The pope and the CEO

What do the Pope and a CEO have in common?
The best managers in my experience have been servant leaders. These are the leaders that people will follow, admire and try to emulate. I have a love in my heart for people who have the courage to live that type of leadership style. I was reading an article from Zenit and the following quote just struck a chord:
" if you're a manager or CEO of a business, you have this great opportunity and responsibility that you lead a group of people that are continuing to create the world"

The manager has the distinct honor and responsibility to enable the people they lead into that great unknown. If businesses are to be led successfully with the employees fully invested in the company's success then servant leadership will be the way to engender that kind of success.

Angels and Archangels' Job Description

Today we celebrate the feast day of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. An angel isn't a job title. It's a job description. It means proclaim a message. Messages that are of supreme importance say like the message announcing the birth of Christ are administered by archangels. Whereas messages of lesser importance are delivered by angels. We also have guardian angels. I love my guardian angel. I wish I could hear/understand him better but I'm guessing that takes practice, commitment and a whole lot more holiness that I don't have. I hear him dimly.

My best friend is traveling. He's on a pilgrimage and I was worried that he'd miss his connecting flight in Europe  unless they delayed it because of delays on his outbound side. I have no ordinary way to communicate with him so in the middle of morning prayers I got this overwhelming sense that his plane was in the air and he was on it. It was accompanied by a sense of peace. So after prayer I checked the flight status on my handy dandy phone (Is that a confession-able offense? I mean I also use my phone to pray. Ibrievary is awesome! Although the outage earlier this week was inconvenient.) and found out that his flight did indeed take off.

Angels, Guardian angels, Arcchangels are real. You can't see them. You can't feel them. They are like love. Love is a verb. It is an action. Angel is proclaim a message. So you will only know them in the do-ing. Love can't be weighed. It can't be touched. It can't be held. It can be given, received or experienced. So it is with angels.

Today we celebrate the archangels whose job description is to proclaim messages of God's wonderous power: Michael, God's strength: Gabriel and God's healing powers: Raphael.

Peach pit arithmetics

Peachy got a 74 on her first math quiz which is pretty good for her. She got an 84 on her second math quiz which is just outstanding for her, and on her math test she got a 45 which is normal for her.

I am the worlds' second worst hair stylist!

The Peach pit has this American Girl doll Hair book that monkeyboy gave her for Christmas a couple of years back. At this point the book is raggedy and worn because she has made me do just about every hair style in that book. I'm very grateful for the pictures and the step by step instructions. God has been very good to me. My hair is simple to arrange. People ask me all the time what I do to my hair and they take my reply as arrogance because I usually say "I wash it." Seriously, my hair is long and curly. You don't brush curly hair. You just don't. It's not pretty. I did it once for Halloween and the kids are still laughing about that one. I was the lunch lady. I had spoons, hangers, and assorted kitchen items in my hair that year.

This morning I was helping the peach pit with her hair all the while thinking "I have to be the worlds' worst hairstylist' but somehow I manage to pull off acrobatic feats of hair styling when I notice the hair in her face needed to be pulled back. So I asked her if she had a barrette or clip so we could tame her wild strands. That's when husband announces: "I have a chip clip!". It was also the moment I realized that I am the worlds' second worst hair stylist.

Not to worry. Scientist at work.

Rarely do we MR (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) physicists get let out in public. Normally they keep us confined to the magnetic fields of the MR bays but occasionally we escape.

There was the picnic where we rode vehicular amusement park rides (Think open hatch rocket with wheels and seat belts.) My MR physics colleague and I were the only 2 who rode down the street with our arms outstretched screaming our lungs out. (See that is why they should let us out every now and again to acclimate us to society. Yes there are pictures. No, I'm not sharing.) That one cost us dearly. There were 'Escaped MR Physicist' reward signs tacked up after that escapade.

Yesterday a colleague needed a scan victim... uh volunteer. So I volunteered to enter the MR Chamber of Secrets. I keep jammie pants at my desk for such occasions. (Metal zippers tend to mess with the magnetic field and gradients, hence the jammies.) My visiting colleague also needed to be escorted around the building because of badge access so I helped him out there too...in my jammies. I really should be accustomed to the bemused looks on my co-workers' faces. The other MR physicists however, didn't even bat an eye. They understand. Sometimes scientists wear jammies to work. Nothing to be concerned about. This is "normal" behavior for an MR Scientist.

In over my head

I recently applied for a high profile position. Because I wanted it??? No, because I was asked to apply.

I concede I don't have the technical prowess of the last person in that position, but I do have the competence to execute the job. I don't think I'll get the position so I'm wondering: isn't it futile to continue in the interview process?

This would be a good time for desolation to end, a really good time. I'm getting strong temptations to withdraw my name from the contenders, but I keep getting drawn back to rule #1...stay the course.

Men in briefs. Good grief!

I went shopping last night for undershirts for the monkeyboy and accidentally picked up a package of briefs with some six pack ripped man displaying tighty whities du jour. He was fit and it was gross. I wanted to spew. People who like that sort of thing are just weird. Maybe I'm weird. Forget the maybe. I need no man to dangle for my enjoyment because honestly that's just gross. (You're welcome for the visual.) 

Yes, I can wind a catheter down to the left carotid artery, maze my way through intestines on my way towards a kidney, perform surgical feats of gross anatomy and then be famished for lunch, but men in underwear gross me out. Actually I never did mind seeing my brother and dad in their underwear. As men go, my dad has a pretty stellar physique. My brother used to get home from school and strip down to his underwear. Eh, Texas. However, in general men pictured in briefs tend to gross me out. I need a level of intimacy established (a relationship) in order to see a guy in his briefs and in that case, it ceases to be spew-worthy and becomes a perfunctory occasion for conversation. 

Women on the other hand, we have innie and outie bits and we're just a pleasurable sight, (not so much when we're decked out in creepy lingerie), but put a woman in a white terry cloth robe with disheveled hair and matching slippers and we're just too adorable! 

I've always found a woman in sleepwear a far more wholesome, appealing and irresistible sight than an airbrushed woman with silk dental floss running up her butt crack. (You're welcome for the visual.)

No, that was not your country calling!

I used to leave my phone on at night for work emergencies, when it was required of my job otherwise I'd turn it off. These days I tend to leave my phone on at night for family calls, prayer emergencies for friends and emergencies in general. Occasionally the holy bat phone will ring but not often.

Last night the bat phone rang, and I must have awoken to answer it. This morning husband turned to me as I was quietly praying my morning rosary in bed and tried to prod me out of bed with "Time to get up. Your country doesn't need you on the Olympic sleep team". To which I retorted, " Yes, they do. They called last night!" Then the whole episode came back to me as he asked me "Who was that last night?"

I had no idea. I couldn't understand a word in my sleep daze but I seemed to recall they were mumbling and incoherent. Perhaps I was mumbling and incoherent. However, I thought I recalled asking, "Pardon? What did you say? May I help you? What can I do for you? Excuse me?" I couldn't be sure I said any of these until husband asked, "Who were you so polite to last night?"

So I told him the truth. "I TOLD you. My country called last night. They need me to stay in bed for a while this morning."

Sweet sleep, Jesus.... blessed sweet sleep

I've commented to my spiritual directors that I'm acutely aware that all the gifts God has given me, He can take them away at any moment. My next statement is usually something like: I sure hope He doesn't, but that I knew He could and would at any moment it pleased Him. 

I was reminded again of that this morning as I awoke after my adoration hour. I think I've posted before about sweet sleep after visiting with Jesus, but I'm gonna do it again because it finely demonstrates the glory of God.

I have an early morning adoration hour, 5 am. Not too early for some of you but seeing as how we were dog sitting last night, a 5 am adoration hour means I have to get up no later than 4 and (that's pushing it) to make the 1/2 hr drive to see Jesus. At 2:00, 2:38, 3, 3:38 and 3:42 I realized it wasn't 4 am, but it was at 3:42 when I fell asleep. So at 4 am, did I want to get up out of bed? Absolutely. Husband always offers to take my hour but I don't allow him that guilty pleasure. It's my time with our Blessed Lord. I'm not saying Jesus speaks to me, because often time he doesn't, sometimes I babble in prayer, sometimes I listen and sometimes we just spend the time together in silence. Jesus usually blesses me with not just sleep but blessed sweet sleep after my adoration hour. It's something I enjoy but not something I look forward to or expect at the end of my hour. I don't ever want to take His gifts for granted.

The sleep that follows intimate union with husband is nice and had I never experienced the blessed bliss of sleep after time with Jesus, I might even be tempted to call sleep after sex, sweet sleep but the sleep I get with husband cannot even come near to the bliss of sleep following time with Jesus. It just can't even hold a candle to it. Just like union with my husband can't even hold a candle to union with God. It's an impossibility. So after awaking this morning from the blessed bliss of sleep with Jesus I can only say to Jesus, "I love you" and "thank you". Which for me, honestly are one in the same thoughts.

Desolation = Blah, blah, blah

This has been one of the more challenging desolatory periods in my life. Usually desolation kicks into high gear and then lingers like some no-name leftover casserole that no one wants to touch or throw out. This time desolation wandered in, uninvited mind you, and kicked around for a while. I was starting to think it had wandered off and gotten abducted but alas not to be. It was just biding it's time before settling in for the long haul and then kicking into high gear. Desolation is a darkness of the soul. It can be likened to a depression, but it's not. It can be a loss of faith, hope, love, an absence of God, and it can also be complete apathy and a sadness of the soul. It's blah blah blah, kind of like my blog...hee,hee,hee!

There are strategies for dealing with desolation and every time I go through it I guess I add something else to my list or some sordid detail that's somehow suppose to help me for next time. I'm not really sure that it does. Some strategies for dealing with desolation:

1) When in desolation stay the blah blah blah

2) In desolation, remember God is blah blah blank-blank blankety blah (I'm gonna need confession for that one!)

3) The most important thing in desolation is blah blah blah

4) In desolation think blah blah blah

5) Starve desolation with increased blah blah blah

6) Know the blah blah blah

7) Consider the reasons for your blah blah blah

Well I suppose that's not exactly the correct list, but re-reading the list (at least to my soul) always feels like reading the list above. No amount of personal contact or words of encouragement ever seem to make a slight difference to the disposition of my soul. In fact sometimes it actually makes it worse. Go figure. The proper list or better stated, mine is:

1) When in desolation stay the course.

2) In desolation, remember God is present. 

3) The most important thing in desolation is patience.

4) In desolation think long term.

5) Starve desolation with increased prayer, sacramental life and ministry.

6) Know the enemy

7) Consider the reasons for your desolation. (It's either your fault because of laziness. It's a gift to help you grow or it's likely intended for re-orientation. By the way, knowing the reason for your desolation doesn't make it any easier. It's like labor pains. You just have to endure it.)

The exaltation of the cross: It's not easy but it's simple

Today we celebrate the Cross. Yes!!!! Suffering! Woohoo! Yeah, not so much, but ...today's readings (can be found here) speak to me the following:

When we exalt something we can take one of two approaches. One way is passive where we allow our emotions and affections to take control like we do with football players, coaches and teams after fabulous plays. In this case the exaltation is simple. We are emotionally disposed to lift up in this case a coach or player. The other is active where one attaches high value and worth to something that may be difficult to attain. Thus it will take more than mere emotion or affection to achieve that goal. It doesn't de-value the worth of the item, in fact it makes it all the more precious. That's how I understand the exaltation of the cross. We exalt it not because we WANT the suffering but because it is the mode of transportation for our salvation. Through it we attain our salvation. It makes absolutely no sense to secular society and it's not easy but it sure is simple.

I struggle with willing to take on the cross. Oh, I have good intentions but I don't suppose many people get into heaven based on good intention. It takes the will and thus the cross, choosing the better part. It's not easy but it's simple. When I mess it all up (when not if), I have the sacrament of reconciliation. My husband always wonders why it takes me no less than an hour when I meet with my confessor (because he thinks I'm a saint - Ha! Love IS blind.) and truth be told more often than not it takes longer than that. We discuss all sorts of things and by the time I'm absolved I always get the impression that my confessor gets more out of my confession than I get grace and that is MORE than fair. 

St Paul's letter to the Corinthians... highly irreverent!

There have been reports saying that Catholics are using the web but not for faith or spirituality. Matt Warner's got a piece in the Register discussing the whole topic. The gist is that the new media should be entertaining to capture an audience's attention. When I think about it, Jesus went to where people were. He was the worst sales and marketing person EVER! Instead of setting up huge mega-churches with dynamic preaching which is really far more efficient, he did a person to person ministry... very time consuming and that's draining, but if we are going to continue his ministry it can be no different. A lot of what he said, people didn't want to hear. A preacher isn't effective because he's dynamic (Anyone been to a Catholic mass? Dynamic preaching is not exactly what's taught in seminaries.) Preaching is effective because the priest speaks the truth, not watered down, gospel truth that cuts between joint and marrow more effective than any two edged sword and he does it by virtue of his ordination because he is acting not on his own but in Persona Christi. To Jesus, every person matters. Every single one He loves deeply. Deep enough that it's worth it to him to go person to person. He is more inefficient than the US postal service, but he's infinitely more effective! It's about a relationship and those can take time to forge. 

Because we are auditory and visually stimulated we will be drawn to entertaining media, but when the entertainment factor wears off (because it does, even with pornography or perhaps especially with pornography), we will hunger for something that will satisfy us. That is where Christ fits in and then things like blogs, faith news sites, vatican twitter accounts, catechism, and apologetic web pages. These have their impact in relational ministry and in low numbers.

Until then here's this for your Auditory Visual stimulatory enjoyment (Warning : Highly irreverent and highly hilarious!)

Nickelback Popstar parody

I am such a Nickelback fan but having kids has really excluded many of the things I like to listen to, watch, etc and placed them into the realm of 'not in my life now'. So I was really amused when my husband forwarded the Popstar parody because the other thing I'm a huge fan of is parodies, especially rather witty ones. Enjoy!

My kids are going to need therapy

When the family was gone this summer, I got used to many things: lots of quiet, empty fridge, clean house, not having to concern myself with modesty while in the house... mostly. I mean the windows were kind of closed. Dressing before/after a bath has never been a strength. I'd lazy up to my room with a towel on or not and dress there. I don't consider it that big a deal. Apparently monkeyboy does. So I've been trying to remember to shut my door when I change and make sure I'm dressed before I walk out from a closed room. I'm trying! I know it shouldn't be that hard but it's me! 

After bathing yesterday it occurred to me that I forgot to bring clean underclothes. At least I remembered to bring clean clothes (because my family is apparently conservatively modest), so someone give me a break. I'm trying, really I am! I made the executive decision to wrap my soggy hair in the lone towel that was in the bathroom (I can't stand being drippy and with my long wet hair that's a near impossibility!), put on my clean shirt because I'm modest (hell, who am I trying to kid) and sneak upstairs bottomless. It was 6 am. Honestly, who's up at that hour except me? As I turn the corner to go upstairs I glance back to the dining room and there sits monkeyboy rolling his eyes and shaking his head at my bare bottom.

Apparently I should have left a wet streak of water from my drippy hair instead of a mama streak.

God and Modern Physics

One of my best friends forwarded me some iTunes podcasts that you can find here. I've sometimes wondered how on earth I ended up a physicist. I tried to run away from Physics, ran back to it, ran away and then was thrust headlong into it (kind of like my relationship with God). 

I love my work. I really do. Here's a video (series) by Dr. Robert Spitzer also known as Fr. Spitzer and his new book also on Amazon. 

My daily Med: Sirach

My child from your youth choose discipline, and when you have grey hair you will find wisdom. As though plowing and sowing draw close to her; then wait for her bountiful crops. For in cultivating her you will work but little, and soon you will eat her fruit. She is rough ground to the fool! The stupid cannot abide her. She will be like a burdensome stone to them, and they will not delay in casting her aside. For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many….With all your soul draw close to her; and with all your strength keep her ways. Inquire and search, seek and find: when you get hold of her, do not let her go. Sir 6:18-22,26-27

Well that explains a lot! When God writes a love letter, he's brutally honest. I like that. It's not like I didn't know I am a stupid fool burdened by stones but thanks just the same. The whole plowing and sowing... it's hard work. I don't like gardening. We have a house. Why? Husband wanted one. I wanted a small box to live out of but we needed a yard because we had the dog and apparently the kids needed space. How many of our decisions in life are shaped by what others need? Yes, even the dog rated higher than what I wanted and now the useless lump is dead (miss you Brina. I really do. That dog was the best part about any of our dwelling places.). That shows you where I rate, below the dead dog. So now we have a yard and weeds. Do I want to get out there and work in the yard... uh hell no! I did enough of that growing up and I'm done. My brother, that was his life and livelihood. He loved that sort of thing, but I just don't. Know your limitations. I know mine.

Our Lord knows them too; so in his brutality he closes off his love letter with something reminiscent of Tobit Chapter 13 (perhaps), "Draw close to him and he will draw close to you and no longer hide his face from you" and verse 27 reminds me of Matthew 7:7 ask and it will be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you and also of the Song of Solomon (You know, the racy book in the Bible) when I found him who my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go 3:4). It was this last one that really got my attention. I hate disciplining myself as much as I hate gardening. I don't like fasting (disciplining my senses), modesty (disciplining my language), sacrifice (disciplining myself) but how can I draw close, how can I ask, how can I seek, how can I knock, how can I find him if I don't get off my duff and weed the garden of my soul? I'll do it. I'm not going to like it, but I'll do it. All I have to say is you better help me 'cause my garden is reminiscent of the Weasley borough. It's a mess!

Pastor with benefits

I attended a wedding yesterday. The couple was married by their Lutheran pastor. I've attended Lutheran worship services, served with pastors and members of other faith traditions while exercising ministry and enjoy the company of those of other faith traditions, even the evangelical Atheists. I dig them all. Really. The sight of a Lutheran pastor in a Roman collar though was a tad off-putting. It's not the first time I've seen a Lutheran pastor in a Roman collar but it does give me reason to pause and it made me immediately think of 'Friends with Benefits' (as gross and disgusting as that is to contemplate) because that's the bad taste it left.

You see "Pastors with Benefits" take all the benefits of being recognized as clergy without the sacrificial self-giving of oneself completely in ministry. Perhaps some would argue that's not the case. Perhaps where you live a Roman collar means Methodist minister, but universally throughout the world, sorry a Roman collar denotes unity with Rome. It means a priest is available for the sacrament of confession and for annointing of the sick in any situation including emergencies. Denominational ministers are not conferred the sacrament of Holy Orders and thereby do nothing more for me than any other lay person can do. Through the power of the church any denominational pastor cannot absolve me of my sins because by definition(of denomination) that pastor is not in communion with the Catholic church. Granted they may have knowledge, schooling, and gifts no other has and thus can discuss faith with public persons... just like any other lay person can.

A priest is available for ministry at any hour. He can be called to anoint the sick with the oils consecrated by the Bishop. While any pastor can minister to the sick, the priest by virtue of his ordination doesn't exercise HIS own ministry, he acts in Persona Christi ("in the person of Christ"), meaning that however sinful he is, however unworthy HE might be for ministry, God has set him apart to minister. It is Christ acting through him to bring healing, and the forgiveness of sins to His people. He does this by virtue of his ordination in communion with the church. It's not something he does on his own. It's a minor distinction, but it's critical. Some people think priests never disagree with the teachings of the church, but that's not the case. While they may be sympathetic to arguments made against certain teachings of the church, the truth is because they don't exercise their own ministry, because they exercise obedience to church teachings they and we who follow are guaranteed not to err. Any denomenational pastor or person who disagrees with his churchs' teaching are free to splinter off and create the next new and greater denomination with new church teachings and they do so at an alarming rate.

Further, the priest gives of himself completely by embracing celibacy. Is it easy? Not a chance. Is it radical? Absolutely! As Christians we are called to love. What wouldn't you do for your lover? Would you love them in a radical way? Sleeping with a potential spouse before marriage is an easy thing to do. Waiting until after marriage for sex, well that's a radical way to love. It's sacrificial. It hurts. A Roman Catholic priest sacrifices a potential wife and family to take as his bride the church. He takes a vow of obedience to his Bishop, a vow of chastity and some also take a vow of poverty. Are there abuses? Yes. Are they widespread? Not a chance. I've known way too many priests and am good friends with more than a few to know that abuses in the priesthood hurt them. I've seen firsthand how they suffer the repercussions of the priest abuse scandal. So it pains me when I see denominational ministers sporting the Roman collar for recognition, but easily side-step away from the taunts of those who acuse them of abuse because, they aren't "Catholic". They can listen to my story. They can bring me words of comfort. They can pray with me, but they cannot give me the body and blood of Christ and they cannot absolve me of my sins not even in an emergency. So why wear the collar?

Michael Duffy has an answer as the collar as yolk and witness.
Citing Monsignior Mangen and Fr. Murray's also weigh in Why a priest should wear his Roman collar:
"The Roman collar makes the priest available for the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Anointing of the Sick, and for crisis situations. Because the Roman collar gives instant recognition, priests who wear it make themselves more apt to be approached, particularly when seriously needed. The authors can testify to being asked for the Sacraments and summoned for assistance in airports, crowded cities and isolated villages because they were immediately recognized as Catholic priests."
Pastor Reckart a denominational pastor even quoted the Monsignior's piece in giving reasons why pastors should NOT wear the Roman collar.

The Lives of the Saints takes a road trip

We've been staying at a friends' beachside cottage with sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets, sunrises peaceful quietude and in one word: bliss. We've spent time reading, relaxing and lets be honest irritating each other. In one fell swoop the boy ate ALL of our morning chocolate rations! As a result I was less than patient with him yesterday when the rest of the family was sitting together reading books so I called out to the boy asking what he was doing to which he responded, "I'm reading!". Rolling my eyes with mounting irritation I call back, "What are you reading??". The boy calls back, "The Lives of the Saints".Alrighty then. He put me in my place.
What child takes on vacation, ' The Lives of the Saints' and then proceeds to read it???

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