Learning from Yom Kippur
3 years ago
Perhaps you've heard that there will be a new Catholic glossary to help increase the average Catholic's literacy within Catholic-speak. Truly, I do think this is helpful, though I wonder if half the terms in there are really things that your every day Catholic would need or want to know. Who knows - perhaps it will come in handy when we create our own version of Catholic Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. OOOH! Better yet - Catholic Scrabble! ;)However, my real question is this: Given the news in a recent article by the Catholic News Service, will the term "chimera" be included? As defined in this article, a "chimera" is a human embryo implanted with animal cells. According to the Catholic bishops, chimeras should receive human status. No, I'm not kidding. This is not some 1970s science fiction film gone awry. This is based on a proposal under consideration in the British Parliament. (I'm still checking my calendar to see if we've gone back to April, though.)
Ok, now, I know I'm sometimes a little out of the loop. (Shhh! Yeah, you know who you are. ;)) But when in the name of all that is holy did it ever become okay to inject a human embryo with animal DNA? Am I missing something? Shouldn't the first reaction of the Bishops be "STOP IT!" Ok, perhaps the Bishops wouldn't yell. But I mean seriously! We now have a name for humanimal embryos? (One that conjures up images of horrifying mythological animal hybrids nonetheless...)
The Chimera - mythological animal mutant
Did I miss the article that explained why on earth this was ever done to begin with? In all likelihood, I'm sure I did. I just want to know why - why didn't I hear about it before now? [Not to open an old wound, but why am I reading about Lindsay Lohan again in the headlines instead of this?!?] I'm not a moral theologian - or any theologian for that matter. I shoot from the hip and go with my gut. And granted, I'm a little hungry right now, but this one just makes me queasy. Now, if you're talking some medical breakthrough that will vaccinate a child - okay...start talking and explain. However, in reading the article, that was not the sense I was getting. They did mention, however, that any splicing of a human egg/sperm with a non-human egg/sperm would continue to be prohibited... Genius. Sheer genius.
Anyone else feel a scene from MST3K coming on? Or perhaps the Bride of Frankenstein? Maybe a chorus from "Insane in the Membrane" would be more appropro. I'm really still hoping against hope that this is just a spoof - something illustrating that quirky British humor that I don't always get, but makes me laugh eventually just the same. Please, someone oh someone show me some purpose for this proposal that isn't just plain disturbing!
(Oh, and can you also answer me this? Why bring up gay adoption while discussing the creation of these chimeras and their rights as humans? Yes, I realize gay adoption is a rather sensitive topic in the Church right now, but really - putting that at the end of the same proposal that is talking about intermingling human and non-human DNA is a bit cheap and undignified.)
Anyone else feel a scene from MST3K coming on? Or perhaps the Bride of Frankenstein? Maybe a chorus from "Insane in the Membrane" would be more appropro. I'm really still hoping against hope that this is just a spoof - something illustrating that quirky British humor that I don't always get, but makes me laugh eventually just the same. Please, someone oh someone show me some purpose for this proposal that isn't just plain disturbing!
(Oh, and can you also answer me this? Why bring up gay adoption while discussing the creation of these chimeras and their rights as humans? Yes, I realize gay adoption is a rather sensitive topic in the Church right now, but really - putting that at the end of the same proposal that is talking about intermingling human and non-human DNA is a bit cheap and undignified.)
I'm floored, simply stunned...but clearly not speechless - sorry! :)
Signing off for now...
the Rakstar
the Rakstar
Sorry, no, this isn't really about French cities. And I know that a few posts back I said I'd try to refrain from ranting, but this is really just too much today. Am I to understand that NBC has offered Paris Hilton ONE MILLION DOLLARS for her first post-jail interview?? ONE MILLION DOLLARS? (I know, I'm beginning to sound like Dr. Evil - sorry!) Now, perhaps I expect this from tabloid journalists, but has NBC really sold out to that genre of journalism?
I'm sorry - I didn't realize that it was such an important news story. How silly of me. With the soldiers, mission workers, political leaders and activists out there working to make the world a better place, I got distracted from real news. Good gravy, Maevy! (And $1M will buy A LOT of gravy...and apparently our love for the Barenaked Ladies). But I digress.
With the economy in the state it is in, and inflation being what it's been over the years, you could argue that a million dollars might not really buy that much. Housing is more expensive, gasoline is going up, a dollar just doesn't buy us what it used to.
Try telling that to a kid who can't get clean water, when it costs only $2000-$5000* to install a small capacity well that would provide clean water for life.Or maybe we could tell that to a small community struggling to feed and nourish its families, where $500* would buy a heifer to provide nourishment and hope out of poverty for an entire small community. 
True, a million dollars might not buy much for us in terms of luxury, but it goes a long way for people who have so little. So, here's to you NBC - thanks for spending 2000 heifers or 250 water wells making certain that we hear the riveting story of Paris's transformation right out of jail. You think maybe next time I could just have the million dollars? It would save the world in more than one way!
Have ideas on how you'd spend a million dollars? Leave 'em here!
Well, it looks like the Vatican is now taking on the role of Transportation Authority...or that is at least how the media would like it to look. Following the reports posted today on many online newsjournals about the issuance of the new "Ten Commandments" of Driving by the Vatican, readers have responded in an alarmingly hostile and critical way. Even some of my Catholic friends say the Vatican should be making reports on more important matters. I must admit, even my first thought was a critical, "Are you kidding me??" Then I stepped back from the seeming ridiculousness of it all to realize that I should know better. This is not some spoof courtesy of the Vatican. The magisterium didn't sit around for a couple of years just to come up with these "rules." It's a teensy, weensy miniscule report based in the foundations of our own faith and the Gospel values centered in the life of Christ.
For those that all-knowingly assert that the Vatican should report on more important matters, perhaps their disdain would be better targeted at the popular media. There are hundreds of reports, advisories, comments and statements coming out of the Vatican office on a regular basis on matters of grave global importance - whether our political and media outlets ever read them is another matter. Matters related to poverty, racism, war, life and death issues - these are the items coming out of the Vatican daily. Yet, we don't see "front page" coverage. Clearly, it has no carnival appeal and wouldn't allow the inane to spout off. In fact, these reports and statements would actually call us to examine our lives and take action...no, it's much easier to print what is laughable.
Another...criticism...floating out there rather predominatly in the virtual comment arena is that this is yet another instance of the Vatican trying to control the Catholic populus, to dumb us down by blind obedience, old men merely trying to elicit a desired response. To them I say this with as much charity as possible: have you looked in the mirror? All the marketing, writing and "reporting" in our society today is doing exactly that, and yet, I contend that it is those elements that are looking for the blind response, and sadly, getting it.
Catholicism has never been about blind response. It is, was and remains a faith that calls us not only to closely examine ourselves, but to take active participation in a cause that began over 2000 years ago - the redemption of mankind. It calls us to live for the other, the least. It challenges us to go beyond our comfort, beyond our knowledge and to transform the world through Christ. Is the human face of the Church blameless? Of course not - it is after all human! Unfortunately, people focus on the humanity of people within the ranks and not on the divinely inspired nature of an organization that has lasted for over 2000 years despite war, famine and corruption. Somehow the evil is vanquished and the glory of God lives on - it sure isn't our doing!
This whole diatribe actually is precisely what the Holy Father spoke of in a recent address. As people of faith, we encounter an opportunity - God has always given us a choice. We can either choose to respond with hope and faith, seeking to understand the good, or we can choose to respond with skepticism, satisfied to mock and criticize. As the baptised faithful, we are called to be a people of hope, the light of the world. So, although I admit my first inclination was to question if such a statement was necessary, as I get on the road, I may actually think a little bit more deeply about how I live out my faith behind the wheel. And that, friends, is what I think the whole point of this report was about. Oh, and for the "interesting" commenter on msnbc who felt that praying while driving would just mean more drivers with their eyes closed and hands off the wheel...look for a blog on the meaning of prayer as a relationship, not as a posture. :)
Just for kicks, here's a list of the other news headlines and statments coming out of the Vatican this week...I didn't notice any big headlines in our major news sources about them:
[2007-06-19] Pope Meets With Chrysosotomos II
[2007-06-19] Benedict XVI Mourns Death of Cardinal Felici
[2007-06-19] Vatican Speaks Up on Road Rage
[2007-06-19] Peace Day to Focus on Family
[2007-06-19] Director General Named for Vatican Bank
[2007-06-19] Mexico Introduces Euthanasia Legislation
[2007-06-19] Caritas Worker Killed in Darfur
[2007-06-19] Moving Away From Religion Toward Christianity
[2007-06-19] Why No Litanies at a Wedding
[2007-06-19] Pastoral Care of the Road
[2007-06-18] Spirit of Assisi Is Not Syncretism, Affirms Pope
[2007-06-18] Benedict XVI to Youth: Open the Doors to Christ
[2007-06-18] Pope Urges Franciscans to Proclaim Christ
[2007-06-18] Cardinal: Challenge Is Linking Culture and Faith
[2007-06-18] Marriage and Religion: a Package Deal
[2007-06-18] Abducted Priest Released in Baghdad
[2007-06-18] Catholic School and Convent Ransacked in Gaza
[2007-06-18] Faith, Reason and Bioethics
To see other Vatican reports, news, addresses and statements, visit http://www.catholicnews.com/, http://www.zenit.org/, or go straight to the Vatican at http://www.vatican.va/.
...waitaminute... hasn't one of them already been in rehab? Or am I confusing them with Lindsay and Britney? Wow, I think I might just have to go into intensive non-fiction-reading, documentary-watching, oolong-tea drinking therapy myself after admitting that I actually know about this. Of course, it's hard not to when these are the prominent headlines I see as I log onto my webmail.Even when you actively try to shelter yourself from knowing more about these child-stars than you do your own family, those darn headlines sneak in from out of nowhere! I could go on a rant about how the "popular" media feeds us trivial "news that should not be news" when there are urgent stories out there about horrific human suffering that should command our attention, but well, I'm going to go for a different angle. I'm not going to rant at all, in fact. No, really!
To be honest, I kind of feel sorry for these gals. They were thrust into an adult world long before they reached adolescence, let alone adulthood. So in that sense, it's no wonder they are hurting and struggling as much as they are. Their sense of worth very early on was not centered around their dignity, but their ability to perform, to be desireable, and to bring home the bacon in some of their cases. It's the age old question about child stars - does that kind of exposure predispose them to a life that is less than virtuous? In an industry that certainly tends to promote dispensibility and living in the moment, is it any wonder that these kids get caught up in the tide?
Now, before you go thinking that I'm just a big softie, trust me, there are rants just dying to come out. Yet, as I begin to even think about letting them loose, I realize that if I do so, I become a part of the problem. The reason I am given the opportunity to judge these girls is that they happen to be on camera. It could just as easily be a friend or a loved one in trouble. The fact is that it shouldn't matter who it is - my first reaction should not be arrogant judgment.
Ideally, my first inclination should be to pray about how I can contribute to the solution. What can I do that will make a difference or make it easier for someone to recognize their worth beyond what a camera or screen tells them it should be? Granted, I can't sit down with Britney or the Olsen girls, but I can be actively involved in the lives of those around me. I can be sure that I affirm the beauty and dignity of their lives, that I reflect the love God has for each and every one of them. Most importantly, stories like these should, and do, make me examine how I live my own life. It's not a life lived without reproach, so pray for me as I pray for you, that every day might be one step closer to becoming who we are meant to be in the eyes of God. And don't forget to share that light of Christ in you - you never know who may need exactly the spark you've been given. Share it willingly, and share it often!
Many of you, (well, if anyone is reading this, then many of you) might recognize the title as a reference to Harry Potter. Now, before any chastizing begins, let me explain that I am not a crazy fan of the books and movies. Ok, now the chastizing can start, because I will admit that I am a fan. I know, I know, there was some scuttlebutt a few years ago about how Pope Benedict XVI was against reading the books. (Though the truth came out later that his statements were a response to a very specific letter he received and he did not condemn the books as a whole...funny how that happens.) I also hear the Pope doesn't like rock music, but that would be another digression, and I've already had one, and I really am trying to keep them to a minimum!I suppose I understand the fear that the books promote the use of supernatural powers that may/may not exist, or somehow promote the use of dark powers. I can't dispute that there exists the possibility that someone might read the series and take an affinity for magic out of it, however, I'm not convinced that the fears are well founded given my experience amidst fans of the books.
As I began to read the books a few years ago (yes, I did actually hold out on the craze for a few years), what I found was a creative way to introduce the ideas of good and evil, the battle that exists between them, and the inherent value in giving of oneself for the benefit of others, even to the point of death. What I found was great discussion between readers of all ages, from youth to the aged, about the reality of those struggles set in the context of the life of a young boy no one really knew.Clearly, at least I certainly hope it is clear, we as Catholics tell our story of Jesus Christ, Son of Man and Son of God, and the miraculous things he did, how he laid down his life out of love for a people who betrayed Him, and of course how He defeated death itself. That is the beautiful story we have to share. That does not however preclude others from creatively sharing stories that share common themes.
Dying out of love for another, being sealed with the sign of that deep selfless love and protected by it, being called to live for something greater than oneself, learning to die to self, to close our minds to evil, battling temptation and pride, trusting in true friendship...these are all storylines and character developments found in the series. Each of these are issues that young people struggle with and/or should be talking about. Given some of the other drivel that is out there, I'm for one glad that Harry Potter has caused a stir!
Should he replace a conversation about Christ? Well, of course not! What he can do, though, is offer another opportunity to talk about Christian ideals, open a door to talk about values that we don't see or hear enough of in today's society - at least not prominently displayed. So, as I wait for the final book and the fifth movie to come out, I say "hooray" for the "boy who lived" for refueling the discussion about values in popular culture, especially among the youth.
More importantly, though, I say, "Praise God!" that he sent his Son to be the Word made flesh, to live, suffer and die for us, and to rise again, defeating death and opening the door to eternity for us. In the midst of Harrymania, let's not forget to share our story - it is the greatest one ever told, after all. :)
I was reading back over my last post and realized that a couple of ideas were let loose without much of a context. In reading through the beginning of my comments, it could seem that I am asserting that Jesus Christ is not a comforter. Now, clearly, I'm not talking down comforter here. My point was merely that the media has contorted that beautiful image of comfort into a Jesus that takes no stand at all, but comes to keep us comfortable where we are. That is not the comforter I know Christ to be.
Lately, I've been asked by more than one person who Christ is to me, what I would describe his relationship with me to be. Aside from "Lord," my first inclination is always to say Comforter, Consoler and Friend. So, the idea of a Christ that comforts is very much dear to my heart. Christ is one who comes to comfort when I am in distress, when I am weary, when I am nearing despair. He fills me when I am empty. A frequent image that comes to mind when I am deepest in prayer, just sitting in the presence of Christ, is me sitting at His side with my head on his shoulder.
I was sharing this with someone recently, and they likened it to the image of Jesus with the beloved disciple at the Last Supper, with the disciple resting his head on Christ's chest. In that same week, I was listening to someone speak at a conference, and he referenced that same relationship and image to encourage us to take time to be with Christ, to stop speaking long enough to just be with him. As I reflect on how that relationship develops, I wonder if those who become passionately embroiled in the business of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ don't first get to know him as a Lord who comforts, heals and transforms. I wonder if it is by that very healing and comforting that we begin to get a glimpse of a God who is with us always, in everything. Perhaps it is that encounter with Christ that begins to chip away at our tendency to relate to God as we relate to one another, never quite fully trusting because our human examples have somehow failed to live up to our expectations. Once we begin to experience His healing and His constant comfort, the fruits of promises kept (I'm told that there are over a thousand in the Bible...), perhaps we begin to open ourselves to the challenge He presents to grow closer to Him, to die to self, to love as God loves.
Of course we all have our inconsistencies and incongruencies of what we believe and how we live. The quest for holiness and sainthood is a constant battle to eradicate those differences. However, it never ceases to amaze me how many people claim a kinship with Christ, but don't allow themselves to be challenged by Him. Have we bought into the Jesus who says "Hey, you're okay," and leaves it there? Have we lost our connection to the Word made flesh?
Or is it just that leading an unexamined life, or rather a life unexamined by the principles of Christ, is so much easier that we have chosen to do the least possible to claim our faith? Perhaps it is not that we do not examine, but that we do not examine deeply or often enough - we are too easy on ourselves and others because we've become so weary of the daily stresses of life. We've become victim to the line of thinking that says we cannot change - we cannot change ourselves because of how we were raised, what society tells us, etc etc etc., and we certainly cannot change the world given the state of our own lives.
Christ tells us differently. In Matthew 11:28, Christ invites us to find refuge in him when the world seems too much. "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Who are we to claim that life is just too hard? Jesus, the man who was condemned to death, who has become our Savior, the one through whom death was conquered, calls us to him in those moments. Christ, our Comforter, promises us respite from the storm. In exchange, he asks only one thing - everything. Daunting? You bet! Are we alone in it? Heck, no! His promise of comfort and respite is everlasting. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you," he promises us in John 14:18. We have only to share our walks with Christ, to witness to the miracles He has done in our own lives to know that His promises are more lasting than...Twinkies (or something that lasts a really long time - I'm not a scientist, so someone would find fault with whatever element I entered here). So, if we find ourselves weary and in doubt, perhaps it is the time to sit with Christ, our Comforter and our Hope before we can hear and answer Christ our loving challenger.
What is it that young people are seeking, those who find solace in what others call the Church of the past? Perhaps it is a deeper connection with the Jesus of the Gospels, not the Jesus that has been hijacked by the media. Jesus of Nazareth was a rebel, a countercultural rabblerouser who challenged the status quo because the status quo had fallen away from what God had intended for mankind.
Often times we see a Jesus of comfort portrayed in Church and in media. The Jesus who says I love you just as you are, but leaves out the Jesus who says, but I call you to come further with me and be better. Have we shaped Jesus in the image of a man who will help us achieve our own political and moral ends, or do we still have a connection the the Jesus who resides fully in the Gospel, the Jesus who came so that we may have life and have it abundantly??
The more often I read the Gospels and the more I live and see of the world, I am beginning to believe that Christ has been hijacked (much like our solemn feasts, but that's a whole different story!). Yes, Christ does in fact love us - I don't for one second want to insinuate that this love is either conditional or false. What I want to do is look at what it really means - what does Christ's love mean in our lives?
We use the word love in American society as loosely as we do everything else. It is not a word used with care, and it has become tainted. The love that Christ gives is a gift, and though it does not come with conditions, it does come with challenges. To live in and for the love of Christ calls us to task more often than we would like. Yet, in our post-modern culture, love of a person has come to mean that challenging them to do better is to not affirm the person they are. If we are, as Catholics and Christians to pattern our life after Christ's love, that kind of love dishonors the heritage of Love we share.
The Jesus of the scriptures was not tolerant. He was compassionate and merciful, yes. He ate with sinners, he suffered with his friends and with strangers. What he did not do, however, was tolerate attitudes and behaviors that maligned God. "Go and sin no more" was always the challenge.
The Jesus of the scriptures was not unconditionally accepting and affirming. Yes, He always accepted and affirmed the inherent dignity and worth of every person, created in the image and likeness of His Father, but not always did he accept or affirm their behaviors.
The Jesus of the scriptures had righteous anger. Jesus called people to task. Christ's first concern was not being liked - it was converting hearts to a deep and true love of God. He was not popular by our standards, but he was always authentic and those who were able to strip themselves of their own pride and understanding were drawn to Him and the Truth and mercy He shared.
Our young people are no different. They are reacting now in the same way. The freedoms and joys promised by the sexual revolution, individualism, materialism, commercialization and the relativism of "I'm okay, you're okay" have not been realized. Instead of leading to greater happiness, those promises have led to a more chaotic struggle. Our young people are often finding that they are not okay, that they continue to search and thirst for something to fill a void in their lives.
What they seek are the timeless Truths, that which has stood firm against the test of time and criticism, the rock amidst the storm. They are seeking fulfilled promises, unconditional love and unending peace. What they are realizing for themselves is that there is one person throughout all of history who can give them what they are seeking - Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, though. "The Way Things Were" is not their anthem song. This is not a regression in the deep recesses of the past in an effort to relive tenets that we've long since abandoned. It is a reclaiming of the faith that went before them, traditions and adherences that were brushed aside in the tide of change but never restored fully. It is discovering the past and infusing it into a faith that is constantly growing.
So...what is it we/they seek? I think it can be summed up pretty simply. They are not looking for a feel-good faith - they are seeking what is good.
Often times we see a Jesus of comfort portrayed in Church and in media. The Jesus who says I love you just as you are, but leaves out the Jesus who says, but I call you to come further with me and be better. Have we shaped Jesus in the image of a man who will help us achieve our own political and moral ends, or do we still have a connection the the Jesus who resides fully in the Gospel, the Jesus who came so that we may have life and have it abundantly??
The more often I read the Gospels and the more I live and see of the world, I am beginning to believe that Christ has been hijacked (much like our solemn feasts, but that's a whole different story!). Yes, Christ does in fact love us - I don't for one second want to insinuate that this love is either conditional or false. What I want to do is look at what it really means - what does Christ's love mean in our lives?
We use the word love in American society as loosely as we do everything else. It is not a word used with care, and it has become tainted. The love that Christ gives is a gift, and though it does not come with conditions, it does come with challenges. To live in and for the love of Christ calls us to task more often than we would like. Yet, in our post-modern culture, love of a person has come to mean that challenging them to do better is to not affirm the person they are. If we are, as Catholics and Christians to pattern our life after Christ's love, that kind of love dishonors the heritage of Love we share.
The Jesus of the scriptures was not tolerant. He was compassionate and merciful, yes. He ate with sinners, he suffered with his friends and with strangers. What he did not do, however, was tolerate attitudes and behaviors that maligned God. "Go and sin no more" was always the challenge.
The Jesus of the scriptures was not unconditionally accepting and affirming. Yes, He always accepted and affirmed the inherent dignity and worth of every person, created in the image and likeness of His Father, but not always did he accept or affirm their behaviors.
The Jesus of the scriptures had righteous anger. Jesus called people to task. Christ's first concern was not being liked - it was converting hearts to a deep and true love of God. He was not popular by our standards, but he was always authentic and those who were able to strip themselves of their own pride and understanding were drawn to Him and the Truth and mercy He shared.
Our young people are no different. They are reacting now in the same way. The freedoms and joys promised by the sexual revolution, individualism, materialism, commercialization and the relativism of "I'm okay, you're okay" have not been realized. Instead of leading to greater happiness, those promises have led to a more chaotic struggle. Our young people are often finding that they are not okay, that they continue to search and thirst for something to fill a void in their lives.
What they seek are the timeless Truths, that which has stood firm against the test of time and criticism, the rock amidst the storm. They are seeking fulfilled promises, unconditional love and unending peace. What they are realizing for themselves is that there is one person throughout all of history who can give them what they are seeking - Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, though. "The Way Things Were" is not their anthem song. This is not a regression in the deep recesses of the past in an effort to relive tenets that we've long since abandoned. It is a reclaiming of the faith that went before them, traditions and adherences that were brushed aside in the tide of change but never restored fully. It is discovering the past and infusing it into a faith that is constantly growing.
So...what is it we/they seek? I think it can be summed up pretty simply. They are not looking for a feel-good faith - they are seeking what is good.
So, like I said, I'm not yet sure what theme this blog will end up having. I do know that I should not promise to write everyday - given my track record, that would just be a promise emptier than Christ's tomb.
So, what can I promise?
Well, for one thing, this will be from the heart, going wherever the Spirit leads me to go in word. It may not be knowledgeable or wise, but it will be authentically me. So, expect a little humor, however poor, and some rambling thoughts. No, really, trust me. Perhaps in the end, a little bit of wisdom might shine through, or at least something that sticks with you and makes you think a little harder and love a little deeper.
Other promises? It's gonna be centered in Christ, so it won't be that random. It is my faith that shapes my world, my faith in Christ's promises that is my foundation, so it would be unthinkable to come from any other angle. My life, my love, my work, my everything...all a gift from Him. I'm not saying I'm perfect...I'm far from it. But I am committed to living my life as a gift in honor of and to Him, no matter how much I fail from time to time. So, it'll be life as I know it, and in my life, Christ is the heart.
More promises? Heck, I have no idea! My life has been quite a journey so far, so I guess I'm just inviting you to come into the ride with me. I fully intend to live my life to leave a mark, though I have no idea how that will happen. I have every faith it will though, if I continue to speak from the heart and act from a love deeper than my own.
We've all got something to share - some little pearl of wisdom, be it infused in us by the Holy Spirit, or something we inherited from Great-grandma Betty. I'm convinced that I spend half my life afraid to give voice to the little whispers in my heart. I suppose this is one way for me to start leaving that fear behind, letting that fire that burns within begin to light the darkness that surrounds us. If it does nothing more than make you think, that's okay. At least I have done my part and proclaimed out loud the ponderings within.
Live out loud, shine brightly, leave no stone unturned, and indeed we might just rock the world.
So, what can I promise?
Well, for one thing, this will be from the heart, going wherever the Spirit leads me to go in word. It may not be knowledgeable or wise, but it will be authentically me. So, expect a little humor, however poor, and some rambling thoughts. No, really, trust me. Perhaps in the end, a little bit of wisdom might shine through, or at least something that sticks with you and makes you think a little harder and love a little deeper.
Other promises? It's gonna be centered in Christ, so it won't be that random. It is my faith that shapes my world, my faith in Christ's promises that is my foundation, so it would be unthinkable to come from any other angle. My life, my love, my work, my everything...all a gift from Him. I'm not saying I'm perfect...I'm far from it. But I am committed to living my life as a gift in honor of and to Him, no matter how much I fail from time to time. So, it'll be life as I know it, and in my life, Christ is the heart.
More promises? Heck, I have no idea! My life has been quite a journey so far, so I guess I'm just inviting you to come into the ride with me. I fully intend to live my life to leave a mark, though I have no idea how that will happen. I have every faith it will though, if I continue to speak from the heart and act from a love deeper than my own.
We've all got something to share - some little pearl of wisdom, be it infused in us by the Holy Spirit, or something we inherited from Great-grandma Betty. I'm convinced that I spend half my life afraid to give voice to the little whispers in my heart. I suppose this is one way for me to start leaving that fear behind, letting that fire that burns within begin to light the darkness that surrounds us. If it does nothing more than make you think, that's okay. At least I have done my part and proclaimed out loud the ponderings within.
Live out loud, shine brightly, leave no stone unturned, and indeed we might just rock the world.
Not yet, though! I've yet to figure out exactly what it is I want to tell the virtual realm. So, until then, hold on, world - there's more to come!
