Ascetic

An ascetic is 1. a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons. Or 2. a person who leads an austerely simple life, especially one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or denies himself or herself material satisfaction. Or 3. a monk or a hermit (in the early Church).

We talk about this from time to time in my women's group. It bothers some of us; another defends it, yet would never practice being one; one believes her husband is one; and I find myself coming back to the word over and over again.

Why? What draws me to this as an ideal? Is it the life I live compared to those who suffer daily and do not have the basic necessities of life? I have difficulty being content in my life and this idea of asceticism draws me in as a way to learn to live contentedly. I have everything I need and (probably, yes?) everything I want. The things I want that I don't have aren't things at all. I want to have a mellowness of heart and spirit, close relationships, peace in my soul, to be authentic, knowledge, wisdom, time to be with people I love, to live as God's daughter - not one of these can be bought or sold. If I were to become an "ascetic" would I have these instead of the nagging discontent I live with each day? Is there a book "Asceticism for Dummies?" Is this my Lenten study?

History of Lent

History of Lent

Baptisms

Today I went to church for our usual Saturday Baptisms. I went because I good friend's daughter was being baptized. It turned out that the other baby was also someone I knew.
As I stood there, watching, listening and praying I was struck by this thought, both moms had been through our RCIA program as had one of the godmothers. So, I was thinking how this is really what passing on the faith is about. I was privileged to be a part of these three faith journeys and now, a new journey begins with the children. As the priest traced a cross on the babies' ears, lips and eyes, I was reminded when that happens on Holy Saturday to those who are to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. I will ask my friend if the memory came back to her as well, since she was baptized only three years.
It was bittersweet for me, since I don't walk with people in the same way on their faith journeys any longer.

Friday, Time for 7 Quick Takes

1. This has been an odd week, difficult at the office, have not seen my husband enough yet I have been able to come to terms with some problems which are probably not ever going to change and I have no control over. It speaks directly to one of Rohleiser's pillars of Christianity, having a mellowness of heart and spirit. My book group agreed that this is the most difficult for us. A constant struggle when so many people and things are in constant need. It was interesting when one friend commented that I seem be growing in this area, since I had some extremely non-mellow moments this week at the office. Striving for holiness, that's what I do...some days better than others.

2. I am working on two big projects at work. One is our annual dinner dance/auction event for Feb 6, the other is our Lenten newsletter and prayer fair. Both are important, but the work for Lent seems so much more relevant.

3. Tonight we are getting together with friends for an evening of Praise and Worship. One of our friends is a great musician and he will lead us, the rest of us sing along, pray and read Scriptures. It is a wonderful way to spend an evening with friends. We pray for all those in need and enter into a spirit of praise and thanks for all God has done for us. It draws us closer not only to God but to each other.

4. Watched a great movie last night, The Changeling, while my dear husband napped beside me. The movie was based on a true story from the late 1920's and was set in Los Angeles. I will not give away the story, but will say that certain things really struck me: 1. women were treated very, very badly; 2. only men sat on the jury; 3. how easily people in authority seemed to do the wrong thing.

5. We had a used book sale at our parish last weekend. It worked out well, we did raise some money, but now I have hundreds of books in boxes that still need a good home. I wish you could all pop on over and pick out some for yourselves.

6. On Wednesday the Gospel was about the sower and the seed that falls on different soil. I read an interesting reflection on that, courtesy of a friend. It talks about how we often think about what kind of soil we are and how we are receiving God's word. It was suggested that instead, be the sower, who puts the seed out there, no matter what the soil and keeps going about his business. It is about evangelizing and doing what we are called to do while not worrying about what happens, because in the end, God takes care of what happens, not us.

7. Some of my friends really dislike bloggers. The reason is that they think all bloggers put out their opinions as right and expect people to pay attention. I suppose this may be true of some, but then can't we say the same about anyone who puts their thoughts and ideas into the public forum? Authors, artists, musicians, songwriters, all who create do so in hopes someone pays attention.

For more Quick Takes, move on to Conversion Diary.

Seen via Email

Today I had a few interesting emails, thought I'd share:
"Thank you for your patients." I do not work in a doctor's office, but I get it.
"It was a please to meet you" - from an author, thank you!
And a response to an email requesting info on the numbers of years each person has been involved in ministry, "I see no one has been involved over 5 years." Uhh, right, except for the ones who say 9 years and 10 years next to their names.

Okay, I'm complaining, no one is perfect, read my posts, I make mistakes. But these are professionals, engaging in professional correspondence.

Clearly I need a day off and confession. However, I must wait for both for a day or two. I may have to lock my office door and not engage with anyone or my sin list is going to be way long.

Ideas for Lent

I have to begin writing the Lenten issue of our parish newsletter. Any ideas of topics to include? websites to share? books to read? I am looking for suggestions, so please leave some in the comment section. Thanks!

Saints

I think about saints frequently. There are some saints I really like, Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Siena, Gianna Molla, Teresa of Avila, mostly because of what they accomplished during their lifetimes. I recently came across a definition of a saint, "one who wills the one thing." And, if I think and pray about this definition, anyone can be a saint. It just depends on what you "will' so to speak.
You can will goodness, kindness, love and joy or not. I often joke that I will become a saint, but really, I do want to strive to become a saint. It does come down to "willing" the one thing, unceasingly with love. What is your one thing?

The Diploma

My diploma arrived in the mail today!

7 Quick Takes

1. My final paper came back from Loyola. I have officially completed all of my assignments satisfactorily and will soon find out when my degree will be conferred. I will say that in some way I miss classes. It gave me a focus which I seem to be sorely lacking at this time.


2. I have come to the conclusion that I miss teaching and praying with people much more than I thought. I find fundraising events much less personally satisfying to plan and execute than helping other have a deeper relationship with God or learning more about their faith.


3. I printed out my post on my goals for 2010 and see that I am not making any progress on any of them. I may make copies and set them around the house to remind myself what I really want to be doing. This way silly stuff I do like playing games and facebook on the computer can stop being my primary focus.


4. I have another major event this Saturday. A used book and media sale for the parish. Today we will sort books and so forth, then we will sell everything. 10% of the proceeds will go to a day care center in town that serves low income families. The books which are not sold will be taken to Pahokee, a town by Lake Okeechobee where we have a sister parish and distributed between the library and the parish.


5. My next major event is in 2 weeks, our annual dinner dance and auction. I have nothing to wear and now I find out I will have to help the auctioneer by being the "color" person who announces and gets people interested in the live auction items. The things I have to do sometimes really take me out of my comfort zone. I don't mind hamming it up for kids, but adults are different. And, did I mention I have nothing to wear!


6. My husband started classes at seminary. He goes one night a week and one weekend a month. He is taking Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology. It's interesting. His professor hands out copies of his hand-written notes.


7. Today is the anniversary of Roe vs Wade. Let us pray that people's hearts and minds are opened to the horrible scourge abortion is and overturn this so called "choice."

For more Quick Takes, surf on over to Conversion Diary!

Nonnegotiables of Christian Life

The essentials of Christian Spirituality are 1.private prayer and private morality; 2. social justice; 3. mellowness of heart and spirit; 4. community as a constitutive element of spirituality says Rolheiser in "The Holy Longing." The idea is to have balance among these and to know that each part is important and necessary. It is not enough to pray, one must serve those in need, be part of a community and have joy.

I think people are drawn to others who live out these four essentials.

New Places I've Come Across

New Advent: not only a great encyclopedia but also a posts from various blogs and news sources, reminds me a bit of Drudge Report.

A Catholic Woman's website called the Phases of Womanhood, A Catholic Perspective. It looks interesting, haven't spent much time there, but it's out there.

Liturgy of the Hours go and learn how to pray, put the app on your iPhone, listen to the prayers, or read them. In short pretty much all you need.

Word for the Year

I came across this idea of having a word for the new year at Faith and Family Live and have been intrigued by it. I have been trying to think and pray about my word for this year which would sum up how I want to live my life. It's a big challenge and I keep wanting to add adjectives and/or adverbs to the words I come up with.
Looking over my goals for this year, pondering what has frustrated me this last year, and thinking about what I'd like to be different, I think I have a word.
And...the envelope please...the winning word is...authentic!
I am going to be myself, the person who is inside me will now be shown to the world. Slightly scary, but I will go slowly. For everyone's sake.

The Wedding at Cana

This Sunday's Gospel is the Wedding at Cana from John 2:1-11. For me, the lesson I learn is that God always gives us the best. The headwaiter is astonished because the wine he tastes is better than the first wine served. How true that is in our own life. When we act in accordance with God's will, we get the best. When we do it on our own, not so much.
It is amazing that God truly wants to give us the best, all the time. I know that many times I reject the offer because it draws me out of my comfort zone and into a place that is different. And change is sometimes difficult, even if it is a positive one.
The last month I have been stuck in a dark night, refusing to allow myself comfort and solace. This morning I was reminded that my refusing to take care of my spiritual needs is serving no one, it is hurting me. So, I am moving forward. It may be difficult and somewhat painful, but I can do it with God's grace.
And again, Jesus is always ready to give us the gift, the best possible gift, himself in the Eucharist.

7 Quick Takes

1. I don't understand open-toed boots. At all. If it is cold enough to wear boots, you need to have your toes covered as well. I also don't understand UGG boots with shorts.

2. I think it's great to be thankful when prayers are answered. I don't think leaving a positive home pregnancy test stick at the base of a statue in our parish's meditation garden is the best way to show thankfulness.

3. I live in Florida so I don't need to wear layers, panty hose, or turn on the heat in my house. Yet every day this week I have done just that! Enough with the cold.


4. Next Wednesday my husband starts school. I am so excited and happy for him.


5. My parents will be here later today. They drove down from NY and they'll stay about 2 or 3 months. No, not with me, but at my grandmother's house which became my mom's and uncle's when she died. It is close by, so we get to see each other often but not so often we annoy each other.


6. My husband bought a very nice car yesterday, after a month or so of looking. It is a 99 Infinity, not sure of the model. The man we bought it from took less than he had originally planned since we are church going Christians. We were borrowing a car from a friend so now we can give it back. I need to think of an appropriate thank you gift besides dinner and cleaning the car. So, all in all, what could have been a difficult time, was made easier due to the kindness of a friend and also the kindness of a stranger. God does watch out for us. I must remember that.



7. Tomorrow is our parish appreciation dinner. It's a big event to thank all our parishioners for serving in ministry in the past year. I am planning on 400 people. We are also having a DJ, which is a new addition to the event. I hope it all goes well.




For more Quick Takes head on over to Jennifer at Conversion Diary!

What is a soul?

I am reading The Holy Longing again. I first read it as part of a class but now am reading it with a group of women I meet with each week. The first chapter discusses the two functions of the soul. It is both the life force within us and that which holds us together. It is the very essence of who we are as individuals. It contains our fire and helps us make sense of what we are about. It is no wonder that when my soul is not fed, I get restless and unfocused, unsure and discouraged; my fire dies. I need to nourish my soul by doing what brings me joy and trying to rid myself of whatever steals my joy. All of us need to do this, because our life is given to us one time only. What nourishes your soul?

Office

I noticed today how much I dislike people constantly around me, even if we are not interacting. There are people in my office who cut through my office to get to the copy machines or worse, use the shredder without closing my door. I just can't stand it. They can go a few more steps and not cut through my office. Our offices are small and we are on top of each other. I share my office with the music director, there is a 3/4 wall between us. He is not is too often when I am there, so it's not too bad. But this constant traffic drives me nuts. The other issue is people coming into my office when I am with someone or on the phone talking to someone. I need some privacy and space. It is so unprofessional and really unnecessary. If there is an emergency, by all means interrupt but otherwise, WAIT.
We are a group of people where almost each of has the word "director" in our title, I really wish people would behave more like a director than a crisis responder.

Goal vs Resolution

It's a new year, but not a new decade as my husband the math wiz points outs whenever anyone says that. I've looked back and now I need to look forward. But do I want goals or resolutions? So, being the former teacher that I am, I looked up the words in the dictionary. A goal is "-the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end." A resolution is "a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.; and the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc."

Looking at these two, I'd say I want goals, which I will resolve to meet in this upcoming year.

So, what are my goals?
1. I'd like to learn to take photographs. My husband bought me a simple digital camera for my birthday and I want to use it. I don't do well taking pictures of people, but scenery, flowers, things that are still. Hopefully, you'll see some of my efforts soon.
2. Dedicate time each day to being alone. This should not be a problem since I have no children living here, no pets, just one husband. I can pray, think, journal or do nothing, but I have found that I really need alone time to decompress and process.
3. Make a quilt, which I will of course take pictures of so you can see the progress.
4. Learn to take care of myself. This is a tough one, but I must do it.
5. Spend time writing at home, not at work. Even though I am writing for work, the interruptions make it very difficult to write anything more than announcements of meetings and the like. Real writing, where I use facts, reflect on scripture and teach tenets of the faith needs to be done at home.
6. Research PhD programs available online. and decide on a focus of study.
7. De-clutter my house, room by room. This is a scary one, but it needs to be done. We've lived in this house 8 1/2 years, which is close to the longest we have lived in any house before moving. So, we've collected things and some of it needs to go. We are having two events at church though, which will help me along. A book sale and a rummage sale, so I can clean and help the building fund at the same time. Good deal!
8. Make photo albums for my children. I never did baby books for them, so I think I should do something.
I think that's enough. Now, I'll need to flesh out some of these goals so they really happen.

2009 Review, 2

I neglected to mention a few important things from the past year. One is that a dear friend is back in our lives and words cannot express my happiness at this event. It all worked out due to the Holy Spirit, much prayer, and openness. Also, we have started to have praise and worship evenings at our home, which has drawn another friend back into music and ministry. Also, our son is dating a very nice young woman, whom I am working on not getting too attached to, in case she isn't the one.
A small sadness was my grandmother's car. She had given it to us a few years back when she could no longer see well enough to drive. In late November it took it's final journey and we had it towed away. It was odd, I couldn't watch it being towed away. It reminded me again that she is gone.
I think I am ready to put 2009 to rest.