Nun Run!

I always thought a nun run was what you did when you saw a nun. I have always had a particular aversion to nuns, not because I had a mean nun as a teacher but because of the wacky ones that I seem to run across. The doctrinal assessment conducted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has brought to light the wackiness. In fact Bishop Blair who recently conducted the assessment of the women religious commented about the assessment: "  What the CDF is concerned about, as I indicated, is the particular organization known as the LCWR. Its function, responsibilities and statutes were all originally approved by the Holy See, to which it remains accountable....What are the Church’s pastors to make of the fact that the LCWR constantly provides a one-sided platform — without challenge or any opposing view — to speakers who take a negative and critical position vis-a-vis Church doctrine and discipline and the Church’s teaching office?"

What kind of doctrinal positions do they take? These are the nuns who have "moved beyond Jesus and moved beyond the church" - what?? If Jesus is the mark and the standard, anything beyond is by definition off the mark and well off course. These ladies tend to get their panties in a wad about feminism. I don't think they have a clue what feminism is. It is not masculinity. It is not license to do what you want with your body. It is not rebellion.

It wasn't until I ran into some seriously dedicated and obedient nuns that I stood in awe of what a woman actually is. They were strong, happy, joyful and unmistakably feminine. They radiated what it is to be woman. They weren't weak. It's tough to be obedient. It's tough to be meek. Have you ever tried it? Some people think that obedience means you don't disagree and that you just follow without question and blindly. Untrue.

Obedience is stating your objections and reservations openly and honestly and then acting in accordance to what obedience demands. This at times takes heroic virtue and will. It's tough!

"Wives, be obedient to your husbands" - that line prickles doesn't it? It does if you don't understand what obedience is. I have to be obedient to husband. Does that mean I defer to him at all times? Does it mean that I have no mind of my own? Does it mean that I agree with all that he says or does? Does it mean that because I am the wage-earner and he is not that I'm the decision maker or that my place is higher than his? My place is next to him but he sees fit to elevate me. Humble yourselves and you shall be exalted.

I was at an ordination last month and one of the most amazing things was when the ordinati took his vow of obedience to the Bishop and his successor. I wondered about the ladies outside who were protesting the male only priesthood and I thought to myself, "Would any of the women ordination lot be able to take a vow of obedience?" The thing is they honestly think they are doing the right thing, standing outside of the cathedral protesting the ordination as the ordinati process into the cathedral on the most special day of their lives. Would any of them protest a wedding? A funeral? A hospital during the annointing of the sick? Second graders as they first take their Sacrament of the Eucharist? Baptisms? Why take the most special day for these ordinati and think that it's ok for them to try to ruin it by objecting to it? Did they ever once consider the individual or just themselves?

Honestly, I pray for these people and am very sad for them because they just don't get it. I hope they move beyond themselves and toward Jesus because he's the answer. He is always the answer.

Male genius vs. Feminine genius

I'm suppose to give a talk this weekend on feminine genius so here are some thoughts:

Physiologically speaking women have depth. We have innie and outie bits and we're just a fine specimen to behold! Ah! However, these innie and outie bits also reveal something of the great mystery of woman. We give comfort, assurance and tenderness and it comes from within to be expressed outwardly. As women we can agonize internally and externally over our decisions, our role, our actions and we can lift others up by our distinct gifts of comfort, assurance and tenderness.
Men are surface-ential. I know it's not a word but I like it! Men have outie dangly bits and that's just gross to ponder. Really, it is! However, this physiological outwardness also tells about a great mystery of man. Men have much going on inside like women, but they hide it from the surface because what is on the surface is very important. It is their very manhood that is on the line. Their very manhood is at stake for anything they bring to the surface. So they are very selective about which traits they will outwardly show, like outwardly displaying emotions that would detract from masculinity! This is usually the case for most men, which sadly for some men never comes.

However this is one of woman's most beautiful roles. She through her nurturing, comfort and tenderness aids man to break through their surface tension so to speak. She helps him reveal what is hidden, not when she badgers, whines, criticizes or demands to have the same power as man but precisely in her feminine genius, in her tenderness and especially in her affirmation of his masculinity. Women have this beautiful and amazing role to lift up not only their children, their husbands but also all of humanity.

I've seen feminism described solely by sexuality and being in control and while sexuality is one aspect of woman, to focus on that one aspect is really to lose sight of the true gift of woman. So let's touch on it briefly. For the record, males are quite willing to let women be in control (well most males lacking self-control) if that means they get serviced in some fashion. So really, is that control? Is that really the best you can do? See how when we play a game by their rules, we lose - we lose ourselves and we miss the whole picture. If woman is really going to be in control that means a woman will protect the gift that is woman, internal and external so that she  gives herself to the one gift meant solely for her, her husband.

So many times I see feminism described as having or wanting the same power as man, doing and being the same as man, but I am not man. If I try to become one I will be distinctly unhappy because I trash the treasure that is feminine genius. (That and I really don't want dangly bits) I will only be fulfilled when I am living out my true femininity, all of it, internal and external.

There is a difference between boys and girls. There just is!

Peach pit has a job, honestly and truly! She's good at it too. Now if I could only get the boy to go out and get a job, I could take his job: stay home, play wii, sleep in, eat junk food and pursue my hobbies. He's not in any sort of hurry to give up that job so there won't be any vacancies for that position anytime soon but I have noticed the disparity between the two of them is just fascinating.

She nurtures. He teases.
She decides based on "how is this going to affect others?". He decides based on "how is this going to impact me?".
She plays games to be close to her brother, to foster a relationship. For him the game is an activity between him and the game. He'll pound her face into the pavement if it means winning. That's the only relationship that exists in his world. Focus!
She's disappointed when she falls short. He's embarassed, maybe, when he falls short.
She'll go outside of her comfort zone to help. He'll stand there completely clueless how to help.

The difference between the two as they age... they'll be older. I imagine they'll both learn  how to relate to the opposite sex (sex is a powerful motivator for boys), but I imagine he still won't have a clue how to nurture a relationship with his sister.

Going to see the family.

Truth be told, even though it's been a month in a half since I've seen my family, I'm not excited about this trip.

I hate traveling. Loathe it.

I hate hot weather. Despise it.

I hate having to live like gypsies. Detest it.

I hate having a pile of work that I'm going to have to attack, remotely.

I hate ("tmi" warning) that I won't be able to be intimate with my husband. In football going long is a good thing especially when the receiver makes the catch and runs it in for the goal. In my monthly cycle going long means that the intimacy husband and I will have during my visit will be holding hands and sitting together in a dark theater because we won't even have a couch to cuddle upon. Can't wait!

Can you tell I'm excited? It's not what I want. Rarely is it ever what I want, but my consolation is that it will be exactly what I need. 

Having voiced all that, my husband is fairly creative, so I really can't wait to see what he comes up with to nurture intimacy without union. TMI, I know. I apologize, but I did warn!u!

Beautiful Lady

I found the most beautiful lady in the world in the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal.

She is just stunning and the symbol of everything right and good about femininity. What other culture, what other religion beside Christianity and primarily Catholicism, consistently elevates woman to such a high honor and places her virginity, femininity, motherhood and sanctity on a pedestal?

So many people think the opposite and want to make woman man, that somehow by giving man's tasks to woman would elevate and frees her but in reality, it turns woman's gaze away from her God given honor. The Catholic church rightly elevates woman's place and places as our guide and model for motherhood and femininity on a pedestal. The virgin Mary wasn't weak. She stood by her son as he was beaten and tortured with a backbone of steel and cleaned the filth off of his dead body. She knew poverty, and she is a woman who makes the very gates of hell tremble.
So never be afraid to approach our Lady because no one is ever too filthy for her to clean off for her son and if you let her, you'll lover her with the heart of a child.

Hurrican Katrina relief sop up pads

     My husband's lack of feminine experience became readily apparent shortly after marriage. Although he was eager to discover every naked square inch of my flesh, the discovery of my female cycle took him quite by surprise. I recall his face falling in shock when he found me in one of my feminine hygiene moments: 'you're, you're, you're ...bleeding'. So it really should come as no surprise to me that he returns from an emergency hygiene product run with tampons that could have been used for emergency dike control during Hurricane Katrina.
   Good grief! That's the last time I send him to the store without a list, but the eternal optimist in me says, 'If there's ever a flood, we're prepared!'.