What is real?
On Sundays I try to take some time for what I call deep thinking, some might have other terms for it. When my world closes in with the pressures of time and desired tasks, I find it helpful to slow down, (Easy does It) using the slow period, trying to determine what life is about.
Awhile back I read a passage by George Weigel that presented a window through which I can look for some answers. (The Truth of Catholicism p 55)
“A better prism through which to see what is at stake here comes from Evelyn Waugh’s Men at Arms, the first in a trilogy of novels about the Second World War. In one memorable scene the trilogy’s protagonist, Guy Crouchback, a Catholic, is attending his first formal dinner as an officer-in-training of the Royal Corps of Halberdiers. The champagne is flowing freely, and amid the post-dinner skits and games, Guy finds himself in conversation with the regiment’s Anglican chaplain. “Do you agree,” Guy asks, “that the Supernatural Order is not something added to the Natural Order, like music or painting, to make everyday life more tolerable? It is everyday life. The supernatural is real; what we call ‘real’ is a mere shadow, a passing fancy. Don’t you agree, Padre?” “Up to a point,” the obviously uncomfortable chaplain replies.
A theologian might quibble with Guy Crouchback’s description of the “real world” as “mere shadow,” but every influential Catholic thinker in history would have agreed with Guy’s basic proposition: that what we call the “supernatural” is, in truth, the most real of real things, and that the supernatural makes itself known to us through the materials of the “real world.” In the Catholic imagination, what we call the “real world” is not buttoned down and self-enclosed. The “real world” is a world with windows, doors, and skylights. Into it streams the light of what is really the real world, which is the world of the supernatural: the world of God.”
After reading this, I see much clearer through this prism, Things and situations previously confusing or nettlesome to me become clearer and I begin to understand that all I confront, be it good, bad or neither, are preparing me for my eternal future.
C.S. Lewis once wrote “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.
Nations, Cultures, Arts, civilizations ___ these are mortal and their life to ours is as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit –immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”
Wow! I will be keeping my eyes on you for supernatural clues.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
More on Retirement
While employed so many time demands left little time for reflection.
In our middle years we start to ask the question, What is the meaning of Life? In retirement, we begin to find some answers.
We have already made life choices that bear mightily on our retirement years. Now new choices present themselves each and every day if we are aware of them.
Stay Awake!
In our middle years we start to ask the question, What is the meaning of Life? In retirement, we begin to find some answers.
We have already made life choices that bear mightily on our retirement years. Now new choices present themselves each and every day if we are aware of them.
Stay Awake!
Friday, April 21, 2006
Murphy's Laws
My Favorites
LaGuardia’s Law
Statistics are like expert witnesses—they will testify for either side.
Law of Retrospection
You can never tell which way the train went by looking at the track
Aigner’s Axiom
No matter how well you perform your job, a superior will seek to modify the results.
Jacobson’s Law
The less work an organization produces, the more frequently it reorganizes.
Weller’s Law
Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn’t have to do it himself.
Seventh Law of Kitchen Confusion
The more time and energy you put into preparing a meal, the greater the chance your guests will spend the entire meal discussing other meals they have had.
Young’s Law of Bureaucracy
It is the dead wood that holds up the tree.
Corollary
Just because it is still standing, doesn’t mean it’s not dead.
LaGuardia’s Law
Statistics are like expert witnesses—they will testify for either side.
Law of Retrospection
You can never tell which way the train went by looking at the track
Aigner’s Axiom
No matter how well you perform your job, a superior will seek to modify the results.
Jacobson’s Law
The less work an organization produces, the more frequently it reorganizes.
Weller’s Law
Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn’t have to do it himself.
Seventh Law of Kitchen Confusion
The more time and energy you put into preparing a meal, the greater the chance your guests will spend the entire meal discussing other meals they have had.
Young’s Law of Bureaucracy
It is the dead wood that holds up the tree.
Corollary
Just because it is still standing, doesn’t mean it’s not dead.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
A letter on Catholic Liturgy
Liturgy doesn’t need improvement
Dear Editor:
Catholics need worship, as Jesus said, “in spirit and in truth.” We need the liturgy celebrated rightly, where we meet Christ and offer true worship. We do not need innovations and creative improvements.
The liturgy is not the property of any individual — not the pope, not the bishop, not any priest nor liturgy committee. The liturgy belongs to the church and is to be passed on, not “improved,” not modified. It does not belong to any man; it belongs to us all. In “The Spirit of the Liturgy” (Ignatius, 2000), then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote strongly against liturgical improvisations. The liturgy is not subject even to the pope. Even he is the servant of Sacred Tradition: “The authority of the pope is not unlimited; it is at the service of Sacred Tradition. Still less is any kind of general ‘freedom’ of manufacture, degenerating into spontaneous improvisation, compatible with the essence of faith and liturgy. The greatness of the liturgy depends - we shall have to repeat this frequently —on its unspontaneity” The pope reminds us of the power of the liturgy: it is of God. The most any man should do is to be faithful to the gift: to trust its power from God. Innovation will only muddy the pure living water that is the right of every Catholic. The pope wrote:
“This kind of creativity has no place within the liturgy The life of the liturgy does not come from what dawns upon the minds of individuals and planning groups….. Yes, the liturgy becomes persona],true, and new not through tom-foolery and banal experiments with the words, but through a courageous entry into the great reality that through the rite is always ahead of us and can never quite be overtaken.”
Many Catholics do not understand the liturgy. This is the problem that needs to be addressed: not by reducing the liturgy to something understandable and shallow, not by making it “entertaining,” not by speeding through its mysteries and dwelling on its human dimensions, but by rightly forming and educating the people.
Thomas Richard
Lady’s Island
Written to Catholic Miscellany - Printed on April 6, 2006
Dear Editor:
Catholics need worship, as Jesus said, “in spirit and in truth.” We need the liturgy celebrated rightly, where we meet Christ and offer true worship. We do not need innovations and creative improvements.
The liturgy is not the property of any individual — not the pope, not the bishop, not any priest nor liturgy committee. The liturgy belongs to the church and is to be passed on, not “improved,” not modified. It does not belong to any man; it belongs to us all. In “The Spirit of the Liturgy” (Ignatius, 2000), then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote strongly against liturgical improvisations. The liturgy is not subject even to the pope. Even he is the servant of Sacred Tradition: “The authority of the pope is not unlimited; it is at the service of Sacred Tradition. Still less is any kind of general ‘freedom’ of manufacture, degenerating into spontaneous improvisation, compatible with the essence of faith and liturgy. The greatness of the liturgy depends - we shall have to repeat this frequently —on its unspontaneity” The pope reminds us of the power of the liturgy: it is of God. The most any man should do is to be faithful to the gift: to trust its power from God. Innovation will only muddy the pure living water that is the right of every Catholic. The pope wrote:
“This kind of creativity has no place within the liturgy The life of the liturgy does not come from what dawns upon the minds of individuals and planning groups….. Yes, the liturgy becomes persona],true, and new not through tom-foolery and banal experiments with the words, but through a courageous entry into the great reality that through the rite is always ahead of us and can never quite be overtaken.”
Many Catholics do not understand the liturgy. This is the problem that needs to be addressed: not by reducing the liturgy to something understandable and shallow, not by making it “entertaining,” not by speeding through its mysteries and dwelling on its human dimensions, but by rightly forming and educating the people.
Thomas Richard
Lady’s Island
Written to Catholic Miscellany - Printed on April 6, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Retirement
Rest is the Best medicine
Retirement can open new vistas and lead to most exciting and interesting time of your life.
It may also present health and wealth challenges like never before.
When positively viewed this time may allow you to continue your current pursuits on a part time basis, start a new career, or simply take into account the beautiful life that surrounds us.
Retirement can open new vistas and lead to most exciting and interesting time of your life.
It may also present health and wealth challenges like never before.
When positively viewed this time may allow you to continue your current pursuits on a part time basis, start a new career, or simply take into account the beautiful life that surrounds us.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
He is risen
He is risen.
Why is this important to a person who does not believe Jesus Christ is God made man?
Because there is one God Who revealed Himself in His son, Jesus Christ, there is one salvation history, centered on Christ.
God gives everyone the grace (means) necessary to be saved (attain Heaven) including those who never even heard of Jesus Christ.
Yet everyone who is saved is saved because of what Jesus Christ did for the world and humanity in Jesus Christ.
This may not be easy to accept in our current culture that rates tolerance above all other virtues, there is a tendency to be indifferent to Truth and the truth of things. Our culture feels there are your truth and my truth, their truth and our truth.
In this I’m OK you’re OK society, the world and Christianity stands on the answer to the age old question He asked “who do you say that I am”.
( For a more in depth reading on this subject see “ The Truth of Catholicism by George Weigel.)
Why is this important to a person who does not believe Jesus Christ is God made man?
Because there is one God Who revealed Himself in His son, Jesus Christ, there is one salvation history, centered on Christ.
God gives everyone the grace (means) necessary to be saved (attain Heaven) including those who never even heard of Jesus Christ.
Yet everyone who is saved is saved because of what Jesus Christ did for the world and humanity in Jesus Christ.
This may not be easy to accept in our current culture that rates tolerance above all other virtues, there is a tendency to be indifferent to Truth and the truth of things. Our culture feels there are your truth and my truth, their truth and our truth.
In this I’m OK you’re OK society, the world and Christianity stands on the answer to the age old question He asked “who do you say that I am”.
( For a more in depth reading on this subject see “ The Truth of Catholicism by George Weigel.)
Friday, April 14, 2006
IF NOT YOU
· be the voice of the lord?
· speak for the unborn?
· go To March for Life in DC?
· attend the SCCL rally for life in Columbia?
· represent the order in full regalia?
· attend the local prayer Vigil for life?
· write the letter to the editor in support of life ?
· contact their Congressman on life legislation?
· financially support those who defend life?
· organize a prayer vigil at a baby killing center ?
· Join a local pro-life group?
· be informed on the spread of the culture of death?
· support our pro-life church leaders?
· pray for the unborn, defenseless elderly and disabled?
· WHY NOT YOU?
· speak for the unborn?
· go To March for Life in DC?
· attend the SCCL rally for life in Columbia?
· represent the order in full regalia?
· attend the local prayer Vigil for life?
· write the letter to the editor in support of life ?
· contact their Congressman on life legislation?
· financially support those who defend life?
· organize a prayer vigil at a baby killing center ?
· Join a local pro-life group?
· be informed on the spread of the culture of death?
· support our pro-life church leaders?
· pray for the unborn, defenseless elderly and disabled?
· WHY NOT YOU?
What if?
What if every newspaper, TV network and media outlet supported life from conception to natural death?
What if pastors in every church, regardless of denomination, courageously defended the sanctity of human life?
What if every believer spoke up, witnessed tirelessly at the killing fields in defense of innocent life?
What if every politician, regardless of party affiliation, affirmed life regardless of the political fallout?
What if every judge. in every state, district and Supreme Court vigorously defended innocent life?
What if every teacher, professor at private or public schools and colleges promoted a culture of life?
What if every doctor, nurse and drug company protected all life, from conception to natural death?
What if every bank, business and abortion supporter, funded Pro-life causes instead of the culture of death?
What if Hollywood and the music industry produced films & music promoting life, modesty, chastity and moral values?
Impossible? Not really! Jesus taught us to pray “ Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven". We all have a role to play in bringing the truth to those who profit from the innocent blood of others. Until Jesus returns, we are God’s hands , feet and voice right here and now. (Christian Action News April 2006)
What if pastors in every church, regardless of denomination, courageously defended the sanctity of human life?
What if every believer spoke up, witnessed tirelessly at the killing fields in defense of innocent life?
What if every politician, regardless of party affiliation, affirmed life regardless of the political fallout?
What if every judge. in every state, district and Supreme Court vigorously defended innocent life?
What if every teacher, professor at private or public schools and colleges promoted a culture of life?
What if every doctor, nurse and drug company protected all life, from conception to natural death?
What if every bank, business and abortion supporter, funded Pro-life causes instead of the culture of death?
What if Hollywood and the music industry produced films & music promoting life, modesty, chastity and moral values?
Impossible? Not really! Jesus taught us to pray “ Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven". We all have a role to play in bringing the truth to those who profit from the innocent blood of others. Until Jesus returns, we are God’s hands , feet and voice right here and now. (Christian Action News April 2006)
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