This week Uvula Audio premieres Justice, Inc. by Paul Ernst. This is the introductory book in the 1940's pulp serial about Richard Benson the Avenger. Benson was a globe-trotting adventurer who made millions all over the world in risky and dangerous ventures. When he finally decides to settle down and retire, he loses his wife and daughter in a mysterious tragedy aboard an airliner where they disappear mid-flight. Benson goes mad and ends up in an institution. When he is released he has undergone several physical changes from the shock including his hair turning white and his face becoming an equally deathly pallor. From that day forward Benson vows vengeance upon the people who caused his tragic loss. This is a dark heroic story which reminds you of Doc Savage and yet is much more sober in tone. Some people have suggested that if Doc Savage was the basis of Superman, then Benson is very probably the basis of Batman and his vigilante justice. It was always made clear that Doc worked with the police-- although Benson respects the police, it is always made clear that he does not feel they can do the job of justice as well as he can because their hands are tied by the system . . . sound familiar?
Links for the story-- which is already posted for the week-- can be found at here or the podcast can be “caught” using this address:
http://www.uvulaaudio.com/Books/Books.xml
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Coming Soon ... Justice, Inc.
One of my favorite narrators sends word of a great sounding new old book he'll be beginning:
Worth A Thousand Words
Gas Masksfrom Old Picture of the Day
Does anyone else notice the resemblance here to the sand people from Star Wars? I wonder if George Lucas had been looking through old photos ...
Which makes it darned near irresistible to watch George Lucas in Love again ... so let's give in and do it!
And now, for something more cheerful ... I present The Periodic Table of Awesomements
If seeing that number 1 is Bacon and number 2 is Ninja doesn't make you smile ... well then, I'm stumped. Click on it to see a larger version or, better yet, go visit John C. Wright's place which is where I picked this baby up.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Catholic Church to Be Regulated by Connecticut?
Although from what I've read there is no need for that question mark. If so, I am appalled both as an American and as a Catholic.
Ed Morrisey reports:
Update
Get Religion wonders why the media is ignoring the story altogether.
Further Update
From The Anchoress who wrote a stunningly good and thoughtful post on the whole thing:
Ed Morrisey reports:
According to the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause, the government has no business dictating to religious organizations how they should structure themselves. In Connecticut, though, some lawmakers seem to have skipped over the Constitution. A new bill will require Catholic parishes and dioceses — and only Catholics — to organize their parish leadership in a way that pleases the Connecticut legislature (via The Corner)...American Papist has more:
On top of it being an outrageous violation of the First Amendment it is also particularly anti-Catholic, and the politicians who have introduced and supported this bill should be strongly rebuked not just by Catholics, but by all Americans who hate religious discrimination and "hate legislation."Both sources will have updates, as I am sure that many more will also. Much thanks to The Anchoress for the heads up on this.
One particularly-offensive line in the bill (emphasis mine):
"The corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of not less than seven nor more than thirteen lay members. The archbishop or bishop of the diocese or his designee shall serve as an ex-officio member of the board of directors without the right to vote."
That's right - archbishops and bishops under this bill would be stripped of their power to govern.
Update
Get Religion wonders why the media is ignoring the story altogether.
Further Update
From The Anchoress who wrote a stunningly good and thoughtful post on the whole thing:
UPDATE: Well, a reprieve of sorts. Seems“The bill is dead for the rest of the legislative session. As soon as word spread about the bill, the Legislative Office Building was flooded with telephone calls and e-mails on Monday. The bill, virtually overnight, became the hottest issue at the state Capitol.”.(H/T Ace) That’s good. But it’s still on the way - next year, year after that. This battle is going to happen. Bank on it.
Where Do We Draw the Line with God?
This was the theme that our priest returned to again and again as he talked about the story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain, thinking that God would have him slay his son as a sacrifice. Neither Abraham nor Isaac protested or put up any opposition to God's orders. They exhibited completely willingness and trust in God no matter how terrible and abhorrent his plans seemed.
This made me think of Mary's "yes" to God, her similar complete willingness and trust.
I also thought of what I had read that morning in Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation.
Then I thought of myself. How easy it is to identify when someone else is turning from obedience. Yet, as I had just been telling Tom that morning, I had been feeling nudges from many sources to begin attending daily Mass. No one was saying that most deadly of arguments to me, "It's so wonderful. So inspirational." I'd heard that before. It merely left me thinking I didn't feel that "call."
No, the comments that nudged would always be about something else entirely. I can't really recall they were now, for the most part (except for yours, Rita, that one I remember). To get my attention to that level, however, they had been coming for some time and from many sources. Even at a party on Saturday when a friend was telling of her own Lenten addition of Wednesday morning Mass, my antennae perked up. That "I ought to ..." feeling was there.
I could not even argue that it would disrupt my morning schedule. I would merely have to put aside my own activities for an hour before getting to work ... and I can't even tell you what activities would be disrupted, that is how unimportant they are.
I was beginning to feel annoyed and hunted. Until I realized during that homily just where I was drawing the line. At giving God one hour in the morning. An hour which He fully is intending for my own joy and good and benefit ... and freedom. If I am reading the "nudges" aright.
In response, here I was kicking and screaming. Not trusting and wondering and looking forward to what might come that I cannot possibly foresee.
It was a shaming moment.
But afterward, when I had apologized and said a wholehearted, "Yes" ... I had complete peace. No annoyance over the schedule, over the daily obligation. Simply peace. That is the clearest sign of all.
My only mulling over then was wondering what time, if some of the daily Masses were held at the lower school instead of the church and so on. At which point I spared my guardian angel a thought. He had just been waiting, evidently, to whack me on the head and say, "Just go, knucklehead! Don't sweat the details."
Got it.
I went home afterwards and finished reading the essay.
And if not joy yet, certainly peace.
No measurable good may come of daily Mass attendance that I will ever be able to report (though I don't really believe that). However, even if the sole good comes from my realization of my stubborn struggle and my change of heart to a willing "yes" ... then that is enough.
Update: Ironically, this morning at my first daily Mass I realized that this actually may be God's way of economically answering my own prayers and using them for something which I had not intended. I'd been having so much trouble getting my time use under control that I'd been praying for help with focusing. Mass waiteth for no man (to paraphrase that famous saying). Except for the priest, one supposes. I've gotta hustle and focus to get there on time. Hoist on my own petard!
This made me think of Mary's "yes" to God, her similar complete willingness and trust.
I also thought of what I had read that morning in Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation.
We must learn to realize that the love of God seeks us in every situation, and seeks our good. His inscrutable love seeks our awakening. True, since this awakening implies a kind of death to our exterior self, we will dread His coming in proportion as we are identified with this exterior self and attached to it. But when we understand the dialectic of life and death we will learn to take the risks implied by faith, to make the choices that deliver us from our routine self and open to us the door of a new being, a new reality.I thought of a couple of occasions when I have seen people who knew what was right but who so clearly desired to do what they wanted instead. How they went from friend to friend asking for an opinion. When it never was the answer they wanted, these seekers having honest friends, they kept searching almost frantically for someone who would affirm their wishes instead of the larger truth. In each case, their friends' hearts ached for them during the search.
The mind that is the prisoner of conventional ideas, and the will that is the captive of its own desire cannot accept the seeds of an unfamiliar truth and a supernatural desire. For how can I receive the seeds of freedom if I am in love with slavery and how can I cherish the desire of God if I am filled with another and an opposite desire? God cannot plant His liberty in me because I am a prisoner and I do not even desire to be free. I love my captivity and I imprison myself in the desire for the things that I hate, and I have hardened my heart against true love. I must learn therefore to let go of the familiar and the usual and consent to what is new and unknown to me. I must learn to "leave myself in order to find myself by yielding to the love of God. If I were looking for God, every event and every moment would sow, in my will, grains of His life that would spring up one day in a tremendous harvest.
Then I thought of myself. How easy it is to identify when someone else is turning from obedience. Yet, as I had just been telling Tom that morning, I had been feeling nudges from many sources to begin attending daily Mass. No one was saying that most deadly of arguments to me, "It's so wonderful. So inspirational." I'd heard that before. It merely left me thinking I didn't feel that "call."
No, the comments that nudged would always be about something else entirely. I can't really recall they were now, for the most part (except for yours, Rita, that one I remember). To get my attention to that level, however, they had been coming for some time and from many sources. Even at a party on Saturday when a friend was telling of her own Lenten addition of Wednesday morning Mass, my antennae perked up. That "I ought to ..." feeling was there.
I could not even argue that it would disrupt my morning schedule. I would merely have to put aside my own activities for an hour before getting to work ... and I can't even tell you what activities would be disrupted, that is how unimportant they are.
I was beginning to feel annoyed and hunted. Until I realized during that homily just where I was drawing the line. At giving God one hour in the morning. An hour which He fully is intending for my own joy and good and benefit ... and freedom. If I am reading the "nudges" aright.
In response, here I was kicking and screaming. Not trusting and wondering and looking forward to what might come that I cannot possibly foresee.
It was a shaming moment.
But afterward, when I had apologized and said a wholehearted, "Yes" ... I had complete peace. No annoyance over the schedule, over the daily obligation. Simply peace. That is the clearest sign of all.
My only mulling over then was wondering what time, if some of the daily Masses were held at the lower school instead of the church and so on. At which point I spared my guardian angel a thought. He had just been waiting, evidently, to whack me on the head and say, "Just go, knucklehead! Don't sweat the details."
Got it.
I went home afterwards and finished reading the essay.
My chief care should not be to find pleasure or success, health or life or money or rest or even things like virtue and wisdom--still less their opposites, pain, failure, sickness, death. But in all that happens, my one desire and my one joy should be to know: "Here is the thing that God has willed for me. In this His love is found, and in accepting this I can give back His love to Him and give myself with it to Him. For in giving myself I shall find Him and He is life everlasting.Indeed.
By consenting to His will with joy and doing it with gladness I have His love in my heart, because my will is now the same as His love and I am on the way to becoming what He is, Who is Love. And by accepting all things from Him I receive His joy into my soul, not because things are what they are but because God is Who He is, and His love has willed my joy in them all.
And if not joy yet, certainly peace.
No measurable good may come of daily Mass attendance that I will ever be able to report (though I don't really believe that). However, even if the sole good comes from my realization of my stubborn struggle and my change of heart to a willing "yes" ... then that is enough.
Update: Ironically, this morning at my first daily Mass I realized that this actually may be God's way of economically answering my own prayers and using them for something which I had not intended. I'd been having so much trouble getting my time use under control that I'd been praying for help with focusing. Mass waiteth for no man (to paraphrase that famous saying). Except for the priest, one supposes. I've gotta hustle and focus to get there on time. Hoist on my own petard!
Prayer, Penance & Pain
The Anchoress has an excellent, personal piece about offering up one's own pain for others. Here's a bit, then go read it all, including her links to others' pieces.
But I realized that just laying about in pain was silly and wasteful; it went against everything the good nuns and my own mother and granny had ever taught me about pain and suffering. In my head I heard Sr. Mary Gemma telling us children, “when you are in pain, when you are disappointed, when your feelings have been hurt, offer these things up to the Lord and ask him to use your pain - that He join it to His own pain on the cross, for the good of others. Offer it as penance for your own sins, or the sins of those who cannot or will not do penance for themselves.” ...
I asked Him to take the pain in my feet and use it to bless those essential, undernoticed people who spent so much time on their feet serving others - cops, nurses, food workers, teachers. I asked Him to take the pain in my ankles and use it to bless the men and women who stand a watch at home and abroad, the people they protect and the people they guard.
My knees - sometimes the knees wake me up in the middle of the night from pain - I offered the pain in my knees for those who suffer through long nights, either from insomnia, loneliness, social or family affliction; for “the night people” on the streets who live their lives in the bleakest hours, because they perhaps feel like they have no better choices, or because they do not feel like they “belong” to the day.
Friday, March 6, 2009
How Do You Know You Have the Best Husband in the World?
When he walks up with a Barnes and Noble Christmas gift card that still has $56 on it ... and hands it over.
Now there's a nice surprise!
Tom is much more into music and BN has been phasing it out since before Christmas. Lucky, lucky me!
Now there's a nice surprise!
Tom is much more into music and BN has been phasing it out since before Christmas. Lucky, lucky me!
100 Enlightening Bible Study Blogs
Still digging out on emails that piled up while I was gone ... here's an interesting resource with blogs categorized by such things as Scripture, Inspiration and Enlightenment, Community, and more.
Oh, and look way down the list ... keep scrolling ... that's it, number 57. Surprise! You are already reading one of the recommended blogs!
Oh, and look way down the list ... keep scrolling ... that's it, number 57. Surprise! You are already reading one of the recommended blogs!
What Rose Has Been Up To
Catch a couple of her first semester projects here. She's still fixing thumbnails, etc. since they just set these pages up earlier this week.
The first "black" one is a group project.
The second is Rose's project a la Billy Wilder (they had to choose a director to emulate).
The third, which looks as if it has some sort of upload problem at the moment, is an experimental film done by a fellow pilot program group member. It is fascinating to watch and then to hear Rose talk about how she achieved the special effects bubbles. This was to tie in with Rose's Billy Wilder project, which makes more sense if you know that Rose was forced by her teacher to give her film a happy ending instead of the bleak one she desired.
The first "black" one is a group project.
The second is Rose's project a la Billy Wilder (they had to choose a director to emulate).
The third, which looks as if it has some sort of upload problem at the moment, is an experimental film done by a fellow pilot program group member. It is fascinating to watch and then to hear Rose talk about how she achieved the special effects bubbles. This was to tie in with Rose's Billy Wilder project, which makes more sense if you know that Rose was forced by her teacher to give her film a happy ending instead of the bleak one she desired.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A Short Realization About Death
This is going to be a "duh" moment for many.
Seeing all the comments and sympathy and reaching out to Amy Welborn after Michael's tragic death has made all of us probably think about death more. I know I was quite surprised to read that Amy has had a fear of death. I was surprised when people commented that their deepest fear was that their husband might suddenly die.
This is only reflective of the fact that I just don't think about death, even when it is right in front of me, so to speak. I think of where we're going after death. I know intellectually that if one of my loved ones died suddenly I would be devastated, just like anyone would. However, as I said, I know that intellectually. I don't think about how it would feel.
I remember once, years ago, Rose asked me if I were afraid of dying. I thought for a second. "I'm not afraid of death. I'm not looking forward to the process of dying, but I'm not afraid of death because I figure Heaven will be so interesting."
Over confident. Yes, I am surely that. But I hope and trust that my honest efforts to get to Heaven will be supplemented by a generous supply of Christ's grace and I'll scrape my way into Purgatory and get to Heaven eventually.
Anyway, driving back from Springfield, I wound up thinking about Amy and that haunted hotel room and all those cars whizzing around me that could make a wrong move and wipe me out. I realized that I had never thought about that moment of death. You know. The process of death. When you move from one world into another. I never thought about what that would be like. For me myself as a person to experience that shift.
Scary.
Very scary.
In my mind's eye it was like trying to squeeze through a teeny, tiny hole into ... what?
That was when I realized, really felt it to my core, the sheer helplessness of death. The sheer need to fall into Christ's arms because He'd be the only constant, the only person I could trust in that moment to be there the whole time, helping me, loving me, taking care of me ...
Yes it is a helpless feeling, a thing that is scary to think about. But I like that it made me realize just how fully I do place my trust in Jesus ... and how much I need and utterly depend upon Him. There's a rightness about that. I like it.
Seeing all the comments and sympathy and reaching out to Amy Welborn after Michael's tragic death has made all of us probably think about death more. I know I was quite surprised to read that Amy has had a fear of death. I was surprised when people commented that their deepest fear was that their husband might suddenly die.
This is only reflective of the fact that I just don't think about death, even when it is right in front of me, so to speak. I think of where we're going after death. I know intellectually that if one of my loved ones died suddenly I would be devastated, just like anyone would. However, as I said, I know that intellectually. I don't think about how it would feel.
I remember once, years ago, Rose asked me if I were afraid of dying. I thought for a second. "I'm not afraid of death. I'm not looking forward to the process of dying, but I'm not afraid of death because I figure Heaven will be so interesting."
Over confident. Yes, I am surely that. But I hope and trust that my honest efforts to get to Heaven will be supplemented by a generous supply of Christ's grace and I'll scrape my way into Purgatory and get to Heaven eventually.
Anyway, driving back from Springfield, I wound up thinking about Amy and that haunted hotel room and all those cars whizzing around me that could make a wrong move and wipe me out. I realized that I had never thought about that moment of death. You know. The process of death. When you move from one world into another. I never thought about what that would be like. For me myself as a person to experience that shift.
Scary.
Very scary.
In my mind's eye it was like trying to squeeze through a teeny, tiny hole into ... what?
That was when I realized, really felt it to my core, the sheer helplessness of death. The sheer need to fall into Christ's arms because He'd be the only constant, the only person I could trust in that moment to be there the whole time, helping me, loving me, taking care of me ...
Yes it is a helpless feeling, a thing that is scary to think about. But I like that it made me realize just how fully I do place my trust in Jesus ... and how much I need and utterly depend upon Him. There's a rightness about that. I like it.
Cracker Cooking
My review of The Cracker Kitchen: A Cookbook in Celebration of Cornbread-Fed, Down Home Family Stories and Cuisine is up at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen
Well Said
From my quote journal. Note: I do not always agree with the 3 Minute Theologian, however, he is usually inspirational and always thought provoking. I recommend that you try out a few of his podcast episodes.
We now seem to believe that realism is one part cynicism and two parts disappointment, and to drink deeply and despondently of such a potion is the sign of the “realist”. The world will eventually disappoint you, and your leaders will inevitably let you down. To be cynical merely means getting your disappointment in first. ...
Even so, the opposite of optimism is not realism: it is pessimism. Pessimism is the sense that nothing will make any difference; our destiny is to go to hell in a handbasket (The Duke of Wellington’s comment, “Reform, sir! Reform! aren’t things bad enough already?” is the peak of pessimism). The handmaid of pessimism is cynicism, the belief that things will go bad because of stupidity, greed and deliberate malfeasance. Optimism, on the other hand, is the belief that there is more good than evil in the universe, and that good will ultimately win out. This belief does not, should not, exist as a wide-eyed and unworldly Pollyanna-ism. After all, optimism’s first principle is that evil exists and bad things happen. Rather, optimism’s handmaid is a clear-sighted realism: being able to look at the world as it truly is, and see where the forces of good are at work and where they need to be strengthened.
And the personification of the optimistic realist (or realistic optimist) is Jesus. After all, it was he who sent his disciples out with this hopeful piece of advice: “‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).3 Minute Theologian: Words about God for the Attention Deficit Generation
God's Answers to Your Problems
Thanks to Father Joe for this! It strikes me that this would be good to print out and then go through reading each verse ... as a contemplation aid.
- You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)- You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)- You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34)- You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)- You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)- You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)- You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)- You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )- You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)- You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)- You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)- You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)- You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)- You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
January Dancer: audiobook review
My review of The January Dancer by Michael Flynn can be found over at SFFaudio. It also contains a brief commentary about the state of space opera writing in modern times.
A Few New Favorite Things
Discovered on my trip to Springfield ...
- McDonald's McCafe Latte ... in the large drive-through size. It hit the spot and I didn't want a cola. Mmmm, latte ...
- Mrs. Appleyard's Kitchen ... an absolutely delightful "forgotten classic" that I discovered in my parent's basement. Hilarious and intentionally so ... Mom and I kept picking it up and reading each other snippets all day ... and laughing our heads off. I'll be reading some of this at Forgotten Classics for the next episode.
- Lamentation (The Psalms of Isaak) by Ken Scholes ... listened to this on the way home for six solid hours. Yes, it is that good and fascinating. After CD3 I already was making a mental list of who I'd be buying this book for on upcoming birthdays. More to come in the review which will be for SFFaudio but it is an epic that is character driven by four main people and doesn't feel like an epic. It is a unique worldview that combines something like Robin Hood, a future in which ancient technology from before the time of Laughing Madness is sought after, and medieval governments of trading houses and the Church (complete with Pope). I can't do it justice in this little bit but find this book. Read it. I'll let y'all know when I'm done and the review comes out.
Delonghi Coffee Maker. It is sad when you come home to find the coffeepot carafe cracked while doing dishes. Even sadder when you read the scathing reviews of most standard coffee makers at Amazon. This one not only had raves but also was available at the nearby Target. Excellent coffee was enjoyed this morning ... as we would hope from the snazzy Italian design!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Update from Missouri
Just a reminder that I'm in Springfield helping my Dad move into assisted living. The plan is for my mother to join him there in a few weeks (tedious details that I will not bore everyone with.)
My brother has already spent two weeks doing the heavy lifting. I already appreciated it but after just a couple of days here to overlap I COMPLETELY appreciate it!
Here's the fantastic thing y'all. I am getting to see just how much God loves and cares for my parents in the particulars of so much in this whole situation. Without going into details, every set-back is actually a detour so God can give them something better than they wanted ... in fact, to give them just what they needed, with ample adjustment time built in.
But wait there's more!
I am used to being able to talk about seeing God's plan and providence unfold with Tom and the girls, with my close Christian friends. But to be able to have my brother say what I am thinking before I get a chance to say it, to point out how God is working things out on this whole move ... well, that's a whole new bond in our relationship. I already love and respect my brother so much. To have this experience with him as we see God using every means possible to work His plan is humbling and amazing. (For those who don't know, my parents are atheists and we grew up with no faith in our household.)
So it's tiring but a good kind of tiring.
The practical effect on y'all is that I was able to get the Ash Wednesday/Lent posts ready ahead of time but posting will be much less frequent for a few more days.
My brother has already spent two weeks doing the heavy lifting. I already appreciated it but after just a couple of days here to overlap I COMPLETELY appreciate it!
Here's the fantastic thing y'all. I am getting to see just how much God loves and cares for my parents in the particulars of so much in this whole situation. Without going into details, every set-back is actually a detour so God can give them something better than they wanted ... in fact, to give them just what they needed, with ample adjustment time built in.
But wait there's more!
I am used to being able to talk about seeing God's plan and providence unfold with Tom and the girls, with my close Christian friends. But to be able to have my brother say what I am thinking before I get a chance to say it, to point out how God is working things out on this whole move ... well, that's a whole new bond in our relationship. I already love and respect my brother so much. To have this experience with him as we see God using every means possible to work His plan is humbling and amazing. (For those who don't know, my parents are atheists and we grew up with no faith in our household.)
So it's tiring but a good kind of tiring.
The practical effect on y'all is that I was able to get the Ash Wednesday/Lent posts ready ahead of time but posting will be much less frequent for a few more days.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Clearing Out the Static ... a.k.a. What I'm Giving Up
I am giving up reading so many blogs.
That sounds so easy.
Until one goes into the RSS feed and has to chop (yes, that's how it felt ... CHOP) all but five blogs from the "Daily" folder and all but five from the folders I have for each day of the week.
Which I can check once a day.
For no longer than half an hour.
I already am seeing what a time sink has been getting between me and God. Oy.
My word this has been brutal. I am much too fond of so very many blogs ... it hurts and then is when I know that "detachment" is the thing wherein we will catch the conscience of Happy Catholic. (This also will be applying to podcasts ... but that will have to wait until I return home. In the meantime, I am on an enforced podcast fast ... just what I brung with me!)
It is not all about clearing away, of course. With that cleared away space, what does one do?
In my case, more practicing my vocation of taking care of home and hearth ... and of prayer, with an emphasis on listening. Still figuring this part out ... hey, I've got an hour or so!
P.S.
I realize this is very similar to the group that is giving up Facebook for Lent (complete with a Facebook group! ha!) But when I asked God what needed to be cleared from between us, this is all I got back.
I see that The Curt Jester is chiming in on this too, with predictably funny results. Yes, I laughed out loud. (And, no, I'm not giving up The Curt Jester ... he made the cut.)
That sounds so easy.
Until one goes into the RSS feed and has to chop (yes, that's how it felt ... CHOP) all but five blogs from the "Daily" folder and all but five from the folders I have for each day of the week.
Which I can check once a day.
For no longer than half an hour.
I already am seeing what a time sink has been getting between me and God. Oy.
My word this has been brutal. I am much too fond of so very many blogs ... it hurts and then is when I know that "detachment" is the thing wherein we will catch the conscience of Happy Catholic. (This also will be applying to podcasts ... but that will have to wait until I return home. In the meantime, I am on an enforced podcast fast ... just what I brung with me!)
It is not all about clearing away, of course. With that cleared away space, what does one do?
In my case, more practicing my vocation of taking care of home and hearth ... and of prayer, with an emphasis on listening. Still figuring this part out ... hey, I've got an hour or so!
P.S.
I realize this is very similar to the group that is giving up Facebook for Lent (complete with a Facebook group! ha!) But when I asked God what needed to be cleared from between us, this is all I got back.
I see that The Curt Jester is chiming in on this too, with predictably funny results. Yes, I laughed out loud. (And, no, I'm not giving up The Curt Jester ... he made the cut.)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Unexpectedly Called Away ...
... not for anything bad. In fact, this is good stuff, but some family things came up that I must help with in person. So I'll be in Springfield (Mo.).
I'll be out of town for about a week but Tom has fixed me up with a nifty thing on Rose's old laptop (hereafter to be known as MY laptop) so I can hook onto our phone system's account and blog.
However, as I will be in and out rather erratically, I thought I'd get the Lenten background up.
A little early, but that's ok, right?
More soon ... including book ideas for Lent.
I'll be out of town for about a week but Tom has fixed me up with a nifty thing on Rose's old laptop (hereafter to be known as MY laptop) so I can hook onto our phone system's account and blog.
However, as I will be in and out rather erratically, I thought I'd get the Lenten background up.
A little early, but that's ok, right?
More soon ... including book ideas for Lent.
Mailbag ...
Jean at Catholic Fire writes:
A Great Lenten ProjectStefan from St. Michael's Abbey says,
Are you married? Are you Catholic? Do you have a devotion to the saints? Have you and your spouse or a family member experienced hope and healing as a result of prayer to a saint or saint(s)?
This is your chance to evangelize and it makes for a wonderful Lenten project as well.
I am looking for dramatic conversion stories as well as stories of trials and tribulations (for example, financial difficulties, addictions, the birth of a child with a medical problem) overcome through the intercession of a saint or saints and the grace of God to publish in a new book meant to inspire and encourage married couples.
In order to be published:
Your story must name a saint or saints.
It must be at least 1800 words, but not more than 2000 words.
Email your submission to me no later than March 15, 2009.
After last week's successful album launch party for "Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael's Abbey", we have created short video clips.Here is one to get you started and then you can look down the YouTube sidebar for more.
Reviewing The School of Essential Ingredients
You can find it over at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.
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