7 Quick Takes... Slighlty Lame Version

Alright folks, ya'll know the drill.  The 7 Quick Takes is hosted over at www.conversiondiary.com with Jennifer (who has returned to hosting after a few weeks of guest hosting by Haley at www.bettybeguiles.com). I have been missing for a few weeks, but  now I'm back and ready with some great QTs... This is definitely going to be a quick set of quick takes!

(1) Praying for my enemies

So for Lent this year I've decided to "pray for my enemies," or as one of my friends (who is also doing this) more accurately referred to it, we are "praying for a different person [we] kind of dislike everyday." I don't exactly have "enemies," but taking the time to pray for the people who annoy me whether it's an old friend who has recently ticked you off, or the "creepy looking obnoxious man in the last pew who says all of the Mass responses incredibly loudly as if trying to prove that he learned the new responses," (yes that is really who I prayed for on Ash Wednesday, and yes praying for him as the "creepy looking obnoxious man" instantly felt awkward and was changed in my prayer) has been a rewarding experience! I recommend. 

(2) Vegetarian Lent 

I've decided to go veggie for Lent.  Unfortunately this was challenged today when I attended a conference which only offered turkey and cheese sammies for lunch, so I did cheat a bit.  But ultimately this has also been rewarding.  I think my friends blog post about her Vegan Fridays during Lent, explains very well some of the reasons why I choose to limit my meat consumption.

(3) "Weird" Lenten Ideas

 Somehow in the world of various internet link-ups I came across this article from Lifeteen on "20 Weird Ideas" of what to give up for Lent.  Overall I thought the list made sense but there was one idea that REALLY bothered me.  The very first idea on the list "don't eat the last bite of your food." Now in theory this sounds like a miniature fast at the end of every meal, but then I thought about it little more.  Over the course of 40 days of Lent,  that is more than 100 bites of food, at an average of 3 meals a day that would be 120 bites of food. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY BITES OF FOOD.  Wasteful much?  Imagine how many hungry people you could feed with 120 bites of food.

(4)  The Biggest Loser and Twitter
The Biggest Loser and Twitter are my new obsessions.  They might sound unrelated but in fact the obsessions fuel one another, primarily because I follow all of last season's contestants on Twitter and love to read their reactions to the show.  According to my twitter profile, my twitter dream is to have Bob Harper reply or retweet me, and I am only half kidding.

(5) Clients!
I am excited that work has finally been getting busy, and I am finally starting to serve lots of clients. It is a great feeling.  Starting a brand new non-profit venture is definitely a big undertaking, and starting to see things come together is quite rewarding.

(6) Diocesan Women's Conference
I have never attended the Diocesan Women's Conference (here in the diocese of Springfield, MA), I have also never heard Fr. James Martin, SJ speak.  But this year I'll check both of those off, because he is the keynote for this year's Catholic women's conference, and I am pretty stoked!  My incredibly limited Jesuit education during two semesters at Creighton and involvement in a Jesuit parish when I lived in SD, led me to an interest in Jesuit spirituality and introduced me to Fr. Martin. I am really excited to hear him, in large part because despite the fact that he is a nationally known and renowned writer he is a virtual unknown here in WMass, and in the conservative Springfield Diocese the Jesuits don't always get as much respect as they deserve (this partially traces back to the decision of Boston College to go against Cardinal O'Malley and allow pro-abortion politicians to receive communion on campus, and thus the negative press for the Jesuits here in New England). Before heading west my opinion of the Jesuits was definitely tainted, and I am excited for Fr. Martin to bring the beautiful Jesuit spirituality here to the Valley!

(7) PCWM
I've always considered myself an amateur (at best) use of social media, but as I continue using it more actively, and utilizing it for professional purposes as well as personal my desire to learn more keeps going.  Hence why I've spent the day at Pod Camp Western MA!  It has been an interesting experience, and I can't wait to go back and read through so many of the resources that were shared today.

Preparing for Lent

Still failing on all these Quick Takes, but someday I will manage to actually get on it! Hopefully I'll actually follow through this week, while Miss Hallie Lord/Betty Beguiles is still guest-hosting for Jen.  I'm loving this guest hosting as it gives me an excuse to make extra visits over to www.bettybeguiles.com!

Is anyone else finding it as hard to believe as I am that Lent starts NEXT WEEK! I mean, Christmas barely ended, I still have some Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joes in the cabinet.  Granted, this may be in small part due to the fact that I've been hoarding, but still, that's beside the point!  Well, believe it or not, Lent is walking up the front path, ready to be knocking at our doorstep soon enough.  I don't know about you, but I have a few things left to do before the start of Lent.  I'm sure I could come up with many, many things if I tried, but for now, here is a top ten list.

(1) Reexamine my goals 

Remember my "New Years" post back from the start of Advent?  The one where I laid out my spiritual goals for the new liturgical year? Well as practical as I tried to be, I'm not sure I succeeded in following these goals as much as I would like.  Have I made time for prayer? Yes. Well, sort of.  In other words, I haven't made as much time for prayer as I would like. Appreciating blessings is a fairly easy one, but unfortunately I can't say the same for my Bible reading. And that most important goal of all?  Making God the priority. Well, He is my priority.  No doubt on that one.  But have I been acting like it?  That's where things get questionable... 

(2) Get the sin out of my system 

No, this isn't my excuse to sin as much as possible in the next 7 days (though yes, I am human, and yes, I will undoubtedly sin).  I need to get the sin out of my system. Cast it out of my soul.  In other words, I'm a bit overdue for a trip to the Confessional.

(3) Girl Scout Cookies 

A former roommate once told me she thought Girl Scouts were evil.  She was being more than a little facetious, but she did not appreciate that the delicious Samoas, Tagalongs and Do-si-Dos always made their appearance during Lent.  Sometime in the next seven days I need to get my hands on two boxes of Thin Mints.  One is on the express train to my stomach, and the other is going to enjoy a forty day vacation in the freezer until I get home from Easter Vigil on April 7th.  

(4) Scheduling A Few Dates

If I want to start succeeding on these goals  it is time for me to accept that I'm a busy gal and it's going to take a bit of advanced planning.  For the past few years I've been taking a bit of an Ignatian approach to prayer - I've been trying to pray in my daily life, to achieve that goal of prayer at all times or contemplation in action.  Unfortunately, I took what St. Ignatius knew was a difficult task, and tried to water it into something easy.  Recently I heard the following quote, from the Catechism - "we cannot 'pray at all times' if we do not pray at specific times."  I was using the concept of prayer in action, not in order to pray at all times of my day, but as a reason not to pray at specific times of the day. I thought it was better to simply interweave my day with prayer, instead of separating a "Time" for God, I wanted Him to be part of every moment.  And this would have been great, had I been successful.  So now it is back to the drawing board, time to make "appointments with God," as one smart campus minister recommended a long time ago.  So, before Lent, I am creating a "prayer calendar" and scheduling a date with God for each of these 40 days.  

(5)  Finding A Few Buddies 

Throughout college, and during my time in the Midwest directly following college, I was blessed with a great faith community.  Initially, the loss of this was really difficult for me.  Without my faith community it was difficulty for me to sustain my faith.  Since then I realized that at times, I had come to appreciate the community more than the faith.  Instead of allowing the community to bolster my faith, I had allowed the faith to become a side note, while the community was what I really appreciated. Both were important, but I had allowed them to become so co-dependent that when one part (community) changed, I risked losing the other part (faith). Now I am starting to rebuild my faith and what it means to have a faith community.  I am looking for a few good friends to support the journey, to hold me accountable to all these dates I'm scheduling with God. Maybe we can even go on a double date together, I'm sure Jesus won't mind the extra company :)

Seven Quick Takes Fail....

Well, as I predicted, I haven't quite followed through with the 7 Quick Takes. I actually had most of a post written back on week 2, but my computer deleted it, and I just never got back to a follow through.  It is far too late to link-up for this week, but hopefully next week I'll be back. 

The theme I had planned for the failed 7 Quick Takes was "Words That Are Not My Own," or something to that effect.  Several of the things that are on my mind this week are once again not my own thoughts.  In the wake of the Roe vs. Wade anniversary last week, and the current political campaigns a lot of my thoughts have had to do with abortion and health care issues and the Catholic faith.  So here are a few of my thoughts:

(1) Option of Conscience

As some people have likely already seen from my Facebook statues or posts, I am a big proponent of an option of conscience for medical professionals. I believe it is important that doctors and nurses not be forced to assist in abortion services, and I also oppose the use of tax dollars to provide abortion services or medicines which are abortificent in nature.  Below is a statement on the issue from Cardinal-designate Dolan:

"The Amish do not carry health insurance. The government respects their principles. Christian Scientists want to heal by prayer alone, and the new health-care reform law respects that. Quakers and others object to killing even in wartime, and the government respects that principle for conscientious objectors. By its decision, the Obama administration has failed to show the same respect for the consciences of Catholics and others who object to treating pregnancy as a disease." 

(2) The "Catholic" Candidate

First off, let me state that I am a political moderate. I do not belong to a political party. I have chosen not to belong to a party because I believe that it is important to look at the individual candidate running for office and their stance on the issues (plural) at hand. I am not a single-issue voter.  And if you tell me that lack of enrollment in a political party means I'm an "uneducated" voter you can expect an earful. Similarly, I will not vote for a candidate simply because they are Catholic. And you shouldn't either.  (Note: You are a grown person, if you want to vote for Santorum go for it.  But for the love of God and Church, please don't vote for him because he is Catholic.)
http://www.fplaction.org/the-catholic-case-against-rick-santorum/
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/santorum-questions-us-bishops-immigration-policy/

(3) Abortion

If we really want to end abortion, we need to look at the whole picture.  Simply outlawing abortion isn't going to help the cause. We also need to educate young women (and young men) about the consequences of sex.  More importantly, we need to create a culture that embraces life.  We need to create a society that supports the vulnerable woman and makes it possible for her and her child to live a happy, healthy, vibrant life. These women know that abortion is a choice, we need to show them why life is a better one.

 

Seven Quick Takes - Volume One

So, after reading Jennifer Fulwiler's Conversion Diary for probably close to a year, I have decided to finally start participating in her 7 Quick Takes Fridays.  Basically, it's a link-up from her blog, where you post seven "quick things" about what's been going on in your life.  So here goes, my very first, seven quick takes.... "All About Blogging"

1.) Quick Takes Theme - All About BloggingI am not sure why I decided my quick takes needed a theme.  Some people use themes.  Some don't.  I seem to enjoy both, but I always like the ones where people come up with seven different things/thoughts on the same topic, such as Seven Examples of Christmas Symbolism or Seven Observations About Wearing Skirts . I also thought the thematic approach might make my first attempt a bit easier.

2.) Expecting Failure

As many times as I've said "I want to start really blogging," or want to "keep my blog to gain a following," or whatever, I never seem to actually do it.  I'm not sure I actually expect success.  Not even sure I'll be back again next week for a Seven Quick Takes - Volume Two.

3.) Ulterior Motives

Aside from the fact that I probably didn't spell ulterior correctly, I still must admit to some ulterior motives in posting this.  It seemed like an easy way to increase my blog readership.

4.) Ulterior But Not Entirely Off-Mark

That said, I'm only admitting to some ulterior motives. I do really enjoy the 7 Quick Takes! I spend probably far more of my time blog-hopping off of them, than I should.  I like that it helps introduce me to new blogs, that I otherwise might not find. 

5.) Femininity, Domesticity, Creativity and Blogging
These things all seem to tie together for me.  I enjoy blogging. I enjoy reading blogs. I enjoy reading blogs about feminity, domesticity, and creativity.  I am trying to embrace my feminity, become more domestic, and become more creative and crafty!  The last one is my main focus on the moment.  I think I'm already somewhat creative, but now I'm trying to hone the skills which will let me use that creativity. Hopefully these blogs will help me out, and you'll see a 7 Quick Takes of Creative Projects sometime in the future!

6.) The Only Thing I Learned in Science Was Osmosis

Sometime after begging for a Fisher Price microscope set as a kid, I stopped enjoying science.  I still like nature, and the outdoors, and appreciating science, but overall it's not my forte.  The one thing I've taken from science? Osmosis, defined as the movement of solvent molecules through a permeable membrane.  I try to recreate osmosis in my life on a regular basis.  For example, I try to become healthy by reading Self magazine, or become more inclined to cook by watching too much Food Network. Now I am trying to become more creative and domestic by reading blogs.  Obviously, this isn't quite working.  But the fact that I included "obviously" in this sentence means I'm better with science than I thought!

7.) Happy New Year I am out of blogging related updates.  So, Happy New Year.

Thoughts on the "New" Mass

Like many Catholics I was both excited and nervous to begin celebrating the "new" Mass at the start of Advent, with the introduction of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal.  The following is my thoughts on one particular part of the new Mass, I am hoping to turn this into a series, going part by part (in whatever order I fancy) through the Mass changes, and offering my thoughts on them.  Please keep in mind I am not a theologian.  I have had a limited theological education.  I do not represent the official position of the Catholic Church. I am simply a person on a spiritual journey, offering my thoughts, opinions and reflections.

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,
But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Of all the changes to the language of the Mass, this is the one which keeps jumping out at me.  These words just seem so.... big!   Previously, all I had to admit was that I wasn't worthy to receive Christ.  Wasn't worthy to receive the Sacrament.  God still has the ability to heal with a simple word, but I have to admit so much more.  In saying we're not worthy that God should "enter under [our] roof," it sounds like we are saying we aren't worthy to have him in our lives.  Aren't worthy to have him come dwell among us, and enter into our beings.  The old words sounded like they applied only to the Eucharist, my unworthiness to receive the Body and the Blood, the Soul and Divinity, in it's most true form.  Now I'm not worthy to have the Spirit of God enter into me either?  Sheesh!

I'm aware that my shift in mindset is probably what they (the Pope, and Bishops and smart Mass translating people) were going for.  It has always been about something bigger.  It has always been not only about our unworthiness to receive Christ in Eucharistic form, but also our unworthiness that He came, died, and rose in the first place.  These words remind me more than ever of my unworthiness but also of God's grace!  All God had to do was say the word.  One word.  And all of us would be healed.  But God doesn't ask, "what is the least I can do for my people," he asks, "what is the most I can do for my people."  He didn't just say the word, He sent His Son.   And now my prayer is bigger, I don't want to be worthy 'only' to receieve the Eucharist, but also to receive God into my life everyday. To be made worthy of the Promises of Christ.

Shared at - Near Your Altar Christian Link-Up

An Advent Yes

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, but today's Gospel tells us the story of the Annunciation.  It is one of my favorite Scripture stories.  In my opinion one of the most important Scripture stories.  I think we are called to live Annunciation lives.  We are called to be like Mary.  To say yes to God.  Mary came to have Christ physically formed in her, and we too are called to have "Christ formed in you," (Gal 4:19).

Advent is a season of Hope. A season for saying Yes.  Advent is saying Yes to carving out prayer time.  Advent is saying Yes to recognizing the true meaning of the Season, despite the commercial hustle and bustle.  Advent is saying Yes to the plans God has for our lives.  Saying Yes to sharing a Christmas gift with that new acquaintance.  Saying yes to spending a few extra minutes writing Christmas cards to the people who have gone above and beyond in your life.  Advent is saying Yes to the journey, and following the path to Christ at all costs.  Saying Yes to the message of Christmas and the message of Christ's life.  Advent is saying Yes to God's messengers, just as Mary said yes to the Angel Gabriel.   Advent is about our willingess to say, "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word."(Lk. 1:38).

Happy New Year

Way back in 2009, in my "first" blog if you please, I started what I hoped would become a tradition of spiritual New Year posts at the beginning of each Advent.  It seems I forgot all about it last year, but here I am in 2011, ready to start my New Year in the Church on a positive foot and with some spiritual resolutions if you will for the upcoming year.   Unfortunately, the goals I set back in 2009 were not met in the coming year, in fact, I believe that they still have yet to be completed, but you are still welcome to read that original post if you want to see what I was thinking about during my Advent in South Dakota.

My spiritual goals for this coming Liturgical Year are pretty simple.  And while I hadn't gotten around to making this Advent post quite yet, I have been making an effort to start achieving these goals.  So, my spiritual resolutions for 2012 are:

1.) Make time for prayer.

2.) Appreciate blessings.
3.) Make God my priority.
4.) Read the Bible.
5.) Share Christ with others. 

What are your hopes this Advent and this year?  What are you doing to help re-welcome the Saviour into our world, and into your heart?