The day between the terrible crucifixion and the wonderful Resurrection.....Holy Saturday. A day of waiting and wondering. Just like in our own lives....waiting to see if all will be right.
Have a thoughtful Holy Saturday~
Lisa
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Do We Give God A Headache?
I saw this cute little quote today and it gave me some fodder for a post. It just so happens on this same day I was blessed to hear multiple stories of folks' bad experiences with either the Catholic Church as an organization or it's members, the Body of Christ.
I always listen respectfully to these experiences because they are painful for the one speaking. Usually, very painful, which is why it causes such a visceral reaction. I use that adjective on purpose because it has been my experience that it is an emotional as opposed to an intellectual response to pain. Understandable.
So often, the story conveyed is from childhood or early adulthood and many times having to do with parents who were less than ideal. This little tidbit shows how terribly important our faith life and how it is lived affects our children.....forever.
I think it's important for those who have been wounded to remember that it is flawed, broken, sinful human beings who represent the Church on earth but their actions or words are not what the Church officially teaches. If we have a question, problem, beef with a particular faith tradition I think it is super important to go to the source of their teachings to get the real picture. It is not helpful to get information about any particular religion from those who wish to criticize.
So much, well, really everything I hear that people dislike about the Catholic Church is a distortion in some fashion. The poor Church is misrepresented by the media and unfortunately this is where most folks get their information. If someone really knows the truth and teaching and they still have a beef, I respect that. Really, I can. The Church has withstood much in her 2000 years and Scripture is clear that the gates of hell shall not prevail, so I'm not worried.
I am, however, worried about people who have been terribly wounded by a grumpy priest, a superstitious mother or grandmother, anyone who puts forth a negative spin on the Truths of the Faith. This is so damaging, so destructive, even evil. There is a saying, "No one ever left the Catholic Church for what they knew, it is what they did not know". Never a truer word written.
It was painful to listen to what the folks today had to say about Catholics who hurt them deeply. Painful because the person wounded usually forms a disdain for the Church and not the person who has misrepresented the Church. We are responsible for the image we put forth as Catholic Christians. Not only responsible because we represent something, but because we have the power to hurt others in the name of the Church.......dangerous indeed.
We must remember that if we live our Faith and people around us know we are Catholics we have a grave responsibility to put forth the Truth. Do I know my Faith? Do I know what my Church teaches and why? Can I answer others' questions and if I cannot, do I know where to find the answers? Am I obedient to what the Church teaches so I am not perceived as a hypocrite? This last question is very important. I have had heated disagreements with people over issues in the Church, but I have been blessed that they could see even if we disagreed I was trying my best to live what I believe and this gave me and the Church, credibility. They had respect for my belief because I lived it.
Do I always live out my faith in a way others can see the goodness of God? I am saddened to say no I do not and I wonder how many folks I have turned away from God by my actions or words. I have to hope the good I do outweighs my stupidity.....not so sure about that one but the effort goes on. God is so much bigger than I, so much bigger than the sins of His children. He can always bring good out of bad. But I have to wonder like the child above.....if we ever give God a headache.
~Lenten Blessings~
Lisa
Friday, March 15, 2013
Oh Happy Day
I cannot sing but "Ohhhh Happy Da-ay, Oh Happy Da-ay". Okay I'll stop for now. It isn't pretty. It is a happy day for some strange reasons. Our son has had some complications and has, after having a spinal tap on Monday had a horrendous spinal fluid leak which has caused considerable angst....is that how you spell that...angst? We are currently sitting here in the NSLIJ Emergency Room in NY after having a spinal blood patch (after having brain surgery just a week or so ago). These are my thoughts in list form because writing is just not going to work today.
1. I am thankful everyone here is so lovely.
2. I am thankful my kid who normally has sensory issues and gets quite anxious about new procedures, was absolutely amazing...I mean amazing. I know, I know, I'm his mother and therefore prejudiced....but he really WAS AMAZING.
3. Having a long, large needle in your spine is just yukky.
4. I am, for some reason feeling better about being here for....drum roll please.....8 weeks this Saturday. Two stinkin' months away from my wonderful home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I had been sad about it for the past couple days but now after my little guy leapt tall buildings, things seem brighter. It's good for a mother when her child can leap tall buildings in a single bound!
5. I think even though it's Friday and even though it's Lent, I am buying my children cheese pizza for dinner because of said buildings being leapt.
6. I have learned for the umpteenth time in the last 2 months that attitude is everything. I mean I knew this before these 2 months in NYC but today it was brought home to roost again and I am thankful! The way one goes into a medical procedure psychologically, directly affects the procedure and feelings about it afterward. Period. Proven fact...again.
7. I love chocolate cake and coffee and I really need some even though my brown skirt is not fitting so well after 2 months of daily desserts :(
8. I miss my best friend and husband of 29 years....I love you Hon.
9. I am in need of retail therapy and I am not even a spender. I get the feeling #7 and #9 indicate stress....what do you think?
10. I don't think I am ever going home as another neurosurgical surgery is in my immediate future......sigh.
11. Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is awesome, wonderful, comfy, beautiful, friendly, our blessed home away from home.
12. My son just asked if I liked dogs or cats better......dogs I guess. He said cats.
13. We have watched too much T.V. when my son says we need an automatic ear wax getter-outter for $19.95.
14. I am thrilled about the new Pope!! He is just amazing I think. The kids think so too.
15. I have wonderful children. The 20 yr old sent a great sweatshirt to the 15 yr old (who is here in NYC with me) that says Just Draw It. He's our artist. He loves it. That's men bonding from 3,000 miles away.
16. I miss my big kids.
17. I miss my kitchen.
18. I am thankful God is present in all the hard and fun things we have done on this medical trip.
19. I love being Catholic. I love that I was Protestant because I still love the traditional Protestant hymns. If you are Catholic be a good Catholic. If you are Protestant be a good Protestant. If you are Muslim, be a good Muslim and so on...... Just Be A Good One...whatever you are.
20. I love our neurosurgeon. He is crazy and holy.
21. I love the people at Ronald McDonald House who have sick kids....they get it.
22. I want to make my homemade spaghetti sauce but can't bring red wine into the House. Poo.
23. I wish I could still ride horses.....I dearly love horses.
24. Are you bored yet? Because it's boring to read about one person for this long. Sorry.
25. I want to plant my garden RIGHT NOW. Dirt, seeds, fertilizer.......sniff, sniff.
26. I'm done now I think.
27. I don't think I am ever going home. I think I already said that.
28. I love being the mother of a huge family.
29. I am thankful our children do not have all the newest and best "stuff"....it isn't pretty out there.
30. Pray, sacrifice, do good, listen to others instead of talking about yourself......uh-oh.
31. See ya.
~Lisa~
1. I am thankful everyone here is so lovely.
2. I am thankful my kid who normally has sensory issues and gets quite anxious about new procedures, was absolutely amazing...I mean amazing. I know, I know, I'm his mother and therefore prejudiced....but he really WAS AMAZING.
3. Having a long, large needle in your spine is just yukky.
4. I am, for some reason feeling better about being here for....drum roll please.....8 weeks this Saturday. Two stinkin' months away from my wonderful home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I had been sad about it for the past couple days but now after my little guy leapt tall buildings, things seem brighter. It's good for a mother when her child can leap tall buildings in a single bound!
5. I think even though it's Friday and even though it's Lent, I am buying my children cheese pizza for dinner because of said buildings being leapt.
6. I have learned for the umpteenth time in the last 2 months that attitude is everything. I mean I knew this before these 2 months in NYC but today it was brought home to roost again and I am thankful! The way one goes into a medical procedure psychologically, directly affects the procedure and feelings about it afterward. Period. Proven fact...again.
7. I love chocolate cake and coffee and I really need some even though my brown skirt is not fitting so well after 2 months of daily desserts :(
8. I miss my best friend and husband of 29 years....I love you Hon.
9. I am in need of retail therapy and I am not even a spender. I get the feeling #7 and #9 indicate stress....what do you think?
10. I don't think I am ever going home as another neurosurgical surgery is in my immediate future......sigh.
11. Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is awesome, wonderful, comfy, beautiful, friendly, our blessed home away from home.
12. My son just asked if I liked dogs or cats better......dogs I guess. He said cats.
13. We have watched too much T.V. when my son says we need an automatic ear wax getter-outter for $19.95.
14. I am thrilled about the new Pope!! He is just amazing I think. The kids think so too.
15. I have wonderful children. The 20 yr old sent a great sweatshirt to the 15 yr old (who is here in NYC with me) that says Just Draw It. He's our artist. He loves it. That's men bonding from 3,000 miles away.
16. I miss my big kids.
17. I miss my kitchen.
18. I am thankful God is present in all the hard and fun things we have done on this medical trip.
19. I love being Catholic. I love that I was Protestant because I still love the traditional Protestant hymns. If you are Catholic be a good Catholic. If you are Protestant be a good Protestant. If you are Muslim, be a good Muslim and so on...... Just Be A Good One...whatever you are.
20. I love our neurosurgeon. He is crazy and holy.
21. I love the people at Ronald McDonald House who have sick kids....they get it.
22. I want to make my homemade spaghetti sauce but can't bring red wine into the House. Poo.
23. I wish I could still ride horses.....I dearly love horses.
24. Are you bored yet? Because it's boring to read about one person for this long. Sorry.
25. I want to plant my garden RIGHT NOW. Dirt, seeds, fertilizer.......sniff, sniff.
26. I'm done now I think.
27. I don't think I am ever going home. I think I already said that.
28. I love being the mother of a huge family.
29. I am thankful our children do not have all the newest and best "stuff"....it isn't pretty out there.
30. Pray, sacrifice, do good, listen to others instead of talking about yourself......uh-oh.
31. See ya.
~Lisa~
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