Month: February 2012

When I first started taking a hard look at converting to Catholicism, I was most struck by “spiritual development,” the idea that we have a soul that needs to be nourished and strengthened. I was always taught that I had a soul that would survive death, but it was always kind of an “all or nothing” affair: your soul is saved at death or it’s not. In either event, the soul didn’t have relevance in this life.

When I started to read about spiritual development, I was blown away. I was blown away by the corollary idea of virtue and the soul. I was blown away by the concept of humility. I was blown away, period.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve assembled a sizable library of spiritual works. I’m guessing I have 50 or so volumes, and I’ve actually read many of them (at least large chunks of many of them). I consider myself well-read when it comes to things spiritual.

But every so often, something fundamental hits me. And after it hits me, I realize that, despite my efforts, I still have gaping holes in my understanding.

It happened to me Monday evening. I received a review copy of Courage in Chaos, Wisdom from Francis de Sales. I was delighted to receive it, but the problem is, I’ve never shown much interest in de Sales. I started reading his Introduction to the Devout Life years ago, but I couldn’t stomach the phrase “weave a little nose gay,” so I put it down and never picked it up again.

But Courage in Chaos looked like a nifty little book, so I started reading … Read the rest

Randoms

It’s primary day here in Michigan. Has Romney irritated me enough to prompt me to pull that Santorum lever? I suspect it’ll be a last-second decision. * * * * * * * Gardening Corner: 80 Odd Things You Can Compost. It’s a good list, but be careful with the grain items they mention (e.g., cereal, potato chips, crackers, etc.). I’ve read in other sources that such things cannot be composted. * * * * * * * A loyal TDE reader sent me an eBay auction link for the SWC glass from yesterday. It sold for $5.99, which is a few dollars shy of $3,000. * * * * * * * Is it against the law to drunk horse ride? How about drunk bicycle ride? It depends on your jurisdiction, but in Michigan, neither is unlawful. I was glad to read the bike part. I’ve been known to weave the Schwinn home late at night a few times. * * * * * * * I’m starting a new hobby: photography. I’m specializing in still shots, the kind that can be captured by my iPhone. If I see something that strikes me as though it’d make a neat picture, I’ll shoot it with my phone. It ain’t exactly Dorothea Lange, and the people with $2,000 digital cameras will scoff, but screw ’em. It’s my stupid hobby. This first shot I call “Weekend Morning without a Hangover”:

… Read the rest

“Throughout the whole of our lives we may enjoy the benefit that comes from prayer if we devote a great deal of time to it.” John Chrysostom. … Read the rest

The Panacea

What are the three biggest problems confronting the United States today? There are lots of candidates, but I think most people, regardless of moral or political or religious persuasion, would put these three in the top 5: the economy, rogue nations and the atom bomb, terrorism.

Fortunately, someone has finally come up with a solution to all three: Construction of an imperial death star. The cost would be approximately $852 quadrillion. It would entail government spending on a huge scale, and such spending, the Krugneysians assure us, helps the economy. Rogue nations wouldn’t dare trifle with us, and if it’s accurate enough, we could use it to target small regions known to harbor terrorists. It would also assure that our empire would never fall, so we wouldn’t end up like those silly Romans over 1,500 years ago.

The details are here. It’s the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.

Damn it, Mitt!

Well, if you woke up early enough this morning, you would’ve seen some pretty colorful prose about Mitt Romney. The SoB campaign called my house three times yesterday with campaign ads (and ten or more times over the past week). After some binge drinking (five drinks), I went to my computer and unleashed a barrage at the Romney campaign’s complete lack of propriety. I woke up this morning, sober and groggy, and concluded my prose wasn’t appropriate–not as inappropriate as the Romney campaign’s phone tactics, but still inappropriate, so I deleted it.

The bottom line is, I genuinely question the judgment and prudence of a man who would approve such an inconsiderate campaign tactic. Two weeks ago, I … Read the rest

Colons, Tebow, and Other

Gosh, I hope so: “Colonoscopy Lowers Rate of Cancer Deaths, Study Finds.” I’d hate to think I’ve been doing ’em for kicks. * * * * * * * I’ll admit it: I’m not a big Tebow fan. I didn’t comment on all the uproar toward the end of the NFL season for the simple reason that I didn’t care enough about it to comment. But a TDE reader sends along this story that quotes liberally from the Catholic Brady Quinn. At one point, I fear Quinn was channeling my spirit: “The former Notre Dame star also questions how Tebow prays: ‘If you look at it as a whole, there’s a lot of things that just don’t seem very humble to me. When I get that opportunity, I’ll continue to lead not necessarily by trying to get in front of the camera and praying but by praying with my teammates, you know?'” Amen. I’m not comfortable with the grandstand praying . . . or witnessing. Whatever you call it, you’re calling attention to yourself at some level. * * * * * * * The Dow broke 13,000 this week. You diggin’ it? You shouldn’t. The Dow is falling against that one commodity we all like: Oil. But hey, we got the extra 2 cents per dollar in paycheck. Last year, the payroll tax cut covered about 85% of the median family’s rising cost of gasoline, so they only took a small punch to the gut.

Some good late night:

“Oil prices jumped to well over $100 a barrel, and analysts say it’s due to tension in the … Read the rest

Lent

Welcome to Lent 2012. I enter the season with high expectations, more so than usual. I can’t identify the source of my optimism, but maybe the letters of Seneca are wearing on me well. Then again, Seneca counseled against hope, though, in his letter on groundless fears (Number 13, I think; maybe number 12) he permits hope if a person needs it to act as a counterpoise to fear.

None of that is really relevant, though. The time to repent is at hand, and we all have plenty to repent. Forty days ain’t enough time for all the work I have to do, but it’ll give me (yet another) start.

May all TDE readers have a blessed Lent. With a dose of grace, I hope TDE will be a help in this regard and not a hindrance. We’ll see. … Read the rest