I hate birthdays. Don't mind getting older, but if there is one day in the year when I can count on being disappointed, stressed, and downright miserable, it is October 28.
This year was no different.
Nevertheless, some good stuff happened.
This year, my birthday was on a Tuesday - that means Chorale night. And as I was driving up the road toward that city wherein Chorale meets... I helped catch a horse.
Yep. Catch. A. Horse.
I was about 7 miles up the road, and traffic was almost at a standstill - and I was about to pass when I saw the horse galloping north (same direction I was headed) up the road. I ducked into the driveway of the house where I was pretty sure he'd come --- met by about a half-dozen Dachsunds, and a misc Heinz-type hound, all barking their fool heads off... and no one was at home. I was getting into the car when a truck pulled in behind me - another neighbor! Hooray!
They went north, headed off the horse and turned him around south - I blocked the highway with my car and steered the fellow back across the road into his own people's driveway. Then I got pulled my car back into the driveway, and got out just as he was thinking maybe he wanted to go back out into the road again. I simply raised my arms (a little more extended than the orans position, but I promise you I was praying!) and said "Whooooa!"
And lo! the horse stopped! and he looked at me, and I stood there and started talking babytalk to him (yes, I confess it) - and he walked to me and dropped his head onto my shoulder. Poor baby!!!
I was patting his neck and telling him how lovely a baby he was, and wondering how in the world to lead him without a halter - and the neighbor slipped past me, opened the gate and went into the feed room. When the big boy (gelding, probably close to 17 hands high) heard the food bucket rattle, he abandoned me and went trotting off to his feed bucket.
The neighbor's son ran the parameters of the small pasture - no broken fence slats, so we figure he must've jumped. The big guy wasn't limping and had no visible wounds, so I wrote a note and left it in their back door. Left my phone number, but haven't heard a word from the folks - I'm going to stop by there, tomorrow, and inquire.
I've always loved horses, so that was a treat - even though I was in the wrong kind of shoes for tramping around chasing after one.
Remainder of trip was pleasant. Arrived early - auditioned for solo for Messiah performances with Carolina Ballet, coming up Thanksgiving weekend. I don't expect to be given one, although I think "He was despised" went fairly well - we have some really fine singers in that group, and I was outsung every which way from Sunday. That's okay, though - it was a good and valuable experience.
And after rehearsals, I went out with the crowd to the Irish Pub where I enjoyed a chicken club sandwich with kettle chips, and a slice of Baileys Cream cheesecake for dessert. I was the only conservative Republican at the table, which felt weird, and I grieved the loss from our group of the other Conservative who's a LOT more knowledgable than I and always good for instructive and edifying conversation.
Filled up the car for $21.50 - $2.64/gallon, which is about fifteen cents/gallon cheaper than it is here at home.
Soon as the clock passed midnight, my very poor mood lifted and I began to enjoy myself quite a bit.
Thanks for all the well-wishes that have come to me via email, Facebook, and other blogs. I'm grateful for my friends.
God bless y'all's socks off.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I Want to meet Wendy Button!
and shake her hand - The former Democratic Speech-writer tells why she's voting for John McCain here.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Laura, Warrior Princess
Confession: I've been holding out on giving God 100% of myself. There are two things I want very much, and I've been holding on - rather like Lot's wife looking back at the home she didn't want to leave - fighting giving all to Him because I want my own desires that much.
As if I could bully Him into letting me have my way by holding out on Him! HA!
Yet the people I love and long for - and my desires always involve people, not things - are even more precious to God than they are to me. I can trust Him to take care of them.
In fact, just a moment ago, listening to a course lecture on St. Louis de Montford's True Devotion to Mary, I asked that my parental authority over my daughters, even now that they are grown women, might still be applied (after all, I didn't know this stuff when they were growing up) - and I have consecrated my daughters to Jesus through Mary.
This shouldn't really shock anyone - not of my Catholic friends, anyway; it is really the ultimate fulfillment of the Infant Dedication we made of them when they were under a year old. What I wanted then for my daughters is fulfilled in what I have learned about devotion to Jesus through Mary. This is just repeating and perfecting the pledge made then.
I make this devotion also of myself, and will formalize it before witnesses at the appropriate time.
In the Dedication, three major things are accomplished. They are contained in the prayer of Dedication:
First, we renew and ratify our Baptismal promises: we renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works.
Second, we choose that Mary, the Handmaid (slave) of the Lord will be our Mistress; we will become the slave of the Slave. "I deliver and consecrate to thee, as they slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future..."
This takes us full circle - to the Cross: "And I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before."
This is an amazing act. I can only get glimpses of the power of it, the significance of it, in my imagination.
Thankfully, I don't have to fully understand everything. It is enough that I recognize that I have been fighting, like a wild colt - only instead of stopping fighting for the weariness of fighting's futility, I am coming gladly to the Master to ask Him what He wants of me.
I will serve as His bondservant all the days of my life. I will and do renounce Satan and his works, and I put on the armor provided me to fight against him forever.
Totus Tuus - All for thee, dear Lady, so that you might give all and more to your Son.
As if I could bully Him into letting me have my way by holding out on Him! HA!
Yet the people I love and long for - and my desires always involve people, not things - are even more precious to God than they are to me. I can trust Him to take care of them.
In fact, just a moment ago, listening to a course lecture on St. Louis de Montford's True Devotion to Mary, I asked that my parental authority over my daughters, even now that they are grown women, might still be applied (after all, I didn't know this stuff when they were growing up) - and I have consecrated my daughters to Jesus through Mary.
This shouldn't really shock anyone - not of my Catholic friends, anyway; it is really the ultimate fulfillment of the Infant Dedication we made of them when they were under a year old. What I wanted then for my daughters is fulfilled in what I have learned about devotion to Jesus through Mary. This is just repeating and perfecting the pledge made then.
I make this devotion also of myself, and will formalize it before witnesses at the appropriate time.
In the Dedication, three major things are accomplished. They are contained in the prayer of Dedication:
First, we renew and ratify our Baptismal promises: we renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works.
Second, we choose that Mary, the Handmaid (slave) of the Lord will be our Mistress; we will become the slave of the Slave. "I deliver and consecrate to thee, as they slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future..."
This takes us full circle - to the Cross: "And I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before."
This is an amazing act. I can only get glimpses of the power of it, the significance of it, in my imagination.
Thankfully, I don't have to fully understand everything. It is enough that I recognize that I have been fighting, like a wild colt - only instead of stopping fighting for the weariness of fighting's futility, I am coming gladly to the Master to ask Him what He wants of me.
I will serve as His bondservant all the days of my life. I will and do renounce Satan and his works, and I put on the armor provided me to fight against him forever.
Totus Tuus - All for thee, dear Lady, so that you might give all and more to your Son.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Do Republicans act like this?
Merry talks about an incident she witnessed at her college:
Do Republicans behave this way? I haven't heard of any of it.
God help us, in two weeks - we're in for trouble regardless what happens.
When I got to school yesterday, 2 Black girls were walking through the parking lot and I heard, "I should've keyed her van." The other girl said, "You shouldn't talk like that." First girl: I don't care.
When I got out of class I noticed the van she was talking about. It had a big Nobama painted on the window with shoe polish.
Do Republicans behave this way? I haven't heard of any of it.
God help us, in two weeks - we're in for trouble regardless what happens.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
White Ribbon Week - October 26-31
First time I've heard of it, which is a shame, because it's a worthy cause, probably even more worthy than the pink ribbon campaign against breast cancer.
What is it?
Pornography, an international scandal which demeans and creates victims several times removed from its production - by influencing the attitudes men (and women!) have toward women and children.
Excellent article from Town Hall on the matter, here.
Many thanks to Mary T for the link.
What is it?
Pornography, an international scandal which demeans and creates victims several times removed from its production - by influencing the attitudes men (and women!) have toward women and children.
Excellent article from Town Hall on the matter, here.
Many thanks to Mary T for the link.
Who was it, really?
Who Am I?
I was raised in one country but my father was born in another. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with a number of women.
I became very close to my mother because my father showed little interest in me. Then my mother died at an early age from cancer. Later in life, questions arose over my real name. My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a reliable birth certificate.
I grow up practicing one faith, but converted to Christianity because this was widely accepted in my country. But I practiced non-traditional beliefs and did not follow mainstream Christianity.
I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.
I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.
I became active in local politics when I was in my 30s and then burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office when I was in my 40s. I had a virtually non-existent resume, very little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker who managed to draw incredibly large crowds during my public appearances.
At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy. I was critical of my country in the last war. But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy. I had a plan on how we could do better. I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess.
Mine was a people's campaign. I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics and was able to gain widespread popular support. I offered the people the hope that together we could change our country and the world.
I spoke on behalf of the downtrodden including persecuted minorities such as Jews, but my actual views were not widely known until after I became my nation's leader. However, anyone could have easily learned what I really believed if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with. But they did not.
Then I became the most powerful man in the world, and the world learned the truth.
Who am I?
Sounds a lot like a particular presidential candidate on the current ballot, doesn't it?
However it isn't -
It's Adolph Hitler.
Thanks to Ann for sharing this.
I was raised in one country but my father was born in another. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with a number of women.
I became very close to my mother because my father showed little interest in me. Then my mother died at an early age from cancer. Later in life, questions arose over my real name. My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a reliable birth certificate.
I grow up practicing one faith, but converted to Christianity because this was widely accepted in my country. But I practiced non-traditional beliefs and did not follow mainstream Christianity.
I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.
I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.
I became active in local politics when I was in my 30s and then burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office when I was in my 40s. I had a virtually non-existent resume, very little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker who managed to draw incredibly large crowds during my public appearances.
At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy. I was critical of my country in the last war. But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy. I had a plan on how we could do better. I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess.
Mine was a people's campaign. I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics and was able to gain widespread popular support. I offered the people the hope that together we could change our country and the world.
I spoke on behalf of the downtrodden including persecuted minorities such as Jews, but my actual views were not widely known until after I became my nation's leader. However, anyone could have easily learned what I really believed if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with. But they did not.
Then I became the most powerful man in the world, and the world learned the truth.
Who am I?
Sounds a lot like a particular presidential candidate on the current ballot, doesn't it?
However it isn't -
It's Adolph Hitler.
Thanks to Ann for sharing this.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A voice for Life
Cheers and BRAVOs to Robert Laird, the other directors and employees of Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy in Chantilly, VA, set to open its doors today.
Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is setting a pace in providing a pharmacy that does not stock any forms of contraception, pornography, or other typically-stocked materials that violate reverence for the sanctity of life.
"Contraception is not health care," said Laird.
Again, Bravo!
Many thanks to Maria, from The Washington Times, for alerting me to this news. Please go check out the article in the link.
Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is setting a pace in providing a pharmacy that does not stock any forms of contraception, pornography, or other typically-stocked materials that violate reverence for the sanctity of life.
"Contraception is not health care," said Laird.
Again, Bravo!
Many thanks to Maria, from The Washington Times, for alerting me to this news. Please go check out the article in the link.
Monday, October 20, 2008
So - Biden said WHAT?
During the debate between himself and Sarah Palin, Biden enraged gay rights activists by insisting that neither he nor Barack Obama supported gay marriage. Yet today, on "Ellen," he said that, were he a resident of California, he would vote against Proposition 8.
Proposition 8 is the one that defines marriage as between a man and woman ONLY.
So - Biden's talking out of both sides of his mouth, just as Obama himself has been doing all along.
What else is new?
And how long will it take for the good Christian people planning to vote the Democratic ticket this month to see the serpant for what it is?
What's more - on ABC News, Biden predicted that the U.S. will suffer another terrorist attack in the early months of Obama's presidency, and that the American people will need to be prepared to stand by him as he makes "unpopular decisions."
Sure, we will.
#1 - Biden has just admitted to the entire world that Barack Obama is an inexperienced neophyte. That in itself should discourage ANY half-witted voter from casting a Democratic ballot in the General Election.
#2 - The Democratic Party was all in support of President Bush after 9/11/01 - it would have been political suicide to oppose him after the attacks on our Nation. But now, while it's POPULAR and POLITICALLY CORRECT to oppose the President in his duty as Commander-in-Chief (and doing a good job under terribly difficult circumstances, no less), Senator Biden (Bidin' My Time?) says we have to give UNQUESTIONING SUPPORT to Obama....
To a man who has expressed Muslim sympathies, who has sworn that he would uneqivocally meet and negotiate with our enemies...
And Biden says we ought to unquestioningly give such a traitor, such a despot, our unquestioning support?
NO!
Proposition 8 is the one that defines marriage as between a man and woman ONLY.
So - Biden's talking out of both sides of his mouth, just as Obama himself has been doing all along.
What else is new?
And how long will it take for the good Christian people planning to vote the Democratic ticket this month to see the serpant for what it is?
What's more - on ABC News, Biden predicted that the U.S. will suffer another terrorist attack in the early months of Obama's presidency, and that the American people will need to be prepared to stand by him as he makes "unpopular decisions."
Sure, we will.
#1 - Biden has just admitted to the entire world that Barack Obama is an inexperienced neophyte. That in itself should discourage ANY half-witted voter from casting a Democratic ballot in the General Election.
#2 - The Democratic Party was all in support of President Bush after 9/11/01 - it would have been political suicide to oppose him after the attacks on our Nation. But now, while it's POPULAR and POLITICALLY CORRECT to oppose the President in his duty as Commander-in-Chief (and doing a good job under terribly difficult circumstances, no less), Senator Biden (Bidin' My Time?) says we have to give UNQUESTIONING SUPPORT to Obama....
To a man who has expressed Muslim sympathies, who has sworn that he would uneqivocally meet and negotiate with our enemies...
And Biden says we ought to unquestioningly give such a traitor, such a despot, our unquestioning support?
NO!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Eddie
We've been praying for Eddie, who had brain tumor, for several months. I received a beautiful email from his daughter a little while ago, informing me that he entered Eternity on October 3, his 64th birthday.
She spoke of the time at home, and the sweet privilege of caring for him - a privilege I can share passionately with, because of the time I spent with my father during his final days, in 1991 -
and all I can think, beyond even my sorrow for my friend's grief, is that there are people who would arbitrarily "relieve suffering" by terminal anesthesia, or euthenasia.
Ours has become a self-centered, narcissistic culture, concerned not with the ultimate wellbeing of our loved ones (do we even know how to truly love, any more?) but with our own convenience, our own deliverance from inconvenience or suffering or self-sacrifice.
My dear friend wrote of her father's final days - "I would gladly have spent ten years caring for him again!" she wrote, and I know what she meant. We are deeply altered (altared?) by such proximity to suffering and Dying.
She wrote of the peacefulness of his passing - how God granted all their desires for his final moments -
How many people are deprived of the grace of these sufferings by impatient family and medical personnel who unnecessarily hasten the end of life, lacking understanding of the utter redemptive beauty of allowing God to choose when life begins and ends?
We've become a utilitarian people - God help us, it's getting worse all the time - and if this election goes badly, we'll be seeing even worse, at a greatly accelerated pace.
She spoke of the time at home, and the sweet privilege of caring for him - a privilege I can share passionately with, because of the time I spent with my father during his final days, in 1991 -
and all I can think, beyond even my sorrow for my friend's grief, is that there are people who would arbitrarily "relieve suffering" by terminal anesthesia, or euthenasia.
Ours has become a self-centered, narcissistic culture, concerned not with the ultimate wellbeing of our loved ones (do we even know how to truly love, any more?) but with our own convenience, our own deliverance from inconvenience or suffering or self-sacrifice.
My dear friend wrote of her father's final days - "I would gladly have spent ten years caring for him again!" she wrote, and I know what she meant. We are deeply altered (altared?) by such proximity to suffering and Dying.
She wrote of the peacefulness of his passing - how God granted all their desires for his final moments -
How many people are deprived of the grace of these sufferings by impatient family and medical personnel who unnecessarily hasten the end of life, lacking understanding of the utter redemptive beauty of allowing God to choose when life begins and ends?
We've become a utilitarian people - God help us, it's getting worse all the time - and if this election goes badly, we'll be seeing even worse, at a greatly accelerated pace.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Problems at Blog Talk Radio
This ENTIRE POST is from No Compromise When It Comes to Being Right -
Of very particular interest since Blog Talk Radio is the web home for Flylady's web forum (with which I recently had a peck of trouble for posting a an anti-Obama thread)- thanks to Serenity for alerting this to me:
Of very particular interest since Blog Talk Radio is the web home for Flylady's web forum (with which I recently had a peck of trouble for posting a an anti-Obama thread)- thanks to Serenity for alerting this to me:
Pro-Obama Censorship at BlogTalkRadio
October 16, 2008 · 2 Comments
Thank you New Media Journal for printing my commentary.
October 16, 2008
There used to be a classic American saying, “I disagree with you, but I will fight for your right to say it,” which changed to, “If you don’t like it, turn the channel,” and now we hear, “You’re inciting hate, so I will have you charged with a Hate Crime, you bigot!”
America is becoming a nation filled with people who whine about hurt feelings which leads to quashing one’s Right to speak in one way or the other. Americans do not, nor never have had the Right to be aggrieved!
Our nation is turning from a once free country to people being scared to say what’s on their mind for fear of offending someone else or being called a bigot! Here in America!
Yesterday, [October 13, 2008] on my Blog Talk No Compromise Radio show, my guest was Phil Berg, a Philadelphia attorney and Democrat, who has filed a Federal Law suit against Barack Hussein Obama because he claims that Obama is not a natural born Citizen of this country which is a requirement under Article 2 of the Federal Constitution in order to run for President.
The subject matter is controversial but the conversation we were having was quite tame. In other words, it was not at all of the shock jock nature by any stretch! Thirteen minutes into my show Blog Talk Radio, shut me down, and disabled my account with no warning at all!
Within a few hours after this travesty, I received an email from the BTR assistant Director of Customer Relations, Shannon Dingee-Kramer, citing the BTR “Terms of Use” stating that my show was, “racially or ethnically offensive, defamatory, unreasonably violent, threatening, intimidating or harassing; and that it contained falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage BlogTalkRadio or any other person.”
Wow, how was she, in just a few short hours, able to obtain the proof that what I say on my show is false and contains misrepresentations since my show is a commentary style show? How was my show racially or ethnically offensive? Because Obama is 1/16th part black, I’m sorry, African-American? oh, wait, he certainly was born in Africa, but the American part–big question mark! Is she subversively saying that all partially black people not born in America and their public actions are off limits for questioning?
That’s amazing to me! Also, she failed to tell me exactly what it was that I, or my guest said that was offensive and unreasonably violent! However, I can prove that her behavior toward me was all of those things and more!
America is in trouble, folks, real bad trouble. We are losing our American spirit and culture. We are losing our guts and fortitude and all of this is based on one single lie spouted off across airwaves and print media: You are a bigot!
If you have a controversial opinion you are labeled a bigot. If you disagree with how a political system or cult like religion violates the Human Rights of individuals you are labeled a bigot! If you disagree with a political candidate you are targeted for attack and accused of crimes against humanity!
Most people don’t care anymore which is sad to me, but those of us who are in the communications business better start caring a little louder because yesterday it was me who was violated; tomorrow it could be you!
America is on the precipice of being changed forever if we don’t start getting back to our fundamental roots and American culture. We are Americans first. I don’t agree with my fellow Americans who are for Barack Hussein Obama at all, however, I will fight for their Right to campaign for, and vote for whomever they choose. Why? Because my American freedoms can withstand our disagreements. America has always withstood disagreement. What America will not be able to withstand is making my disagreement with you, a crime, a target for attack, a reason for those who hate me to hurt my property or my Rights! Our Country won’t survive that!
I am asking you to stand with me regardless of our differing opinions. Protecting Free Speech has to become more important than protecting people from being emotionally aggrieved because they disagree!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Create Your Own........ RELIGION???
Interesting business, being on a secular web forum. You get to see, in a wee internet microcosm, the complexities of human nature and the effects of the world we live in. There are a couple of Catholics, a few evangelical-type Protestants (Baptists, independents, etc.) and a whole bunch of … Unitarian Universalists, Buddhists of some description, agnostics, atheists, and an interesting variety of Create-Your-Own-God type people.
Of course, there are those who believe the UU fits that category. Looks like it to me.
And their favorite Bible verse is “Judge not, lest ye be not judged.”
Favorite? Their only, from the looks of things. And they all pat one another on the back and tell one another how wonderful each other is and how awful it is that anyone would dare to claim to have “the” truth and to be such wet blankets on the fun and the constructive dialogue that comes in a secular society….
So – why am I so angry?
Because I am angry. Not that I took some hard and unjustified, ignorant and mean-spirited hits in there – but that the double standard flourishes unchallenged by people who are supposed to be more intelligent than that.
They spout off “Judge not,” while they are exercising judgment – and ill-informed judgment, no less.
They gloat and glory in smug self-satisfaction – which is really contempt for anyone who doesn't see things in their elitist milieu.
They want everyone to get along just fine, but they don’t want to accept the orthodox among them.
They behave childishly, meanly – and gloat over a victory of their presumed superiority – and they don’t realize how unrespectable they’ve become.
And I’m angry - because I'm so poorly and inadequately equipped to show them what I see and love and believe in with my whole soul!
I subbed at the high school this week, and I saw more kids pulling out the victim mentality, and being essentially rewarded for it.
And I’m angry.
I feel as if the world is in a terrible crisis, that we’re on the verge of serious crisis – and I asked a friend from my former parish about this week’s homily, and she said, “Oh, Laura, you know what it was about. It was about how we have to love one another. Love, Love, Love!”
And I’m angry.
Look. Maybe I’m nuts and maybe it’s like a couple of friends tell me – I don’t give myself enough credit – but it seems to me that if I see something, everybody else ought to have seen it WEEKS ago - “Hey, Laura, what took YOU so long anyway?”
If there is a God, then He must have a personality. A Character. His own integrity – not some vacillation of being that you or I or anyone else can assign to Him.
He has to be consistent.
And so – it’s dangerous to go around, trying to re-create God to suit ourselves. There must be an independent, objective Reality about God that doesn’t vary by culture or epoch. If God is God, then He has to be true to Himself at all times, for all ages, for all men.
No! There is A Truth - THE Truth - and it is our obligation to be faithful to strive for it, for Him, to keep trying more and more and more - not because it's what we believe, but because IT IS, and nothing else is good enough - because anything else is something less!
I’m angry.
People whose lips drip with honey tell the gullible that God can be whatever they want Him to be. It’s all cool, it’s all the same – whatever floats your boat, Honey.
And here we are – the people of God, the sons of adoption, the members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church – the Church Militant, for crying out loud!
And we’ve GIVEN IN. We’ve caved in, acquiesced.
We get homilies on mushy love junk instead of real LOVE –
LOVE, people – that powerful, virile, honest, gut- and life-changing power that redeems and transforms people and doesn’t let them go to Hell without a fight.
Where is the Love?
Where is the Church Militant while women are told their sexuality is cheap and value-less, and they don't deserve lifetime commitments from good men? That women are to be objectified through pornography? That the objectification of our sexuality, and the exploitation of our sexuality for a man's pleasure without any requisite responsibility or commitment is all we are entitled to?
Where is the Church while insanity rules in the secular culture and people are being deluded to lives of depravity and loss?
Where is the training, the preparation for taking our place in the culture wars? The war of the world, the flesh and the devil?
Why are we left to fumble about on our own to learn to wear the Armor of Christ? Why do we have to depend on internet sources to learn what it even is, and how to don it, and even how to use it? Why are we having to learn in isolation and loneliness to fight without a proper teacher to help us hone our skills and our vision and our ability to recognize the Enemy and to distinguish the walking wounded from the Sold-Outs?
I’m angry.
This is the age that the Church has prayed for for centuries. Look at our culture – we have more in common with ancient Rome, the pre-Constantinian Rome, than with our own grandparents!
And what are we doing? We’re getting hit – HARD! – and left to stagger about unaided, untrained, unskilled.
I’m not a warrior princess by nature; I’ve become one out of utter necessity. But who is going to help me find my balance with this? And who is going to train me?
I’m very angry.
Of course, there are those who believe the UU fits that category. Looks like it to me.
And their favorite Bible verse is “Judge not, lest ye be not judged.”
Favorite? Their only, from the looks of things. And they all pat one another on the back and tell one another how wonderful each other is and how awful it is that anyone would dare to claim to have “the” truth and to be such wet blankets on the fun and the constructive dialogue that comes in a secular society….
So – why am I so angry?
Because I am angry. Not that I took some hard and unjustified, ignorant and mean-spirited hits in there – but that the double standard flourishes unchallenged by people who are supposed to be more intelligent than that.
They spout off “Judge not,” while they are exercising judgment – and ill-informed judgment, no less.
They gloat and glory in smug self-satisfaction – which is really contempt for anyone who doesn't see things in their elitist milieu.
They want everyone to get along just fine, but they don’t want to accept the orthodox among them.
They behave childishly, meanly – and gloat over a victory of their presumed superiority – and they don’t realize how unrespectable they’ve become.
And I’m angry - because I'm so poorly and inadequately equipped to show them what I see and love and believe in with my whole soul!
I subbed at the high school this week, and I saw more kids pulling out the victim mentality, and being essentially rewarded for it.
And I’m angry.
I feel as if the world is in a terrible crisis, that we’re on the verge of serious crisis – and I asked a friend from my former parish about this week’s homily, and she said, “Oh, Laura, you know what it was about. It was about how we have to love one another. Love, Love, Love!”
And I’m angry.
Look. Maybe I’m nuts and maybe it’s like a couple of friends tell me – I don’t give myself enough credit – but it seems to me that if I see something, everybody else ought to have seen it WEEKS ago - “Hey, Laura, what took YOU so long anyway?”
If there is a God, then He must have a personality. A Character. His own integrity – not some vacillation of being that you or I or anyone else can assign to Him.
He has to be consistent.
And so – it’s dangerous to go around, trying to re-create God to suit ourselves. There must be an independent, objective Reality about God that doesn’t vary by culture or epoch. If God is God, then He has to be true to Himself at all times, for all ages, for all men.
No! There is A Truth - THE Truth - and it is our obligation to be faithful to strive for it, for Him, to keep trying more and more and more - not because it's what we believe, but because IT IS, and nothing else is good enough - because anything else is something less!
I’m angry.
People whose lips drip with honey tell the gullible that God can be whatever they want Him to be. It’s all cool, it’s all the same – whatever floats your boat, Honey.
And here we are – the people of God, the sons of adoption, the members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church – the Church Militant, for crying out loud!
And we’ve GIVEN IN. We’ve caved in, acquiesced.
We get homilies on mushy love junk instead of real LOVE –
LOVE, people – that powerful, virile, honest, gut- and life-changing power that redeems and transforms people and doesn’t let them go to Hell without a fight.
Where is the Love?
Where is the Church Militant while women are told their sexuality is cheap and value-less, and they don't deserve lifetime commitments from good men? That women are to be objectified through pornography? That the objectification of our sexuality, and the exploitation of our sexuality for a man's pleasure without any requisite responsibility or commitment is all we are entitled to?
Where is the Church while insanity rules in the secular culture and people are being deluded to lives of depravity and loss?
Where is the training, the preparation for taking our place in the culture wars? The war of the world, the flesh and the devil?
Why are we left to fumble about on our own to learn to wear the Armor of Christ? Why do we have to depend on internet sources to learn what it even is, and how to don it, and even how to use it? Why are we having to learn in isolation and loneliness to fight without a proper teacher to help us hone our skills and our vision and our ability to recognize the Enemy and to distinguish the walking wounded from the Sold-Outs?
I’m angry.
This is the age that the Church has prayed for for centuries. Look at our culture – we have more in common with ancient Rome, the pre-Constantinian Rome, than with our own grandparents!
And what are we doing? We’re getting hit – HARD! – and left to stagger about unaided, untrained, unskilled.
I’m not a warrior princess by nature; I’ve become one out of utter necessity. But who is going to help me find my balance with this? And who is going to train me?
I’m very angry.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
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