Earthly Treasures

My friend Peter Pollock did a post a while back about a woman who pretty much ignores her wealth. She has real estate she never visits, and he suggests it is a waste. He then drew a parallel between her, and how we Christians sometimes treat the Gospel of Christ.

I see his point. I truly do. But it will come as no surprise to those of you who know me, that it had me thinking about dishes. I left this comment on his post.

"You make a good point.

When I was reading about the properties she ignores, I was thinking about my china cabinet. I have my mother in law's http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/chi... and my mother's good china. http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/chi... I am afraid to use it, though, because what if it breaks? I know it is not exactly an expensive antique, but any plate I replaced it with would not be the same, because it wasn't selected, washed, dried and put away with their own hands.... It just wouldn't be the same. These are more earthly treasures, and I am afraid to put them to good use... Our faith however, should not be as fragile as china, and should be able to be put to good use often."

However, I have been thinking and thinking since reading this post. Yes. About china. And crystal salad bowls. And wine glasses. I have been thinking about things that I have decided are too "special" to ever use, and so they are not being used as they were meant to be used. Seriously. My mil died with almost a full set of china, but my own mom had one soup bowl left, about half of the teacups, 9 out of 12 dinner plates... Why? Because she didn't treasure them? Hardly. They were a wedding gift from her mom, and she put them out for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Easter... but not every day. Some pieces are missing because I used to help her do the dishes. Yes. Me. Butterfingers. I dropped some, by accident of course. Do you think Momma had a cow because treasured dishes were broken (remember, this was before Replacements.com ltd made it easy to find and restore missing pieces). No, I'd cry, and she would hug me and tell me that people are more important than things, and that I am worth more to her than the whole set (which, I KNEW meant a lot to her). She'd then pick up the pieces. I'd want to try to glue it back together. She'd refuse.

"You could cut yourself! Do you think this teacup is worth even a drop of your blood to me? Forget it. It was an accident. It is only a thing..."

I did not forget it. I remember it now. People are worth more than things. It is time to start using the family china. Perhaps on my birthday. I have already started on the good salad bowls...

Oh, and sorry for twisting up the meaning of your post in my mind, Peter. My only excuse is that my mind is random...

Church, From a Friend's Perspective

My friend Bernadette wrote an amazing post on Church for today's One Word Blog Carnival: Church.

I started to write a post for today about Church, focusing on unity (or lack of) and love (or lack of) and stuff... I'll probably post it some other time. For now, I'd really like to direct my cyber friends to Bernadette's blog, where she says a lot of things I wish I did.

No Clever Title Today...Ten Dollar Challenge

It was a dark and stormy night ... Okay, not really. It was a gloomy, snowy morning......

I had a lot of errands to do. One of them was to get some supplies at Walgreen's. It was a snowy and windy morning, so when I left, I wanted to make double sure that I brought my cart all the way back so that it wouldn't knock into a car. There are no cart carrels at Walgreen's, at least not the one by us. On my way back to the store with my cart, I pulled in the carts that were on my way there. I did not go out of my way to get the carts past my car because it was so horrible out, but it took no extra effort to bring back the ones that were on my way, and I figured that the people working inside the store should stay warm and dry for as long as they can. I figure that people working in stores during the Christmas season must find this season frustrating. They are busier than ever, the weather is sometimes bad, and people are in a hurry and preoccupied and not always as nice as they can be. I try to be extra pleasant and thoughtful to them in the hope that it may counteract some of the tension. We Christians insist that Christmas is a time of peace and goodwill, so it behooves us to share some, you know?

Still, since it was snowy, cold and windy, I did not want to go out of my way to get the other cart. I was not willing to experience a little more discomfort. Don't worry, I'm not hating on myself for that. What I want to get across is that it was uncomfortable weather, bad enough to make me not want to be out there an extra few seconds.

The clerk noticed me bringing in the carts, and thanked me. I got into my car to continue running errands. Up at the next stoplight was a man wearing what appeared to be a brown hoodie and jeans holding a cup asking for change. Billy Coffey had suggested the ten dollar challenge weeks ago, so I had my ten bucks easily within reach. I did not wait for any confirmation of the Spirit that this man was whom it was meant for....I just knew that the whole cart incident and not wanting an extra moment outside was meant to prepare my heart to give quickly to the man before the light changed and he needed to get out of traffic.

It was ten bucks. There was no life changing moment for either of us. I opened my car window, said "God bless you. I hope you have better circumstances in the coming year ", and placed the money in the cup. He said thank you. The light changed and he dashed to the side. I could see in my side mirror that he looked inside of the cup, and started heading to the gas station. I can't tell you whether he was thinking "Yaay! Coffee and a donut!" or "Stupid woman probably was confused and thought it was a dollar." It doesn't matter. The important thing is that for a few moments, he did not have to stay out in a snowstorm, and could get a coffee and a donut.

Yes. I know. They sell other types of refreshment at gas stations as well. Don't let the fact that I am young and cute fool you. I was NOT born yesterday. It is altogether possible he got himself some liquid refreshment that would make him feel warmer, but is not, coffee, tea, or cocoa. I'm okay with that. I'm not a tea totaler myself. I like a little whiskey and honey to soothe a sore throat or a chronic cough, and being outdoors collecting change on a day like that was bound to give him one or the other. I regret more that it is unlikely he would be having any honey to sweeten the bitter home remedy, if that was his choice. Which again, he may have been getting cocoa with marshmallows. I'll never know. I don't need to know, though I sort of hope he opted for a little sweetness...


In the spirit of Goodwill that we Christians sing about this time of year, how about checking out Billy Coffey's Ten Dollar Challenge by clicking here.

Trust

My cyber friends, Peter Pollock and Bridget Chumbley, are having a blog carnival today . This week's blog carnival hosted by Bridget and Peter is all about Trust. Funny that yesterday Peter was sharing stories about his Dad and being a dad yesterday, because thinking on trust I kept coming to a story from my youth that involves my daddy (who was an AWESOME daddy by the way, in case any of you missed the few dozen entries I posted which say that...)

I was in eighth grade. I had to take the constitution test. Now, I have no idea why the teacher (who was ONLY my teacher for Social Studies, and ONLY during the Constitution Test. He gave the prepared and tested all three eighth grade classes) was like this, but Mr. Michals (NOT his real name. He died years ago, and can't explain his thoughts.) insisted that NO ONE passes his Constitution Test the first time. He gives the test three times, first one essay (which nobody ever passes), second one multiple choice, and the third one true/ false. No more after that. The only one that counts for a grade is the first one. The others are merely so that we can pass eighth grade (Illinois law) and go to High School. He seemed to take satisfaction in the fact that we will fail.

This truly upsetted me. I studied hard, but with a tension and anxiety that made it hard to actually concentrate and remember anything. My dear daddy, of course, noticed...

The discussion went a lot like this...
(Knock, knock)

Helen: Come in...
Daddy: What are you doing?
Helen: Studying...
Daddy: You seem upset...
Helen: Didn't Momma tell you?
Daddy: I'd like for l you to tell me...
Helen: Mr. Michals says that NO ONE will pass his Constitution Test, and it will count for a grade, and...
Daddy: Wait there...He actually said that NO ONE will pass the Constitution Test..
Helen: Yes. He said no one ever passes it the first time...
Daddy: Did he say why that is?
Helen: Yes. He said because it is so hard...
Daddy: And?
Helen: No one ever passes...
Daddy: But did he say that YOU won't pass?
Helen: He said that NO ONE will pass, not just me...
Daddy: Honey, I can't tell you why he makes a test he thinks no one will pass. But I can tell you, that if he believes YOU won't pass, it is because he doesn't know YOU.
Helen: Daddy, I appreciate the faith you have in me, but you shouldn't..
Daddy: Helen, I took the Constitution Test to become a citizen in these United States of America (He always said it like that) after only knowing English for two years. I still talked in Croation or Hungarian most of the time. I passed. I'm a citizen.
Helen: But Daddy...
Daddy: You will still be a citizen whether you pass or not. (Smiling). You don't have as much to lose as you fear. AND you are smarter than Mr. Michals or you give you credit for...
Helen: But he wrote the test. He KNOWS...
Daddy: He knows the test. He does NOT know you, and he does NOT know me!
Helen: Daddy, you aren't going to go talk to him...
Daddy: No. I am not. I am not going to try to change the test, or the teacher. I AM going to do everything I can to help you, short of taking the test for you. (Smiling). We can do this.
Helen: I don't know..
Daddy: Who are you going to believe, Helen? Your daddy, who knows you, or Mr. Michals, who doesn't. Are you gonna trust the daddy you know, or the teacher you don't?
Helen: (quietly) Okay, Daddy..
Daddy: So where do you want to start? The Preamble? The Bill of Rights?


I wish I could say that all my anxiety left at that moment. But it didn't. It was, however, suppressed a bit. I studied. I told myself and others that Mr. Michals knows his test, but he doesn't know me. I told myself and others, that my daddy knows me, and he says I can do it. (I was never ashamed to show myself to be a daddy's girl.)

And you know what? I passed. With and 86%. So did one other kid...a boy I had a crush on, and was only too pleased to study with during any free time :-) He even got the same score! (No, we were not sitting near each other. Trust me. I'd've noticed ;-) I am not sure whether someone gave him a similar pep talk, or if he was just that smart or confident.

What does this have to do with trusting God? For most of my adult life, I have considered John 14:1,(which are words spoken by Jesus) to be my "life verse."

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."

No, this isn't my life verse because I am so good at trusting Him (when I master trust, I get a new "life verse" I do believe), but to remind me that I can...

A little later in the Chapter, after Phillip asks Jesus to show him and the other disciples, Jesus said...

"9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."

The Father has in mind a task for me. He has it in mind for all of us. But sometimes I don't trust that I can do it, just like I didn't trust that I could pass the constitution test. But just as my daddy knew I could, my Heavenly Father has promised that He knows that I can, too! He hasn't given me tests that he believes I can't pass, but tasks that He knows I can. With His help.


(BTW, though it has nothing to do with this carnival, I would like to commend those of you out there who are father's and are involved in the teaching and loving guidance of your kids in countless ways. By your actions, you give your kids a window (peephole?) to what God is like...I look to the memory of my wonderful daddy every day, know that God is even more awesome, and am just bowled over and amazed. )


Two weeks ago, I ended my post with a youtube video. Well, maybe this one is not appropriate in EVERY way, but I do love this song...

Obedience

My cyber friends, Peter Pollock and Bridget Chumbley, are having a blog carnival today where we all blog about our favorite topic, obedience. Yeah, I couldn't even type the word favorite with a straight face. Disobedience seems to come so naturally...

When I was a little girl, I adored my parents. And they loved me....So you would think that in the warm, loving environment I was blessed to be raised in, I would recognize that they were always doing what is best for me, and obey. Actually....

I vividly remember my mom telling me to never, ever grab anything from the stove, ever. I was shorter than the stove by at least half. One day, during breakfast mom went to the bathroom. Guess what I decided it was the perfect time for me to do? Find out what was so great about the pan on the stove! Mom got out of the bathroom just in time to smack my hand away from the pan. Hard.

Then there was daddy, telling me to never, ever play with knives. Well, mom and dad were busy one day. Any guesses as to where I went? Yep. Time to find out what fun the knife drawer in the kitchen held. The butcher knife looked mighty interesting to me... Apparently daddy figured I was too quiet. He came into the kitchen, gently removed the butcher knife from my hand, then smacked it. My hand, not the butcher knife.

We had lovely neighbors. The older woman next store was so kind and grandmotherly. We used to visit her and her husband often. But then there was the week she had company from overseas, and daddy said we should let her be, so she can enjoy people she may never see again....Well, having all the patience of a four year old, meaning none, any guesses as to what I did? Yep, I snuck out of the house to go next door. Daddy intercepted me, and I got the only spanking on my bottom that I remember. Perhaps not the only spanking, but the only one worth remembering....

I know. The post is supposed to be about obedience, and all I have written so far is about disobedience. I suppose it is because disobedience comes so natural. I had good, loving parents, who only made rules for my own good. Look at them. Anything unreasonable about telling your kids not to grab things that are cooking on the stove (especially when they are less than half the stove's height), not to play with butcher knives, or sneak out of the house at night when they are under age four?

And God doesn't ask anything unreasonable from us. Look at the ten commandments. If EVERYBODY followed them, ALL OF THE TIME, wouldn't planet earth be fabulous? Sure, we would still have death and disease (which, I know, technically wouldn't be here without Adam and Eve's first disobedience, but can the retired butcher knife inspector really judge Adam and Eve?), but we would have such harmony here...

Obedience would bring happiness and safety, just as I'd have been way safer and happier if I hadn't thought playing with hot pans, knives, and sneaking out were such good ideas. What is it about human nature that makes it so hard for us to trust the One (and the ones) who want only good and wonderful things for us, but so easy to trust our own bad judgement?

Am I any better about obedience as an adult than I was as a child? Hardly... My one area of improvement, I think, is coming to understand that I need to obey because it is good for me, and not because I might get caught...

So I guess what I am saying is that before obedience comes trust, and who is worthier of trust than God? Come to think of it, who is worthy of absolute trusts BESIDES God? I know there are many bible verses about trust. But right now, I am thinking of a beautiful old hymn. I am sure you know it as well, if not better, than I do....

Rhymes with July 16

Today is the birthday of one of my dear Cyber-friends. Can you guess which one...

No, not Jacklyn. I wouldn't make the clue that easy...Here is another...


That's right. Her moniker gives it away, Candace Jean July 16. God bless her...

And, just in case she is disappointed that I didn't go with the usual birthday tribute...



(Around here the unusual is the usual...)

Click on the title of this post to check out Candy's blog.

Hey Candy, did I ever mention that today is also my favorite living aunt's birthday? Did I mention it is also my only living aunt's birthday? Here's to hoping hers is happy, too...

About Me...Any Questions?

My friend Sherri at Matter of Fact has posted these questions that she would like her friends to answer. I am doing so here on my blog today.

1. Folgers or Starbucks? Folgers. I enjoy Starbucks once in a great while, but their coffee is too expensive.
2. Cardinals or Cubs? Though my team of choice would be White Sox, all the way baby, I must say I always side with the Chicago team. So as much as it hurts me to say this.....Cubs....ouch.
3. Morning person or night owl? Night owl.
4. Name brand or generic? That depends. Sometimes it is worth it to save a few pennies, sometimes it isn't.
5. Dylan or Rolling Stones? Dylan
6. Mountains or Ocean? Ocean
7. Talker or Listener? Yes!
8. Math or Literature? Literature
9. Books or Movies? I love to read books. It is also nice to watch a movie with mom and Bob sometimes.
10. Meat and Potatoes or Casseroles? Meat. Meat! MEAT!
11. Summer or Winter? Summer
12. Coffee or Tea?coffee
13. Cats or dogs? I like cats, but I have allergies. Some dogs trigger my allergies, too, but there are hypoallergenic dogs. But not cats.
14. Rock or Country? I like both, but if I must choose, it is Rock.
15. Pepsi or Coke? Diet Pepsi. I am cutting back on the fizzy stuff though, and drinking ice tea or water. Mostly water.
16. Beef or Chicken? Beef. Though today I am making chicken. Variety...
17. Leader or follower? That depends. If no one else will take charge, I will. But I prefer to be an assistant rather than the chief.
18. Pink or Red? pink
19. Stilettos or sneakers? Sneakers. i have heel spurs. I wear orthotics. Stilettos wouldn't work.
20. Homebody or socializer? I like to socialize, but I am okay at home, too. My cyber friends have made being at home a lot easier.
21. Short or tall? (ahem) I am short for my weight. I am about 5'5" or 5'6". According to the height and weight chart, I should be 7' 6". I think of myself as short.

What about you? Any questions? At least one of you thinks that would make fascinating reading. I know. I checked the poll.

Singing (or Tweeting) Like Birds (From Kansas)

My friend Katdish did a post today inspired by Twitter," As I am always inspired by my bloggity pals (no, please believe, I am not Heartsie), I decided to do mine about twitter also. But I also hate being a total copy cat. Sooooo.....
To Helen this up a little bit, I thought I would pick a song reminding me of twitter and tweets...Enjoy!


{Refrain
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more

Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher
But I flew too high

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming
I can hear them say

{Refrain

Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man, well
It surely means that I don't know

On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune
But I hear the voices say

{Refrain
No!

Carry on, you will always remember
Carry on, nothing equals the splendor
The center lights around your vanity
But surely heaven waits for you

Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry (don't you cry no more)



*********************************************************************************
Okay, so what does this have to do with twitter? Nothing really. I saw this on IronicCatholic today, and have been trying to think of an excuse to post it myself. I LOVE this song! Besides..Katdish tweeted the question who posted today, and I felt guilty.

Place It on Its Side and It's a Symbol Meaning Infinity...

My friend Sherri did an eight things post and tagged anyone interested in doing one as well. If you are interested, consider yourself tagged as well.
8 Things I Did Yesterday
1) Went to the doctor's office for an exam, because he refused to renew my prescriptions unless I did. The fascist!
2)Began reading Murder Among Strangers.
3)Went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get two new folding chairs. The X back kind that look like real dining room chairs. Ending up buying a new tray for mom, plastic cups with pitcher (pretty), olive oil mister, fake ice, and a card table for my uncle as well.
4)Watched EWTN (Catholic Channel) with mom.
5)Prayed with mom.
6)Hung out with my husband, who had a day off from work today.
7)Posted witty comments on some of my favorite blogs, and answered scintillating emails.
8) Helped mom with some of her projects.

8 Shows I Watch
1) Dancing With the Stars (Monday)
2) Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday)
3)NCIS
4)CSI
5)CSI Miami
6) CSI New York
7) Numbers
8)Masterpiece Theatre


8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1) Lose weight.
2)Dance well. (Yes, I already dance. Well is the keyword here.)
3)Play the piano.
4) Knit a sweater.
5) Crochet well. (Yes, I already crochet basic stitches, but I don't do fancy doilies or anything like that)
6) Ice Skate.
7)Make strudel like the Bohemian ladies who lived on my block when I was a kid. (Bohemian as in Czech, not as in wild...)
8)Sew

8 Things I am Looking Forward To
1) Meeting Jesus. Sort of. I was thinking about that when I was in Church Saturday Night, and I realized that I am going to feel bad that I haven't talked to Him more than I do. I need to do better about putting Jesus first, so that when I meet Him face to face, I can unabashed put my arms around Him instead of saying that I really meant to give Him a call more often, but got kinda busy...
2) Going to my mom's and my friend's house Friday to help her sort bingo prizes for....
3) The ICF Bingo with a neighborhood nursing home. I know. I spend all day with the elderly (mom). Why would I want to spend my Saturday away at the nursing home helping old people play bingo? I dunno. I just do...
4)CCD begins again in September. I feel sharing my faith is my calling, and I do that with the children at CCD. I can hardly wait for it to start again, and we just finished this past Saturday! I know. I am the only one.
5) Meeting family, friends, and former students in Heaven. I hope that Ewa and Elizabeth (former students who died in the last few years) look me up when I get there, and say hi to me. Maybe let me introduce them to my dad and grandparents. They'll probably say "I saw you crying when you heard I died. Why? You knew better...."
6) Meeting blogging friends when Mare returns from Nigeria. My blogging friends have brought out the friendlier side of me, and it shows in my corporal relationships, too. I tend to blurt things out like I would in a comment now. For instance, Deacon Ken asked me jokingly if I don't feel guilty about a mistake I made at CCD. I said "Not really." deadpan like. He thought that was hysterical. At one time I would have been quiet, not knowing what I should say. Now I just say what I think (unless it is rude, like calling the doctor a naughty name because he took blood from my hand instead of my arm, and that hurts like a....(use your imagination).
7) Grammar school reunion in July. I know. After that nightmare about having a reunion after joining facebook, you would think that I would avoid a reunion. But the woman hosting it is someone I was in school with since Kindergarten, but around fifth grade we got separated into different classrooms and were never put together again. It turns out, she had her own issues with her classmates, too. We didn't know. We could have hung out together at lunch or recess, but I guess we were too wrapped up in our own problems to even notice the other's, and so we didn't know to reach out to each other. She and I don't have any baggage with each other. I know. The same might not be said for the rest of the participants. That's okay. I look forward to seeing Carrie. Maybe the rest will work out, too.
8) I don't know. A vacation may be in the works. My husband thinks I need to get away. You know. Statistics show that caregivers have shorter lives blah blah blah blah....He thinks I should go on my own. I refused. But then a day or two later a friend emailed, and called, and other friends emailed....The friend is trying to arrange for us to have a vacation together. While my first inclination is to worry about mom, I decided to see what happens. Maybe these separate people suggesting I get away (one even doing the work all by herself!) is really God's way of saying "Helen, chillax....."Then again, maybe that's wishful thinking. I have decided that if it works out, I'm going. And I am looking forward to it. (Don't go telling mom. Why should she worry if it doesn't work out. And it is a worry for both of us whether her caretaker can handle her. The woman who comes on Saturday has a job during the week, so we'd have to go through an agency. That can be hit or miss. When mom was better, but needing help, and I was working, we had a lady who was wonderful, and later another later who it is a wonder I didn't hurt her. I'll cross that bridge if I get there. For now, I trust that it will work as God intends....And if my friend is reading this, thank you...)

Googling for the Jung at Heart

Last week Katdish did a post where she told us what people googled to get her site. She used analytics to find this out. Annie told me how to get analytics months ago, and I got it. But then I decided I spent too much time on the internet anyways, so I ignored the stats. Katdish's post got me wondering what people googled to get hear. Some makes sense to me, like searches containing CCD. I know I mentioned being a CCD teacher once or twice. Others, like "songs about freud", have me a bit baffled. When someone googles "songs about freud", are they looking for ditties or hymns? Just wondering.... Or "jung "he is risen", I think jung, having written so comprehensively about collective unconscious, would have been more likely to go with "we are risen", but I digress....
I also don't remember blogging about perms, bonnie hunt neecie nash, or my German teacher in High School(Hildegarde Germaine). Oh well. At least all the searches have been clean. So far.


helen blogspot
jealous type
poprawinie
"her perm"
"hildegarde germaine"
+helen+blogspot
ah..... to be polish
bonnie hunt neecie nash
brewseter rockitt
ccd catholic funny acronyms
ccd classroom quiz game
ccd for 4th graders
ccd kids
crazy nativity sets
dramboui
dramboui liquor
how can you tell if someone is the jealous type
how do you know if your husband is jealous
how to know if your husband is jealous
how to say "don't do that" in polish 1
hrm prayer
husband who are jealous type
i'm sorry but did i ever mention
is your man jealous?
jealous type man
jezu marija
jung "he is risen"
my dad watched wrestling
my husband jealous
o jezu marija
o jezu marija! means
prayer for jealous husband
random facts about st. patrics day
religouis song: he had no place to lay his head
rich mullins cigarette smoker
songs about freud
songs about youth
watching wrestling on tv
what is the difference between sweet chin music and super kick
when husbands are jealous
www.watchwrestlingon.com
ya can't go home blogspot

On Saturday I wrote a post sort of about what Lent means to me. In this post, I descibe giving something up, like donuts. But the season of Lent is about much more than giving up sweets in self denial. It is supposed to be about self denial for the sake of Christ. It is about seeing Christ in others, and offering them mercy. The Catholic Church offers a list of ways to show mercy. the corporal works of mercy is as follows:
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the Homeless
Visit the sick
Visit the imprisoned
Bury the dead
The spiritual works of mercy are:
Instruct the ignorant
Counsel the doubtful
Admonish the sinner
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive offenses willingly
Comfort the sorrowful
Pray for the living and the dead
Now, ideally, we are supposed to be practicing this mercy every day of the year. Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I find myself drifting into other cares. Lent sort of wakes me up and brings me back....Ideally I am not going to stop doing these things during the Easter Season and Ordinary Time because Lent is over. Ideally, I am to have made self denial and mercy a way of life that keeps on going until next Lent, when I can then find ways to be more merciful still. Yeah, I keep saying ideally. That is because often enough I foul up somehow before we are even half way into Lent. I try to remind myself that just because my sacrifice could never be perfect, it doesn't mean it is useless. That is where the God and angel conversation come in again (see Saturday's post).

Now, here is a question. What if I were to do any of the corporal works of mercy with a sneer on my face? Would that be merciful? That question arises from a situation that my friend Katdish referenced on her blog Hey Look A Chicken.. The gist of the story is that some experimenters in viral advertising are using a homeless person, claiming they have a win win situation. Some of us find the way this is being handled as degrading to the man in question. I tried to assume the best about the perpetrators of the campaign in the beginning, but the more I think about it, the harder it is. Doesn't treating someone mercifully require being aware of their dignity? I started out thinking I shouldn't judge this campaign, since I am not doing enough. I moved on to thinking that just because I should do more, that doesn't excuse using someone the way the campaigners have used Tim.
Katdish's post caused lots of thoughts to start running through my mind, too many to include in one post. For now, I want to end this post with the thought that this Lent I need to incorporate remembering the dignity of the person as I attempt to grow in mercy. That sentence itself may sound confusing, but I trust you know what I mean.
There will be more on this to come, as I sort it out.
God bless Katdish and the people at her Church. They have been working on this already....

My answers (and thought processes) are as follows:


1)A Vow of Devotion
This is the title I would assign to Beth. Beth is a devoted wife, mother, and church member. Beth has been on a media fast this past week, and, to me anyay, she seems to be the one who spends the least amount of time at the computer. Her devotion to God and those He has given her to care for is inspirational.


2) As The World Churns
This title reminded me of how Annie and I started corresponding, and of course, the fact that we now share a cooking blog, Paprika is Good, But Not In Coffee (check it out in my sidebar). Seriously though, she juggles a lot of things, and does it well.


3) Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos
My understanding is that flamingos are from Florida. Which of our blogger pals hale from Florida? Mare, of course. If I were those flamingos, and I had lost Mare to Africa for a year, and then was going to lose her to Evanston for a couple of years, I would be clamouring for revenge, too. Oh well. Come August, the Flamingos loss will be my gain (Evanston is near Chicago). Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah....


4) Shoes to Die For
I know you can't judge a book by its cover, but doesn't the woman on the cover look spunky? Which of do you think of when you think of spunk and shoes? I think of Sherri. GIVE ME AN S! GIVE ME AN H! GIVE ME AN E! GIVE ME AN R! GIVE ME ANOTHER R! GIVE ME AN I! WHAT DOES THAT SPELL? SHERRI! SHERRI! YAYYYYY!

5) Foul Play
Hey look, a chicken! Really. This title made me think of Hey Look, A Chicken! Okay, I know I said plot would not be included in this menagerie of mystery, but, even though the title is spelled "foul" there is actually a chicken in this story! So you have a chicken, you have the word play (and who is more fun and playful than Katdish? I mean come on! Which of us would keep typing Monkey.....rendevous like that?),so Katdish is an obvious choice. And my humour is nothing if not obvious....

6) Dying For Chocolate
Hello Steph at Red Clay Diaries! I would be, too. I hope your affliction heals. I really do. (Apparently she has become, ahem, allergic to chocolate (discreet enough?))



7) Raiders of the Lost Corset
That would be me. I am a large women, who hasn't worn a.........human sized rubberband in a long time. That is right. I have lost my......ahem....human sized rubberband. (Was that TMI?)


8) The Cat Who Moved A Mountain
Have you seen the size of Gabrielle's cat? Wow. I mean, if any cat could move a mountain.....Okay, more seriously, Gabrielle is a Christian who is looking to move mountains by her faith. She knows what I mean. If you don't, the name of her blog is I'm Free Now. She can tell you about it in her own words.

9) The Cat Who Talked Turkey
Or maybe tofurky! Hi Matt!. I'm a Christmas Ominivore! Matt did a great post about Christmas Vegans. And no, the point of it was not abstaining from animal products. (Sorry Katdish, I know you are disappointed, but the only underwear title I could find was Death by Pantyhose, and that seemed somehow inappropriate...)

10)Simple Genius
Ryan is a college freshman who is following Christ. I was once one, too (twenty-one years ago). Sometimes Christian college student (at a state university) felt like a paradox. The title Simple Genius reminded me of the opposites I had to work with and reconcile. I hope it is easier for you, Ryan. And if anyone from an organization with the initials UBF invites you to bible study......well, I hate discouraging people from bible studies, but if you google "University Bible Fellowship" you should be able to see that this is not.....helpful. I thought they would help me with my paradoxes, but...well, that is for a different an less fun post. I didn't want to end this post on a downer. Let's see....how can we end this on a light hearted note....

Fun and Games for a Saturday

As inspiring as Katdish's cartoon posts matching her blogger friends with characters has been, I can't bring myself to directly steal her idea. I am a Christian. I don't steal from my friends. Just people I have never met (I'm kidding!). Still, it is hard not to be inspired to do a similar match up. If we were in High School, isn't that what we would do? And frankly, I haven't had this much fun with a group of new friends since I was in High School. Even then......(sniffle, sniffle, cue violin music now).

After my pro wrestling post on Monday, I was leaning toward matching you up with the pro wrestler who I think your personality would most resemble. Then I realized.....the women were really there to show off their bodies, and comparing women to men (whose character development in the WWE is way more fleshed out rather than flesh revealing) might not go over as well as I might hope.
So, what besides pro wrestlng just screams "HELEN! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELEN! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELEN!"? Musicals obviously! Upon an exhaustive search lasting five minutes, I came to the conclusion that there are not enough good musicals to go around. At least not with appropriate titles. Which of you wants to be The Student Prince ?

If I start going with Disney cartoons, I am invading Katdish's territory and committing borderline theft. I didn't notice any clauses in the ten commandments about borderline stealing (trust me, I checked.....well not really), so I figured time for plan C.
Helen loves to read mysteries. I have decided to match my dear new friends with the mystery title that I think suits them best. I am concentrating on title, not plot, or hero-heroine. This way, we all can play. Incidentally, I have read all of these books, so if you are interested in reading the plot, which has no bearing on my choice for you remember, contact me, and I will give you the gist of that particular series, if not that particular book (yes, I have read each of the books in the series these are from, if you include listening to audio books with mom during the day while I do chores as reading. Thank you Library!) so that you have some idea if you'd like to read it.


1)A Vow of Devotion



2) As The World Churns



3) Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos



4) Shoes to Die For


5) Foul Play


6) Dying For Chocolate






7) Raiders of the Lost Corset




8) The Cat Who Moved A Mountain


9) The Cat Who Talked Turkey


10)Simple Genius


Answers to Choose from: Helen (yes, I am playing too), Mare,Matt at the Church of No People, Gabrielle, Katdish, Ryan, Annie, Beth, Steph at the Red Clay Diaries, Sherri

Please play my little game with me in my comment section.

My answers should show up tonight by 6:00 pm, or I don't know what I am doing at this computer (all commence may snorting)

What Is That First Commandment Again? Sometimes It Seems I Have Forgotten.....

I don't know if blogging etiquette rules prohibit me from doing this, but I want to share something I started on Beth's (That's Not Me Anymore) comment section. The reason I miss her is because she is on a media fast this week.

I miss you, Beth. I know you won't be reading this yet, but, well, when you do, you will know that I miss you.
Oh, and between you, and an SCL post this week, I realize that I need to do a media fast myself. I have been enjoying the Internet, and putting it before God and others lately.
I have decided no computers at all on Sunday or Wednesday unless my donkey falls into a well.

I go on to explain that sometimes my mom wants me to find out something for her, and what momma wants, momma gets (hey, that is why I am a stay at home daughter). Honor thy Father and thy Mother. And, the things mom usually wants me to find out are if school is closed for family and friends who are students and teachers, if there were any survivors in the crash because she only heard part of the news, when is so and so's wake because maybe she should send me or Bob, you know, stuff like that. Things that worry seventy plus year old women. Hopefully we won't have those issues on a Sunday or Wednesday, because truth be told, it would be so easy to fall into temptation and just check email, then just check.....

The thing is, I haven't been a very good stay at home daughter lately. Through nobody's fault but my own, I have become obsessed with the next post, the next comment on that post, the newest like minded blogger out there, my own post, etc until it seems that I am just fitting mom in between computer sessions. Ditto Bob. And as for God, in all honesty, I have dared to give Him even less than that.

So I must give up computer time on Sundays, as it is the Lord's Day. I can tell myself that on Sunday, I mainly post on the sermon, or the beauty of that particular Sunday, or something I find inspiring. Nice. But can I honestly say it couldn't wait until Monday.....No...I couldn't honestly say that. No one needed my _______Sunday of Advent posts.
If I did, why not mention it Saturday, and blog on it Monday. Because it obviously wasn't important enough to me to preplan, and then wait for. I have a post coming out tomorrow that is fun and silly that I have been planning for almost a week. I didn't post it today because, I agree with Katdish, that some things should wait for Beth, because it wouldn't be the same without her. So why didn't I plan and wait with those Sunday posts? Because they weren't as important to me. So it shouldn't have been as important to me to post those on a Sunday.

I made a suggestion on SCL that we choose a day to fast together, since I noticed many bloggers saying what I said. It seems one commenter (and perhaps many lurkers, for all I know), found that disturbing. I know someone else who thought it was a good idea (Hi Stacy!). Perhaps I did jump the gun. Not everyone has the same problem, so everyone fasting from the same thing is unnecessary.
However, if you have the same issues with the computer and blogging as I do, or similar ones, I invite you to join me. Obviously if you work with computers, you would use it to do your job, but not for entertainment. And again, maybe you don't have that issue at all, and it is like telling a vegan to give up meat on Fridays during Lent. " Like, huh?".
And, in all honesty, the more blogger friends who join me, the easier the fast will be on me (which, of course, isn't your responsibility, but it is the truth).
Don't worry about needing to get in touch with me to pray for you if an emergency arises. I will be thinking of you often on Wednesdays (and a few times on Sunday, too, truth be told), and I plan on praying for you and your families every time I do.

P.S. I have chosen Sunday for the obvious reason (as stated). But Sunday would be like giving God and my family the minimum. I don't want to stop at the minimum. I want to refocus so that when I return on the other five days of the week, I have a renewed heart as to what is important, and can better handle blogging and the internet in my life.