I admit that with my Internet issues yesterday and Tuesday as well as Daniel’s Urgent Care visit yesterday, I haven’t had my mind on spiritual things. In fact, I was spitting nails Tuesday and breathing fire over the phone when they told me it would be 7-10 days before we’d have Internet at the parsonage. (They got it restored this evening.) The lack of Internet so incredibly inconvenienced me as I pretty much operate online and Jon didn’t have much spare time yesterday for me to go to the library or to $tarbux. We did, however, find a way for me to patch into Metanoia’s internet so I could check email this morning and get the incredibly necessary stuff offline.
Now able to be online and blog live, I have to admit that I discovered how completely dependent I am on the Internet for many things in my life including connecting with people. It is so much easier to function over Facebook and Twitter — I’m an introvert so I’d rather not deal with people in real life. However, I need to learn to relate to people one-on-one better and that means actually seeking out meaningful relationships with people in the congregation. The only problem: I’m the youngest married woman and the other ones live very different lives from me. (I do have a few people who understand me and with whom I can chat.) This is, however, the impetus for change.
Outside my window… sunny and probably in the 50’s or 60’s. Apparently, this equals rain in the eyes of Sacramento weather people. Umm… yeah.
I am thinking… that my little bear should hopefully be going to sleep soon given that I gave him some Benadryl and have changed his diaper a few times.
I am thankful… that the Girl Scouts are going strong 100 years after their founding. I’m also thankful for the cookie program, especially for Samoas which are making me happy (and we’re not going to talk about their effect on my waistline).
In the kitchen… probably heating some Bertolli’s soup or something.
I am wearing… my black Arabic shirt and Jon’s navy “Left Behind” shorts.
I am creating… this entry and pondering ideas for Lenten ones so I can stay with my Lenten discipline.
I am going… to Bible study tonight while Jon stays with Daniel.
I am wondering… how people can claim President Obama is a Muslim when there was the grumping about Pastor Jeremiah Wright in the 2008 election — you know Obama’s PASTOR?!?!?!?!? (“Obama is Muslim” was trending on Twitter today.)
I am reading…Fearless by Max Lucado.
I am hoping… Daniel takes a good nap and goes down easily tonight.
I am looking forward to… various things this week.
I am pondering… things for Lenten writings this week.
A favorite quote for today… “If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world.” — C.S. Lewis
One of my favorite things… Samoas!
A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible study and “Hart of Dixie” tonight, PT tomorrow, speech and mid-week Lenten stuff on Wednesday, OT on Thursday, possibly Confession and dinner with Dean and Kym on Friday, and family gathering for my dad’s birthday on Saturday at my evil twin’s house.
A favorite quote for today… “Fear may fill our world, but it doesn’t have to fill our hearts. It will always knock on the door. Just don’t invite it in for dinner, and for heaven’s sake don’t offer it a bed for the night.” — Max Lucado in Fearless
One of my favorite things… Coca-Cola despite how awful it is for me.
A few plans for the rest of the week: doctor’s appointment today, PT tomorrow, school psych exam and speech for Daniel as well as midweek Lenten dinner on Wednesday, OT and possibly child development as well as Ladies’ Night Out on Thursday, neuro appointment for Daniel and massage for me on Friday.
A peek into my day… My pajama bottoms which are made of WIN!
My Lenten discipline of writing every day has been fruitful in that it has allowed me to tackle some of the more interesting things going on with my spirit. Here my seven takes on what I’ve learned and what is yet to be discussed.
— 1 —
I’m seriously out of practice in talking serious theology. This is a bit distressing considering that I spent a year doing postgraduate study in that area. I did discover, however, that many of the answers I give are either from Luther’s Small Catechism or from the “theses” that we went through in Systematic Theology. Props to my Systematic Theology professor Dr. Michael Root who is now on staff with the Catholic University of America because I’ve used those suckers for 10 years now in every parish to explain the faith to people. (He used to be a one of the go-to people for ecumenism in the ELCA as well as a professor at Trinity and then professor/academic dean at LTSS but “swam the Tiber” in 2010.) I should probably go back through my notes from those two quarters because 10 years later, I’m in a position to have to talk to my ladies at Bible study about “how it all hangs together”.
— 2 —
I’m not as “over” Daniel’s hospital stay last year as I thought. I’m getting smacked in the evenings with crying jags when it all hits me. Doing my Lenten writing for Wednesday on Tuesday night was excruciating and I’m thankful that one of the pastors I know through Facebook (and other things) happened to be online because I needed someone to pray with me. Their child’s major surgery was 17 years ago and the anniversary still elicits something so I have a feeling that every March 1st is going to be tough for me on some level.
I’m wishing that I had waited until Lent to read Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren Winner. I know several pastors for whom it is their Lenten book and the topic as well as her reflections would have been good to do as daily readings. I will still be drawing on chapters from it for posts however.
— 5 —
Doing my Lenten posting has reminded me of how much I deeply love the Psalms. So far, I’ve posted Psalm 55 and Psalm 13 and I’ve used the online Bible site Bible Gateway which has, according to the site, 100 versions in 50 languages. (They’re not lying — I’ve used them for Pentecost posts in the past where I break the Acts 2 passage down by verse into different languages.) Anyway, they have the King James Version which just celebrated its 400th birthday and it’s my choice for the Psalms because I love their rendering in Elizabethan English. There’s a reason they are considered “the songbook of the Bible” other than the fact that they were used in the Temple in Jerusalem — they encompass pretty much every emotion that exists and at least 1/3 to 1/2 are ones that convey disappointment and sadness yet end on a positive note.
— 6 —
I do need to write about prayer and its power at some point. Whatever I write will probably be partially based on the chapter entitled “Healing Prayer” from Lauren Winner’s book because I should talk about it. The times during seminary when we had healing prayer were powerful as were the times I went when I attended Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls. Otherwise, I’ll probably talk about Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, or Compline. (Yes, all those exist in the Lutheran Book of Worship — the green hymnal which is the predecessor to the cranberry one that exists now for the ELCA which is what we use at Metanoia.)
— 7 —
I do need to find an Episcopal priest to meet with for Confession. Why am I going to an Episcopal priest? I am going to them because they have a rite in their prayerbook for it and I think that after the events of the last couple years, I could use a chance to unburden my soul a bit. The Episcopal church in town is without a full-time pastor (not to mention that if they had one, Jon would probably know them) so I will probably have to go to Sacramento to do this. I need to download a copy of Reconciliation by Fr. Martin Smith for my NOOK so I can read through it and review the preparation necessary. It will likely be after March 15th because I’ve got Daniel things on the 2nd and 9th.
Outside my window… gray and looking like the rain is coming back.
I am thinking… about all that I have to do.
I am thankful… for the gifts given to us by the parish yesterday.
In the kitchen… dishes to do.
I am wearing… my black “Governator” t-shirt and my blue striped pajama bottoms. It’s the extent of my clean clothes other than my jeans and “going out” stuff after Daniel spewed his lunch on me.
I am going… out to get diapers and stuff as soon as Jon has changed out of his work clothes.
I am wondering… if Lisa of All Things Gale has had her baby yet. (Just checked her site and there’s no word yet.)
I am reading…Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren Winner. I didn’t cry during my last session of reading so that’s a plus.
I am hoping… that the antenna still works even though half of one of the arms broke off.
I am looking forward to… Daniel going to bed tonight and being able to watch “Hart of Dixie”.
Around the house… don’t want to think about it.
I am pondering… what to do for my Lenten sacrifice.
One of my favorite things… minestrone soup from Olive Garden.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Valentine’s dinner at church tomorrow, peds appointment on Wednesday, OT on Thursday, massage on Friday, and whatever else pops up that needs doing.
Wow! Lots for me to choose from this week in the news, so I guess I’ll get started.
— 1 —
Mea culpa. I owe a number of you an apology for posting the link to the White House blog and saying that there were religious exemptions if you had mentioned the HHS situation on your Quick Takes. Thank you to Lisa at All Things Gale for emailing me and explaining the intricacies of the situation politely and civilly. Thank you also to Katie of NFP and Me for giving me the link to the roundtable on ABC that includes this discussion.
— 2 —
Regarding the Susan G. Komen debacle, it is THEIR choice as to whom they choose to grant funding. Yeah, it was spineless of them to have caved to public pressure but it would also be dishonest if they did not fulfill the grant money that had already been promised for this year. Next year, however, is different and they can sever ties at that point. The damage has already been done — their donations will drop because of this. This should also be a sign to Planned Parenthood that they need to acquire some mammography machines and get some licenses to use them so they can actually claim truthfully to promote breast health rather than making referrals out to other providers.
— 3 —
On Monday night, I found a great article on being a super successful introvert. I’m one of the last people to like anything sanctioned by Oprah but this article is excellent. I’ve actually put some of these things into practice in past situations and they really do work. And seriously… I’m proud to be part of a class of people that includes Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt.
— 4 —
The petition to rescind the HHS mandate hit 25,000 signatures on Tuesday. It’s not surprising given that even *I* signed it because I think that the terms of the mandate needed to be adjusted to allow for issues of conscience for *ALL* religious groups, not just the Catholic Church. (I signed it on February 1st if anyone wanted to know). 25,000 is the threshold to go to the HHS peeps and the president so I hope this all gets resolved soon. It doesn’t go into effect for another year but it isn’t good to have more tension in a country that is already polarized enough and has been for a very long time (since 2000 at least).
— 5 —
I’ve been having to sleep in the living room because of the cough from the MUTANT DEATH COLD. I can’t be flat or I start coughing up a lung, making it really hard to get sleep. I’m on the last few days of my antibiotics which were supposed to treat any infection if it was present (as bronchitis = hospital for me) and the only difference is that I’m maybe getting some stuff up now. I don’t know if I just have a really inflamed area in my throat or what but this is getting frustrating. *makes a mental note to get more cough drops*
— 6 —
Dude… marshmallow gun. President Obama and Joey, an 8th grader from Arizona, shot a marshmallow across the State Dining Room of the White House using the air cannon that Joey built for his science project at the White House Science Fair.
I don’t care how you feel about Obama — I think shooting *anything* out of an air cannon needs to be viewed… repetitively.
— 7 —
This article on helicopter parents in the workplace from NPR is scary. I honestly can’t imagine my parents calling the seminary or the clinic or UPS Supply Chain Solutions (my brokerage in Montana) to make them be nice to me or make them pay me more. For one thing, it’s highly unprofessional and it also shows that the candidate cannot function independently if their parents are still fighting their battles for them. My mom has told me who happened to be hiring when I was looking for a job one summer and I’ve asked her advice with regard to work situations (she’s calm and diplomatic which is what I aim to project); but that’s the limit. The only reason she met my boss in Montana is that she was at the baby shower that the UPS Supply Chain Solutions people threw me when Daniel came home from the hospital. Helicopter parents in general just stymy me. I mean, I’m uber-involved in Daniel’s life and advocate for him but he’s also only two years old and autistic. I’ve told friends of mine to shoot me if I ever show up to a parent-teacher conference and complain that the teacher doesn’t see Daniel’s innate specialness.
— Bonus —
In California news, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Prop 8. This is kind of a useless ruling because it was going to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, regardless of in whose favor the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled. (The 9th Circuit Court gets overturned by the Supreme Court 54% of the time which another reason why this ruling is useless.) I probably should have an opinion on this… and I don’t. I have too many friends on both sides of the issue who are going to be wounded when it is decided one way or the other that I’ve just decided to keep my mouth shut. I will say, however, that this is not a good thing for those who were in favor of Prop 8 (which means that they are against same-sex marriage) because the Supreme Court deciding the law is unconstitutional means that the door is WIDE open for DOMA to be repealed and other states to pass laws allowing same-sex marriages.
For more Quick Takes, visit Hallie Lord at BettyBeguiles.Com who is graciously hosting this meme while Jen pushes toward the end of her manuscript.
