Wednesday a.m. I also hope to start a group read of Intentional Disciples through CatholicMom.com
- I also committed to praying before the Blessed Sacrament 3 times this week as part of the 40 Hours at church. I wrote down the times but the paper is in my purse which is in the car in the garage. Gotta remember to mark it on the calendar.
- Also on Wednesday, I have to remember to drive Sean to CLC in the evening. This will be his first time going by himself since Josh will be away.
- Thursday, Becky has her gymnastics class.
- Focus on weeding - even though the weather folks are calling for hot and humid this week.
- Focus on giving the house a good vacuum/dust/scrub
- Friday, the cat Clover, is scheduled to go in and receive his final leukemia vaccination at 10:00 a.m.
- Also on Friday, Becky goes to a sleep over birthday party. Maybe that's what we can do on Wednesday right after every one else leaves - go birthday present shopping!
- I also need to find time to go visit Eileen. I was supposed to do so this weekend and forgot and on Monday evening they went out on some kind of excursion so I couldn't visit then.
So that's the line up for this week! Feels good to write it all out. I know I've forgotten something or other. Now it's time to get Sean up!
Monday, May 27, 2013
How to Shoot an Amateur Naturalist - Book 25
This book was a nice break from the more serious reading I've been doing lately. Gerald Durrell is a famous, beloved British naturalist/zoo keeper. His two most famous books, My Family and Other Animals and The Amateur Naturalist, are wonderful. The first is a memoir of his childhood years spent on the island of Corfu with his family in the 1930s. A very funny book that got made into a wonderful Masterpiece Theatre series. The second book is a great reference book, with beautiful photos and a very clear presentation for those who want to learn more about studying nature.
I had heard that Durrell was a very popular writer and wrote many other books, but I'd never even seen them anywhere. Well, a couple of weeks ago Becky and I decided to check out a thrift store near us that we'd heard about. It turned out to measure up to its glowing reviews. The place is huge, I think in an old warehouse. It is like walking into another country's bazaar. Every ethnicity is represented there and you could see teens on dates as well as old, old couples riffling through the merchandise. The place was uber clean and all the clothing neatly pressed and presented. They do a really good job! It is a fun, fun place to go, even if you only have a few dollars in your pocket. The used book section is heavenly! I spent so much time there my neck started to get a crook in it. I tried to limit my spending, so I was being very picky. One of my finds that made the cut was this book by Gerard Durrell, in hardback, in great condition, and only $1.99.
Apparently in the early 1980s, BBC made a TV series out of Durrell's book The Amateur Naturalist. How I'd love to see it! This book tells the funny and interesting stories that Durrell, his wife Lee, and the rest of crew experienced as they shot the show. Durrell is wonderful writer, witty, self-deprecating, full of tongue in check humor and lovely prose. His fascination with flora and fauna is contagious. Even though Durrell travels all over the world from Panama to Canada and more, the chapters I liked the most were the ones set right in the British isles. The opening chapter on the birds of a Scottish island and the chapter on the English hedgerows were especially delightful to me.
Two thumbs up! If you want light reading that is intelligent and reliable, as well as lots of fun, Durrell is the author for you!
For more books go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
I had heard that Durrell was a very popular writer and wrote many other books, but I'd never even seen them anywhere. Well, a couple of weeks ago Becky and I decided to check out a thrift store near us that we'd heard about. It turned out to measure up to its glowing reviews. The place is huge, I think in an old warehouse. It is like walking into another country's bazaar. Every ethnicity is represented there and you could see teens on dates as well as old, old couples riffling through the merchandise. The place was uber clean and all the clothing neatly pressed and presented. They do a really good job! It is a fun, fun place to go, even if you only have a few dollars in your pocket. The used book section is heavenly! I spent so much time there my neck started to get a crook in it. I tried to limit my spending, so I was being very picky. One of my finds that made the cut was this book by Gerard Durrell, in hardback, in great condition, and only $1.99.
Apparently in the early 1980s, BBC made a TV series out of Durrell's book The Amateur Naturalist. How I'd love to see it! This book tells the funny and interesting stories that Durrell, his wife Lee, and the rest of crew experienced as they shot the show. Durrell is wonderful writer, witty, self-deprecating, full of tongue in check humor and lovely prose. His fascination with flora and fauna is contagious. Even though Durrell travels all over the world from Panama to Canada and more, the chapters I liked the most were the ones set right in the British isles. The opening chapter on the birds of a Scottish island and the chapter on the English hedgerows were especially delightful to me.
Two thumbs up! If you want light reading that is intelligent and reliable, as well as lots of fun, Durrell is the author for you!
For more books go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Sexual Authenticity - Book 24
The full title of this book is Sexual Authenticity; An Intimate Reflection on Homosexuality and Catholicism by Melinda Selmys.
I originally heard about this book when it was first published. For some reason the cover of the book turned me off and I thought, nuh-uh, don't wanna read that! But then I chanced to read something on the internet by Selmys which intrigued me and then, a while later I caught her interview on Life on the Rock (a show I seldom watch so it seemed providential that she kept popping up unexpectedly). I seem to be on a kick, exploring just what the sexual revolution has rendered in our culture and trying to figure out if I can genuinely defend Catholicism's take on homosexuality or if we really are all homophobes - that lovely word that gets batted about so easily on the interwebs.
I recently read this book that tells the tale of a lesbian college professor who converts to Christianity. It is a really interesting and honest book. So when Selmys' book surfaced in my consciousness I thought well, let's read how things happened in Melinda Selmys' life.
One thing I really take away from this book (and the other one mentioned) is how admirably honest both these women are. I remember feeling that way when reading The Thrill of the Chaste. Gah! I could never spill the beans, so to speak, in an effort to evangelize or at least clarify what the cultural sexual war is about. But this is what Selmys does beautifully. This is a really searching, profound parsing of the whole issue of homosexuality in our culture today. She recounts her journey very clearly. This is indeed a very intimate examination of her life in terms of her developing understanding of sexuality, life, God and Everything. Her conversion to Catholicism was so intelligent and profound, that I felt the weakness of my own faith. Her honesty made me realize how much I repress because I don't like to think through unpleasant things. I don't like confrontation, even with myself. Selmys is very deliberate in everything, even her own introspection. One thing that I really loved about the book was how it upholds the idea that our inner life, the life of our soul, really is the greatest thing going on in the universe! Sometimes I look out in a crowd and see the swarms of humanity and think, 'each one, a universe!'
I told my husband I want him to read this book too. I feel like with my own family and friends I have a very hard time talking about this. I seem to come off as a shrill reactionary or something. I don't feel like they are hearing what I am really saying. For some reason a shyness comes over me. I get too emotional and I constantly grope for words.
Anyway, this book is a really spiritually clarifying book. Selmys does a wonderful job. And she's funny too! I laughed out loud several times. There are lots of lines that I thought would make great quotes.
I give this book 5 stars!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
I originally heard about this book when it was first published. For some reason the cover of the book turned me off and I thought, nuh-uh, don't wanna read that! But then I chanced to read something on the internet by Selmys which intrigued me and then, a while later I caught her interview on Life on the Rock (a show I seldom watch so it seemed providential that she kept popping up unexpectedly). I seem to be on a kick, exploring just what the sexual revolution has rendered in our culture and trying to figure out if I can genuinely defend Catholicism's take on homosexuality or if we really are all homophobes - that lovely word that gets batted about so easily on the interwebs.
I recently read this book that tells the tale of a lesbian college professor who converts to Christianity. It is a really interesting and honest book. So when Selmys' book surfaced in my consciousness I thought well, let's read how things happened in Melinda Selmys' life.
One thing I really take away from this book (and the other one mentioned) is how admirably honest both these women are. I remember feeling that way when reading The Thrill of the Chaste. Gah! I could never spill the beans, so to speak, in an effort to evangelize or at least clarify what the cultural sexual war is about. But this is what Selmys does beautifully. This is a really searching, profound parsing of the whole issue of homosexuality in our culture today. She recounts her journey very clearly. This is indeed a very intimate examination of her life in terms of her developing understanding of sexuality, life, God and Everything. Her conversion to Catholicism was so intelligent and profound, that I felt the weakness of my own faith. Her honesty made me realize how much I repress because I don't like to think through unpleasant things. I don't like confrontation, even with myself. Selmys is very deliberate in everything, even her own introspection. One thing that I really loved about the book was how it upholds the idea that our inner life, the life of our soul, really is the greatest thing going on in the universe! Sometimes I look out in a crowd and see the swarms of humanity and think, 'each one, a universe!'
I told my husband I want him to read this book too. I feel like with my own family and friends I have a very hard time talking about this. I seem to come off as a shrill reactionary or something. I don't feel like they are hearing what I am really saying. For some reason a shyness comes over me. I get too emotional and I constantly grope for words.
Anyway, this book is a really spiritually clarifying book. Selmys does a wonderful job. And she's funny too! I laughed out loud several times. There are lots of lines that I thought would make great quotes.
I give this book 5 stars!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Good News
This idea has been rolling around in my head for a while. I get so down when I read all the terrible stuff that goes on in the world. I really don't have a healthy way to deal with it. It truly gets me upset and then I hide my head in the sand and don't really want to know.
So I think one way to counter this is to keep track of the good news that I stumble across. So I think I'll start today with a link to this article. I used to work for the Public Defenders office in Baltimore and Towson. I worked for the death penalty defense unit. I went into the prison and talked with guys. I read their case files and knew the terrible things they had done. And I always felt 'there but for the grace of God, go I.' Criminals are just people who screwed up more than I did. But they are still people, made in God's image. I always thought we really needed reform so badly. It is a national and collective sin the way we warehouse our criminals. Non-violent criminals should never be behind bars and the violent should get intensive therapy and education. Some people are criminals because they are insane and they need to be treated for their conditions. It will never be a perfect system but the one we have now is so brutal, costly and corrupt.
But this guy, Russell Ford, gives me hope. Look at how he took the terrible sacrifice of freedom that was thrust upon him and turned it into a beautiful gift of love. He knows the innate dignity of every man. He knows God is love.
I am going to be reading more about this guy and his ministry. Check out this article and follow the links within it.
Update: well, here's some bad new! Apparently Russell Ford has been telling tales out of school (or prison). He's a little too self-aggrandizing and selective in his memory of things. Here's a link to an article about problems with his story.
However, in spite of this, apparently he did lots of good work in prison and has helped scores of men. God works through broken vessels.
So I think one way to counter this is to keep track of the good news that I stumble across. So I think I'll start today with a link to this article. I used to work for the Public Defenders office in Baltimore and Towson. I worked for the death penalty defense unit. I went into the prison and talked with guys. I read their case files and knew the terrible things they had done. And I always felt 'there but for the grace of God, go I.' Criminals are just people who screwed up more than I did. But they are still people, made in God's image. I always thought we really needed reform so badly. It is a national and collective sin the way we warehouse our criminals. Non-violent criminals should never be behind bars and the violent should get intensive therapy and education. Some people are criminals because they are insane and they need to be treated for their conditions. It will never be a perfect system but the one we have now is so brutal, costly and corrupt.
But this guy, Russell Ford, gives me hope. Look at how he took the terrible sacrifice of freedom that was thrust upon him and turned it into a beautiful gift of love. He knows the innate dignity of every man. He knows God is love.
I am going to be reading more about this guy and his ministry. Check out this article and follow the links within it.
Update: well, here's some bad new! Apparently Russell Ford has been telling tales out of school (or prison). He's a little too self-aggrandizing and selective in his memory of things. Here's a link to an article about problems with his story.
However, in spite of this, apparently he did lots of good work in prison and has helped scores of men. God works through broken vessels.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Prodigal Daughters - Book 23
This book actually invaded my dreams and started to dig up long lost memories of my life when I was younger and out in the battlefield of the sexual revolution. This book is very much about my own journey. Prodigal Daughters by Donna Steichen is the recounting of 17 different 'reverts' who left the Church in the tumultuous 70s (more or less) and after experiencing the discontent and despair of the post modern mindset, found peace and joy in returning to their Catholic faith, much battered and bruised, but wiser and very happy to be home again.
I was born in 1960. I graduated from 8th grade in 1972, high school in 1978 and college in 1982. I went to Catholic schools this whole time, yet a emerged with very little knowledge and understanding. My most vivid memory of religion class is listening to the Carpenters and Simon & Garfunkel. I made it through 17 years of Catholic education and never read Augustine or Aquinas. I remember being very little and reading old Vision books on the saints at home, but I also remember how the saints just disappeared from the curriculum at school. It was considered uncool to talk about them, except St. Francis of Assisi. He made the cut. The outside culture of the sexual revolution had thoroughly invaded Catholic culture and most of what I experienced was fall out from that war. It was a hugely painful and confusing time. I did many things I am now ashamed of. I was ashamed then too, but the culture that I so easily let myself be led by told me it was all good. But it wasn't. It was cheap and deceitful.
The stories recounted by these women are very well written and they do not mince words. The second story really touched me the most. I came back to the Church through Pax Christi. I was agnostic/atheist for a long period (from about the age of 12 to maybe 25). Once I started to realize I did believe in something, but wasn't sure what, I spent time studying. I looked at Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and different forms of Christianity. Slowly, very slowly, with a lot of twists and turns, I found myself back at the door of the Catholic Church. I was attracted to Pax Christi because the Gospel's social message spoke most strongly to my heart. I was and still am a peace and justice kind of gal. I read Joan Chittister and the book Original Blessing. I went to Pax Christi retreats and Call to Action conferences. However, the one thing that never rang true to me was the fact that these liberal Catholics never seemed to be as appalled by the injustice of abortion as I was. Even in my most radical, atheistic phase I never could swallow the idea that abortion was a right. I just couldn't fathom it. This made me always feel like a bit of an outsider. This was the elephant in the room wherever I went. The one that only I saw and everyone else seemed to ignore. So I could relate to Juli's testimony. Her recounting of the Erie, PA Pax Center (a place I so admired in those days!) is just chilling. Anybody who thinks the Church is being unjust to those 'nuns on the bus' is either being disingenuous, doesn't believe in the Catholic Church anyway or is sadly misinformed. These women have done so much damage. The injustice is that the Church didn't assert its authority much, much earlier.
The more I studied and began to practice Catholicism again, the more I fell in love with my precious Savior and his beautiful Bride, the Church. The more in love I was, the less I could be angry and bitter. I just couldn't get worked up over a male only priesthood. There were lots of injustices done to women throughout history, but this just didn't seem to be one of them, in my opinion. I grew more and more uncomfortable with the cafeteria Catholicism I kept encountering in the Catholic Peace movement. Slowly, I slid into a more orthodox way. I feel I am no longer left or right, I am just Catholic. Even when the sex abuse scandals broke out in the news, I could differentiate between wicked priests and bishops and what the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church taught. I could be heartbroken, enraged and disgusted with the bad apples in the system without it doing one iota of damage to my actual faith. And I knew from the experience of going to a Catholic college with a seminary attached that it was the sickness of the times that had infected the Church and made its weaker members so susceptible to perversion. It was the same illness that had infected me! And in fact does still infect our society. The cancer grows. The Church is trying to root it out now, but the rest of the society continues to be eaten away by the tumor that is the only objective belief it has: sexual autonomy as a good above all other goods. This is the only objective truth in the post modern mindset. All other truths are sacrificed before it.
Prodigal Daughters was fascinating to me because it told my own story so well.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
I was born in 1960. I graduated from 8th grade in 1972, high school in 1978 and college in 1982. I went to Catholic schools this whole time, yet a emerged with very little knowledge and understanding. My most vivid memory of religion class is listening to the Carpenters and Simon & Garfunkel. I made it through 17 years of Catholic education and never read Augustine or Aquinas. I remember being very little and reading old Vision books on the saints at home, but I also remember how the saints just disappeared from the curriculum at school. It was considered uncool to talk about them, except St. Francis of Assisi. He made the cut. The outside culture of the sexual revolution had thoroughly invaded Catholic culture and most of what I experienced was fall out from that war. It was a hugely painful and confusing time. I did many things I am now ashamed of. I was ashamed then too, but the culture that I so easily let myself be led by told me it was all good. But it wasn't. It was cheap and deceitful.
The stories recounted by these women are very well written and they do not mince words. The second story really touched me the most. I came back to the Church through Pax Christi. I was agnostic/atheist for a long period (from about the age of 12 to maybe 25). Once I started to realize I did believe in something, but wasn't sure what, I spent time studying. I looked at Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and different forms of Christianity. Slowly, very slowly, with a lot of twists and turns, I found myself back at the door of the Catholic Church. I was attracted to Pax Christi because the Gospel's social message spoke most strongly to my heart. I was and still am a peace and justice kind of gal. I read Joan Chittister and the book Original Blessing. I went to Pax Christi retreats and Call to Action conferences. However, the one thing that never rang true to me was the fact that these liberal Catholics never seemed to be as appalled by the injustice of abortion as I was. Even in my most radical, atheistic phase I never could swallow the idea that abortion was a right. I just couldn't fathom it. This made me always feel like a bit of an outsider. This was the elephant in the room wherever I went. The one that only I saw and everyone else seemed to ignore. So I could relate to Juli's testimony. Her recounting of the Erie, PA Pax Center (a place I so admired in those days!) is just chilling. Anybody who thinks the Church is being unjust to those 'nuns on the bus' is either being disingenuous, doesn't believe in the Catholic Church anyway or is sadly misinformed. These women have done so much damage. The injustice is that the Church didn't assert its authority much, much earlier.
The more I studied and began to practice Catholicism again, the more I fell in love with my precious Savior and his beautiful Bride, the Church. The more in love I was, the less I could be angry and bitter. I just couldn't get worked up over a male only priesthood. There were lots of injustices done to women throughout history, but this just didn't seem to be one of them, in my opinion. I grew more and more uncomfortable with the cafeteria Catholicism I kept encountering in the Catholic Peace movement. Slowly, I slid into a more orthodox way. I feel I am no longer left or right, I am just Catholic. Even when the sex abuse scandals broke out in the news, I could differentiate between wicked priests and bishops and what the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church taught. I could be heartbroken, enraged and disgusted with the bad apples in the system without it doing one iota of damage to my actual faith. And I knew from the experience of going to a Catholic college with a seminary attached that it was the sickness of the times that had infected the Church and made its weaker members so susceptible to perversion. It was the same illness that had infected me! And in fact does still infect our society. The cancer grows. The Church is trying to root it out now, but the rest of the society continues to be eaten away by the tumor that is the only objective belief it has: sexual autonomy as a good above all other goods. This is the only objective truth in the post modern mindset. All other truths are sacrificed before it.
Prodigal Daughters was fascinating to me because it told my own story so well.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Orthodoxy - Book 22
The book Orthodoxy is kind of an intellectual memoir about how G. K. Chesterton, the prolific and famous English author, came to convert to Christianity. It isn't really an autobiography or a work of apologetics. Instead it his explanation of how he tried to figure life out in response to the world and the worldview he found in his culture, and how he surprisingly discovered that someone else had already come to the conclusions he did, and that happened to be the Christian church!
Chesterton is so erudite but in a sly, humble, amusing sort of way. His thoughts and observations are exacting and thorough and laid out with great care. He is an artist when it comes to explaining via the paradox. He uses paradox upon paradox and paradoxes within paradoxes. He deftly weaves these in and out, so that a small internal paradox in a sentence reflects a much larger more general paradox in a chapter. He is amazing! A friend of mine once said that reading Chesterton always felt like her brain was on a roller coaster ride! And it is true!
This was a revisit for me. I first read Orthodoxy several years ago with a study group. I never would have been able to fathom it in any respect if it hadn't been for the people in the group who were already familiar with Chesterton. I had been wanting to reread this book for about a year now, but I couldn't find my copy. I must have lent it out. Anyway, the other week I was at our local Catholic store and saw this audio version read by Dale Ahlquist. So I impulse purchased it and it has been keeping me company in the car as I drive around. Ahlquist is not a professional reader. He's got a bit of a nasal twang and his pronunciation and pacing isn't always precise. But he reads with such pleasure and with such obvious understanding of what Chesterton is trying to get across, that I soon got used to his voice. It is like listening to a good friend reading out loud to you because he is so enthusiastic about the author. Ahlquist often is half laughing from amusement and amazement as he reads.
Because Orthodoxy is such a brain twister and so dense (at least to little ole me!), it is helpful to have a study guide. My initial study guide was my study group, but for those who don't have a study group, a regular study guide will have to do! Here are two that look promising:
http://www3.nd.edu/~afreddos/courses/264/chester.htm
http://josephlgrabowski.weebly.com/orthodoxy-study-guide.html
Orthodoxy is a book that should be reread every once in a while just to keep you awake and to make sure you are using that gray matter inhabiting your skull!
My advice is: Read Orthodoxy! You will be a better person because of it!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert - Book 21
This book is amazing! The author, Rosaria Butterfield, was a tenured professor in Literature and Gender studies (something like that!) She was a confirmed lesbian, marxist, and self-proclaimed post-modern intellectual. She was happy with her life and devoted to her cause. However, something miraculous happened that she never saw coming. While researching for a book on the Christian Right, she began to read the Bible. At the same time she met a kind, open-hearted, intelligent pastor and his wife (people who exploded her previously held conviction that all Christians were ignorant bigots) who began to dialogue with her. Over the course of two years she slowly converted until one day she realized her life had completely changed. She believed in Jesus and she now had to follow Him. This completely uprooted her. She betrayed the lesbian community, one she loved and felt safe in. She ruined her career. Her identity as a lesbian and a professor was deep and of foundational significance to her. Her conversion was a true dying to self, full of chaos, pain and fear. During these years of pain she met people who rejected and hurt her. But she also met, with providential precision, people who accepted her, guided her, loved her.
She now is the wife of a Reformed Presbyterian pastor. She did not marry until age 39, so while they dearly wanted to have children, it wasn't to be. Instead she and her husband have adopted 4 bi-racial children and they are active foster parents. And she is now a homeschooling mom! While the first part of this book is full of pain, the ending is so incredibly joyful. This is a profoundly religious book, written by a woman of great integrity and courage.
READ THIS BOOK!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
She now is the wife of a Reformed Presbyterian pastor. She did not marry until age 39, so while they dearly wanted to have children, it wasn't to be. Instead she and her husband have adopted 4 bi-racial children and they are active foster parents. And she is now a homeschooling mom! While the first part of this book is full of pain, the ending is so incredibly joyful. This is a profoundly religious book, written by a woman of great integrity and courage.
READ THIS BOOK!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers - Book 20
This is the real story of The Sound of Music and it is much more interesting and much, much more deeply religious. Maria herself tells the story beginning from when she went from the abbey as a novice to teach little sickly Maria as a private tutor until she and all the family have become American citizens living in Stowe, Vermont. In between we learn the familiar (though slightly different story from the movie) of how she and Captain von Trapp married, how they dealt with Hitler's ascendency, how they escaped to the U.S. and made their living by giving many, many concerts around the country.
The story is really remarkable. Maria von Trapp is a born story teller. The book is full of insightful remarks and humorous situations. It is also full of love for both family and God. It is really inspiring. I could barely read the last three chapters out loud to Becky and Sean. I kept choking up and tears blurred my vision. It is a very touching book. I highly, highly recommend it. It makes an excellent family read aloud for older kids.
For more book reviews go to 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
The story is really remarkable. Maria von Trapp is a born story teller. The book is full of insightful remarks and humorous situations. It is also full of love for both family and God. It is really inspiring. I could barely read the last three chapters out loud to Becky and Sean. I kept choking up and tears blurred my vision. It is a very touching book. I highly, highly recommend it. It makes an excellent family read aloud for older kids.
For more book reviews go to 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Housekeeping Plans 5/4/13
Meal plans for the week:
Last night I broke my usual no meat on Friday and roasted up a chicken that needed roasting (it had been sitting defrosted in the fridge for a couple days already). It was yummy.
Tonight I promised to make Josh spaghetti since I have not made it since his birthday a month ago.
Sunday - Rick grills - maybe just the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. We never seem to get tired of them!
Monday - I think we'll just have omelets and fruit salad
Tuesday - I bought some Trader Joe's Bulgogi (Korean BBQ). Need to come up with veggies to go with it.
Wednesday - We've had a lot of beef so far - maybe some chicken soup and home made rolls
Thursday - Kielbasa (I have some I just remembered!) along with potatoes and sauerkraut.
Friday - homemade calzones - this might be overly ambitious but I am hungry right now and that sounds delicious!
Saturday I think Becky, Sean and I will eat out. Rick and Josh are going to fly up to Boston, rent a minivan and then drive home from Boston all in one day! But it was the only way we could think of to get all of Will's stuff home from college. He is probably going to take next semester off due to complications and maybe spend it in Mexico! But he doesn't want to leave all his stuff in Boston for that long.
Lots to do today, tomorrow and Monday but then Aquinas Learning is over for the year! That means getting the house in order! Because the next week we are off to Dallas to see Hannah graduate!
Tuesday - I am going to pretend I am a cleaning lady and just try to get as much cleaning done as possible on that day - things like: vacuum and wash kitchen floor, dust everything, vacuum stairs and all of upstairs, scrub bathrooms down.
Wednesday - clean screen porch. Have Josh start mulching. Have to volunteer at Auburn.
Thursday - Josh is busy all day. Take Tillie in for bath. Clean study.
Friday - take Clover and Tillie to vet. Yard work if energy level and weather cooperate.
Last night I broke my usual no meat on Friday and roasted up a chicken that needed roasting (it had been sitting defrosted in the fridge for a couple days already). It was yummy.
Tonight I promised to make Josh spaghetti since I have not made it since his birthday a month ago.
Sunday - Rick grills - maybe just the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. We never seem to get tired of them!
Monday - I think we'll just have omelets and fruit salad
Tuesday - I bought some Trader Joe's Bulgogi (Korean BBQ). Need to come up with veggies to go with it.
Wednesday - We've had a lot of beef so far - maybe some chicken soup and home made rolls
Thursday - Kielbasa (I have some I just remembered!) along with potatoes and sauerkraut.
Friday - homemade calzones - this might be overly ambitious but I am hungry right now and that sounds delicious!
Saturday I think Becky, Sean and I will eat out. Rick and Josh are going to fly up to Boston, rent a minivan and then drive home from Boston all in one day! But it was the only way we could think of to get all of Will's stuff home from college. He is probably going to take next semester off due to complications and maybe spend it in Mexico! But he doesn't want to leave all his stuff in Boston for that long.
Lots to do today, tomorrow and Monday but then Aquinas Learning is over for the year! That means getting the house in order! Because the next week we are off to Dallas to see Hannah graduate!
Tuesday - I am going to pretend I am a cleaning lady and just try to get as much cleaning done as possible on that day - things like: vacuum and wash kitchen floor, dust everything, vacuum stairs and all of upstairs, scrub bathrooms down.
Wednesday - clean screen porch. Have Josh start mulching. Have to volunteer at Auburn.
Thursday - Josh is busy all day. Take Tillie in for bath. Clean study.
Friday - take Clover and Tillie to vet. Yard work if energy level and weather cooperate.
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