Skip to main content

I've Added A New Read

I have a "virtual" friend; her name is Nicole. I'm not sure even how we are connected. If I should know, I don't remember. I blame Confirmation Sponsor Guy, and his merry band of...whatever they are. And I blame another friend, whom I shall christen "Lake McWheels," and trust he is not offended. Catholics find each other, and we don't even care how random it is. I digress.

What I mean to say is that Nicole here is a wise lady, and a darn good writer. God must be at work, and Mrs. DeMille must be pretty close to Him, (or at least on the way) because I'm pretty sure I'd not be handling her crosses as well as she does. That will embarrass her, and she will deny it. I say, "Humor me, lady. They tell me they're glad I get out at all." Sidebar: I usually take that stuff in stride, but I sense that some people aren't just uncomfortable; they don't respect me, and this is a way to do that while appearing kind. Moving on.

Well, sort of. That's probably the worst thing that anyone could say, (that they don't respect me) if someone did in fact say it. I am the king of destroying myself for a few laughs. It's not even a huge deal, because gentle mockery expresses fondness, and my friends know this. I am both vulnerable, and very proud. Anything that approaches humility in me was imposed from outside. That's the truth. I am glad I don't know what people think about me, unless they tell me. It would probably destroy me, like it would for most of us.

I take it back: Not everyone's bad opinion matters; just people whose opinion I respect. I'd rather you kill me than tell me this. Those wounds are the worst. I lose respect for myself from time to time, and that's good, because I come to God for my meaning and true worth, not to mention rebuilding, as it were. But D^%*, lose a true friend, lose respect, maybe never get it back, and then you can tell me how hard life is. Rant over. My apologies.

Lord Jesus, I give You my anger, sadness, and true sorrow over this old hurt, which You know. You know that I desire to forgive and be forgiven. One day, it will come. Until then, give me some small measure of peace. Amen.

Anyway, I'm proud to add Nicole's blog to those which you may peruse when you realize that this blog sucks. [Can a Catholic who aspires to sainthood say, "sucks"?--ed.] I don't know. Can a Christian who knows he should be Catholic and refuses to do it count on God's mercy? [You just watch it, buddy.--ed.] Just sayin'. Time to decide. It's actually the question of the century: "What is the Church, and am I in it?" And for the record, I'm not an apologist. I'm a snark-pologist. CtC wants to think you into the Church, and love you in. I am not that guy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Thoughts On The Harrison Butker Commencement Speech

Update: I read the whole thing. I’m sorry, but what a weirdo. I thought you [Tom Darrow, of Denver, CO] made a trenchant case for why lockdowns are bad, and I definitely appreciated it. But a graduation speech is *not* the place for that. Secondly, this is an august event. It always is. I would never address the President of the United States in this manner. Never. Even the previous president, though he deserves it, if anyone does. Thirdly, the affirmations of Catholic identity should be more general. He has no authority to propound with specificity on all matters of great consequence. It has all the hallmarks of a culture war broadside, and again, a layman shouldn’t speak like this. The respect and reverence due the clergy is *always due,* even if they are weak, and outright wrong. We just don’t brush them aside like corrupt Mafia dons, to make a point. Fourthly, I don’t know where anyone gets the idea that the TLM is how God demands to be worshipped. The Church doesn’t teach that. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dear Alyse

 Today, you’re 35. Or at least you would be, in this place. You probably know this, but we’re OK. Not great, but OK. We know you wouldn’t want us moping around and weeping all the time. We try not to. Actually, I guess part of the problem is that you didn’t know how much we loved you. And that you didn’t know how to love yourself. I hope you have gotten to Love by now. Not a place, but fills everything in every way. I’m not Him, but he probably said, “Dear daughter/sister, you have been terribly hard on yourself. Rest now, and be at peace.” Anyway, teaching is going well, and I tell the kids all about you. They all say you are pretty. I usually can keep the boys from saying something gross for a few seconds. Mom and I are going to the game tonight. And like 6 more times, before I go back to South Carolina. I have seen Nicky twice, but I myself haven’t seen your younger kids. Bob took pictures of the day we said goodbye, and we did a family picture at the Abbey. I literally almost a...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Friend I Once Had, And The Dogmatic Principle

 I once had a friend, a dear friend, who helped me with personal care needs in college. Reformed Presbyterian to the core. When I was a Reformed Presbyterian, I visited their church many times. We were close. I still consider his siblings my friends. (And siblings in the Lord.) Nevertheless, when I began to consider the claims of the Catholic Church to be the Church Christ founded, he took me out to breakfast. He implied--but never quite stated--that we would not be brothers, if I sought full communion with the Catholic Church. That came true; a couple years later, I called him on his birthday, as I'd done every year for close to ten of them. He didn't recognize my number, and it was the most strained, awkward phone call I have ever had. We haven't spoken since. We were close enough that I attended the rehearsal dinner for his wedding. His wife's uncle is a Catholic priest. I remember reading a blog post of theirs, that early in their relationship, she told him of the p...
Post a Comment
Read more