Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Easter Eggs for Benedict?

The confluence of Holy Week and the ever widening lens aimed squarely at the Pope in a "what did he know and what did he do about it" kind of way is exactly as it should be. It would be easier to enter into the tomb of Holy Week and celebrate Easter without such sordid distractions. But it also would have been easier to "let this cup pass from me," but that's not what happened.  So, during this solemn time, this time of penance and spiritual renewal, Pope Benedict needs to come clean and like John XXIII, open up the windows, but in this case, to let the stink out. If indeed then Cardinal Ratzinger ignored the information about pedophile, criminal priests and allowed them to continue, then he needs to take up his cross and admit what he did. And if he did not know, that's a good thing. Let him become a different kind of rottweiler now, railing against abusive priests and an organizational culture that moved them around like chess pieces, oblivious at best, to their victims' pain and suffering. Let him galvanize the faithful by his honesty and openness and willingness to admit faults and make significant change.

Even as I write these words, my interior voice laughs at me, saying, "Yeah, right. That might happen." The red hats are already circling the wagons.

Let's see, maybe he can cancel the inquisition of American nuns and order a "visitation" to study the behavior and the lifestyle of, say, priests around the globe? Maureen Dowd, I think, had the right idea: "Yup, We need a Nope. A nun for pope."

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Late Night Blogging

I do not really know why I so often resist going to bed at a reasonable hour. By the time I think about it, it's already too late. The same thing happens with eating lunch. The obvious explanations do not ring true. But since I'm awake, I might as well blog away. I spent the last hour or so reading other blogs. Just click, "next blog," and there you go. It is interesting how blogs with similar content loop together as you click away. I soon found myself on teacher and education blogs.

 One was so well written, actually it was most impressive because of the writer's voice. So much so that its complete lack of capital letters somehow did not send me immediately to the "next blog" icon. Surprising. More to come as I was just hit with IOE, immediate onset exhaustion perhaps due to the loud words of PastorMelissaScott.com who I cannot shut up unless I physically turn off the tv because I cannot fnd the remote. She's telling her congregants to pray to Haimon and Mordecai. Over and out.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

The Spring in My Step

Rebirth. Regeneration. Sunlight. Easter. How I love this time of year, and how interesting that it arrives just in the nick of time.  The vernal equinox resets my internal clock and recalibrates my spiritual compass. Outward signs include spring cleaning, car washing, packing of clothes for the St. Vincent dePaul box, attending the Silhouette Stations of the Cross, and returning regularly to the Long Beach boardwalk. The internal movement is more subtle.
Living the life one is called to as a Catholic Christian requires a counter cultural stance, and a freedom from worldly attachments and distractions. Not for the timid this life, I believe, but worth the effort. A profound articulation of this truly radical way of being is found in the Sermon on the Mount and the subsequent chapters in the Gospel of Matthew. An awesome story of the love and forgiveness available to us when we fail? The Prodigal Son.
(Matthew 5: 1-11)
           When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
            "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
            "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
            "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
            "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
            "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
            "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
            "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
            "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, fortheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
           "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Day 32 Down 13

The only part of the healthy lifestyle I have been 100% compliant with is the elimination of alcohol from my diet. I've been pretty good with healthy eating, not so much with exercising. Moving the clocks ahead and the arrival of spring usually help in this regard. Almost got sucked into who-knew-about-this-hurricane, no-electricity bingeing last night, but resisted. All things considered, a decent start.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

On Writing Short Shorts: 6 Beats 55

Now that I'm back in the world of English, I find myself checking out blogs and online resources about reading and writing. I came across Flash 55, a writing game some bloggers engage in on Fridays. The goal is to write a 55-word story. Not 54, not 56, but exactly 55.  Not a bad idea, but definitely not as cool as the six-word story. Supposedly, Hemingway considered this short, short story his best. 
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
So, I am starting my own little game, right this very minute and, I think I'll call it Six on Sunday or maybe Saturday. To participate, simply compose 6 word bios of famous people w/o revealing their identity. Then readers can post guesses. Given the number of readers, this shouldn't be too taxing, but hey, this could catch on. 


I'll start today. Okay, new rule. On Wednesday, the bios must be about famous women. Although, my idea of "famous" needs clarifying. I'm not a fan of "cult of celebrity" fame. I prefer famous for actual accomplishments in a given area. Here's an easy one. I'll do better by Sunday.
Chameleon voices. Nominations galore. Class act.










Monday, March 1, 2010

A Great Day in Munchkin Land


Children all over will spend much of tomorrow reading and listening to books by Dr. Seuss  in celebration of his 106th  birthday. That his work continues to entertain and engage children in this century's digitized world is impressive, but not surprising. There's something timeless about Dr. Seuss's rhythmical books: their common sense ideas couched in occasional nonsense words and ubiquitous rhyme, their memorable characters and titles, and their signature illustrations. Children still love them.  Most adults, even those who haven't read them to their own children, can recite lines from his stories. And every spring "Oh, The Places You'll Go"  is hailed as the most quoted book at commencement ceremonies across the land.  So in honor of this wonderful author and illustrator, let's enjoy some of his memorable lines:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.
If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.

I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent.
So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.
And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.




Theodor Seuss Geisel b. March 2, 1904 d. September 24, 1991