Unpleasant Truths from

Archbishop Dolan's blog. I love his blog. I love his style. I admire this man, not for what he looks like/does or says but for who he is and I hope my son grows up to be a man just like him, not an archbishop or priest mind you but a man, just like him. He's well on his way. That little guy couldn't give a rip what anyone else thinks of him (including me) and he calls it like he sees it. Independent little blighter that monkey boy is!

Unpleasant Truths from

Archbishop Dolan's blog. I love his blog. I love his style. I admire this man, not for what he looks like/does or says but for who he is and I hope my son grows up to be a man just like him, not an archbishop or priest mind you but a man, just like him. He's well on his way. That little guy could give a rip what anyone else thinks of him (including me) and he calls it like he sees it. Independent little blighter that monkey boy is!

Yep, he's a listening.

If you haven't read the Jesus, you listening? post, might want to do that before continuing.

My spiritual director used to say things (that thankfully I filed away) that made me gaze at him with incredulity. He looked at ME the same way at times (often, actually), but now I fear his looks of incredulity were more apropos than mine. He once told me as we discussed who knows what, that Jesus leapt to embrace his cross, such was his love that he LEAPT. Yeah, sure, whatever you say, was pretty much my silent response.

                                                    from the Passion of the Christ

I now have a small inkling with what joy our blessed Savior must have leapt with towards embracing that beloved cross. I came to realize something that Archbishop Sheen once noted and I paraphrase:
The spirit calls us to renounce old habits, but the flesh is reluctant to break those chains(boy ain't that the truth). Once these two (frustration and Divine Mercy) meet and the soul realizes that only God can provide what it lacks, a crisis is reached where a decision must be made. This crisis is crucial in that it involves a cross.

Realizing, finding, and embracing that cross brings sheer joy. However, it is preceded by utter madness, agony, pain, crisis, and anxiety. So realize, find and embrace it as quick as you can! Now it's your turn to say 'yeah, whatever you say'.

Jesus, you listening?

Why was it you sent me here 'cause seriously, Ohioans are @#+!%. Yes, I know, that's not nice but it's true. Who would willingly allow their income to be taxed by local authorities, right off the top, forget deductions, they don't exist and not even bat an eye, give a care, on the other hand they rather come to expect it with glee even?

My grievance is that there are literally NO services that are offered as part of this blessed robbery. Homeless aren't fed, clothed, educated, sick cared for, nope. Trash and leaves are picked up. Believe me I can easily pay for that service at a much lower rate and the business that would do that service would make use of the refuse to make additional revenue, the city, not so much.

The bigger point is that they put up with this because either they are @%#! or they've never lived anywhere else, EVER. Which may be the case. I've come to find out many people live their whole life here and in most cases they've lived within the same 50 mile radius and don't know what it's like to live somewhere else. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I haven't lived/worked in the same 50 mile radius nor frequented the same church for longer than a few years at a time. After a few years in a particular job/city/church I always find out it's time for a move. I'm sure the people around me appreciate it too. Although, Jesus, with so much moving around it would help tremendously if I had an extroverts personality with an affinity for short-lived acquaintances or friendships instead of my introversion with tight-knit long lasting friendships. I'm just saying, you handicapped me! Twerp!

I am convinced that you are highly amused with me! Whoever says God doesn't have a sense of humor, obviously does not know me.

Intimacy

There's something alluring about the intimacy between JPII and Mother Teresa. My favorite thing to see was them walking together holding hands.

One of my friends is struggling with jealousy in a relationship, and I feel for them both but as I gaze at Mother Teresa and JPII I can't help but admire that kind of intimacy. It's the kind that only develops in a rightly ordered relationship and it's the kind that fills you with joy.

The Girl Who

I've been reading The Girl Who series by Larsson. Violent reading material for sure (not at all like The Cat Who series but I like them both), but what struck me was a statement made by the Jewish detective in The girl who played with fire. He said he had a need to talk to God about the case so he went to the Catholic church instead of the Jewish synagogue. He sat in one of the pews for over an hour and noted that as a Jew he had no business there but it was a peaceful place he regularly visited and he conjectured that God didn't seem to mind.

"He went to the Jewish synagogue when he needed company and fellowship with people. Catholics went to church to seek peace in the presence of God. The church invited silence and visitors would always be left to themselves.", page 432.

Indeed.

Who do you say that I am?

Who indeed? There is a story about a Christian who is imprisoned and scheduled to die in Afghanistan. He's been tortured, beaten, whipped, sexually assaulted all for believing in Christ and refusing to renounce Christ as his Savior. Said Mussa has a family, a wife and six children. He refuses to renounce Christ as his Lord and Savior even if that means his wife will soon be a widow.

I sometimes wonder if there are any Christians left in America. When I go out for a meal I have yet to see anyone pray. What does that say about us, especially next to someone like Said Mussa? Forget about praying before the meal, let's talk the sign of peace in mass. It's  become a motion everyone goes through, but there is no recognition that it's another person to whom one extends peace. Hands get shaken without even looking at the person, so is it any wonder that no one recognizes Christ in the Eucharist? If we can't recognize each other as human, how will we recognize Christ?

Sometimes I just want to grab people and shake them. Most often the one I want to shake is me.

My daily med

More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy;
who can understand it?

Jerimiah 17:9

 It used to be I never saw God at work in my life, now almost nothing occurs where I can't see his sneaky interplay. As a lover there is no question. No one has ever loved me as unconditionally, no strings attached, as He has nor has anyone ever demanded as much from me, albeit with paramount gentleness... a bruised reed he shall not break, a smoldering wick he shall not quench... Indeed, he knows how bruised we all are.

Parenting and lessons in manliness from Atticus Finch

I commented to my husband last month how the house parenting style is very Finch like. Therefore, I was quite impressed to find that The Art of Manliness (NO, I don't normally peruse AoM but I did today) had an excellent article on lessons in Manliness from Atticus Finch.

Not now Jesus, I have a headache.

Oh, no wait, you can heal me and then we'll be good to go. Ok, NOW I need to go to confession. Luckily, there IS an app for that, with an Imprimatur. Just what the world needs, a confessional app.

   Confession isn't about lists though, it's about a relationship and the wedge that sin is between the penitent and God. It's about repentance, conversion and God's mercy. I don't tend to need a list for confession although, having my favorite contrition prayer handy would be SO worth it. I can't ever seem to remember it, but if the app helps you, go for it.

Shut up God, I'm talking!

I don't intend to be rude to God and yet, as Dumbledore says 'accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often'. For me it occurs in my actions.
'Thy kingdom come' but not at my embarrassment. 'Thy will be done' but only if I've gotten a good night's sleep. If God chooses to overshadow my weaknesseseses with His strength then perhaps I should shut up, be docile (did I just say that?) and listen. I can't believe I just said that.