40 Days for Life - two haiku

I spent an hour in prayer today in front of Planned Parenthood as part of 40 Days for Life.

Being a less social sort, and an early morning riser, I tend to go very early - today at 7 a.m. (there's an 8:30 Mass I can get to after, so the timing is great).

Today I got inspired to write two haiku:

as I stand praying
a man gives me the finger -
40 Days for Life

police officer
nods and waves as he drives by -
40 Days for Life

I have been fortunate to get few of the former reactions. The man in question was a young man; I prayed for him as he's a victim of our pro-abortion culture. And it could have been worse. I've had foul language screamed at me before - by people in the safety of passing cars, of course. Two of my fellow local 40 Days compatriots were egged one year. In other cities, signs have been stolen or destroyed, and pro-lifers have been threatened and even assaulted. So a finger is not that bad.

I have gotten far more of the latter - from police, fire fighters, bus drivers, taxi drivers, and just regular people going by.

If even one person is led to rethink his/her support for abortion, then we'll move one step closer to ending the slaughter, and my few hours of prayer -  with an occasional hostile gesture - will be well worth it.

Pax et bonum

Hating Kim Davis

The news that Pope Francis met with Kim Davis - the clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples - resulted in hissy fits among the secular media and the Catholic left.

Davis had been a constant target of vitriol and venom since she acted on her conservative Christian beliefs - how dare she! Some more moderate voices noted that as a public official she had to follow what is currently the "law" of the land - I don't agree with this view, but it makes sense and I respect it. Others, though, trotted out the imposing her beliefs argument (I counter that all laws are someone's beliefs being "imposed' on others). And still others went after her personally, because of multiple marriages (neglecting to mention that those took place before she found faith and reformed her life), and some even for her appearance (she stopped wearing makeup as part of her faith-based rejection of vanity).

And then there was Pope Francis, a darling of the left because of more pastoral remarks that were consistently being spun and misrepresented to fit their agenda on homosexuality, divorce, sacraments, the environment, etc. He was  gentle and measured in his words while here, allowing the left to ignore what he was really saying on issues like abortion and conscience rights. To be fair, some Francis-bashing conservative Catholics also went after him for, for example, NOT BLATANTLY SAYING THE WORD ABORTION AND DAMNING OBAMA AND PROABORTION CATHOLIC POLITICIANS TO HELL.

Ahem.

Anyway, this is about the Kim Davis haters.

They may say they don't hate her per se, just what she stands for, but their words and tone and attitude too often say otherwise.

All was well with them - gushy articles spinning and spinning and avoiding his messages. (Gee, why did he have to meet with the Sisters on whom the Obama administration was trying to force contraception? Oh well, he did it quietly behind closed doors. We'll overlook that.).

Then the reports came out that he met with Davis.

I don't care how that meeting came about, who arranged it, who else was there, and so on. The left went apoplectic. They tried to argue every which way they could to downplay it. It was with a group of people. Her lawyer is exploiting it. The Pope didn't really know who she was or all the details behind why she's in the news. He was being nice and wasn't endorsing what she did. The Vatican is hedging and backtracking. Oh, phew, he met a homosexual couple too in a more official way.

I've been staying out of the fray thus far because I've gotten tired of how everything the Pope does these days gets distorted and misrepresented, and the Davis issue was not one that caught fire with me (the butchery at Planned Parenthood has been more on my mind).

But I've been wondering why so many on the Catholic left have gotten their undergarments in a twist over this.

There are many on the Catholic left who do want to see Church teaching change on issue like homosexual marriage and birth control and abortion and divorced Catholics, and had been hoping the Pope would make such changes. Never mind that he's consistently cited Church teachings - he doesn't yell or obsess and he smiles and is pastoral, and, well, he's not Pope Benedict. But when there was a chance he might actually support or be sympathetic to what Davis did - You mean he actually might have meant those remarks about conscience rights and religious liberty? - they simply couldn't accept it. They had to show how the reports were somehow wrong.

Otherwise, these member of the left might have to admit they are themselves wrong, or they are not going to get the church they want.

Then there are others who know the teachings will likely not change, and may even agree with many of the teachings, but are uncomfortable with being public about it because they might be attacked, or less popular, or people will make fun of them. Davis was a threat and a challenge - she actually publicly stood up for her beliefs.

Please don't ask us to stand up in a public way like she did.

I'm sure there are other reasons, but those two seem to be the most common among agitated left.

And I also recognize that there are people who are genuinely struggling with these moral issues - but they are not the one running to the media to spout about what the Pope did or didn't do.

As for me, I'm more interested in trying to follow what the Church teaches and changing myself as needed to be a better Catholic who acts on those teachings - no matter what the consequences - rather than trying to change the Church to fit my personal - and admittedly flawed - vision, or even hiding my beliefs under a bushel basket until it's safe to let them out.

Pax et bonum

Transitus of St. Francis

Tonight our two local Fraternities will join Franciscans around the world as we celebrate the Transitus - the passing of St. Francis from this life. (We celebrate the Feast of St. Francis on the 4th because he died after sunset on the 3rd, so it is counted as the 4th even though technically it was on the 3rd).

We will have a Mass and a celebratory gathering after.

I am looking forward to the celebration. Four years after my profession I'm beginning to feel a little like a Franciscan. I find myself changing my behavior and even thinking in light of the Franciscan influence. I'm not there yet - too much of myself, too much anger and ambition and sarcasm and spiritual laziness. But I''ve notice a little bit of change. I argue less. I try to moderate what I say when I do dispute. I pray more.

Alleluia.

Still a long way to go. Maybe by the time I get called home I'll begin to be a true Franciscan.

May it be a blessed night for all.

Pax et bonum

X-Files Cigarette Smoking Man - and Planned Parenthood

So, Cecile Richards, you have a supply of human tissue.

I know some people who could use such a supply.

There'll be generous compensation.

We'll call it a handling fee.

Just don't ask questions.

And don't answer any.

At least not honestly.

Care for a cigarette?

Pax et bonum

Open the Eyes of My Heart

There are certain songs I enjoy singing. "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport," the first song that actually caught my attention on the radio (yes, I'm that old), "Bottle of Wine," (sots in my family?), "Never Ending Song of Love" are three of them. I sometimes sing them as I walk or drive, just for the pleasure of singing them.

There are others, but lately one that I've been singing is "Open the Eyes of My Heart" by Paul Baloche.

The lyrics are simple and repetitive. The tune is not hard; it suits my range. But for me anyway it is  also moving - this is a song I feel as if I'm praying as I sing.

There are multiple covers of the song - it seems to touch other people too. My favorite is the Randy Travis one. My own version is similar to his.

Sadly, he later faced all sorts of problems, including a massive stroke that, for now, has incapacitated him and rendered him incapable of performing. Say a prayer for him.

Here are the lyrics as Michael W. Smith performed the song.

"Open The Eyes Of My Heart"

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

[Repeat two more times]

Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you

This is one of the songs I played for the opening of the local 40 Days for Life campaign. I prayed that the hearts of everyone connected with abortion might have their hearts opened - within the  industry, the victims, even the protesters that they will be loving and compassionate.

Pax et bonum

Great Rochester Chesterton Conference

The local G. K Chesterton Society sponsored their 12th annual Chesterton Conference today.

The theme was "More than Magic," and the speakers were Dale Ahlquist, the President of the American Chesterton Society; Kevin O'Brien, of Theater of the Word Incorporated; Joseph Pearce, a prolific author; and James Warren, a professional magician.

The "magic" they addressed was of fairy stories as truth as explored by Chesterton in the "Ethics of Elfland" from Orthodoxy.

Ahlquist spoke about "A Citizen of Fairyand." O'Brien spoke as J.R.R.R. Tolkien "On Fairy Stories." Pearce talked about Chesterton's influence on Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and their ideas about faith and fairy tales. Finally, Warren performed some magic, and addressed the subject of "A Magician in Elfland."

Great time. Good talks and performances. Good people in the audience, leading to some wonderful conversations.

And O'Brien tipped me off about a possible Santa gig next year! Amazing.  

Pax et bonum

Don't cry for me - Boehner clerihew

When it comes to tears John Boehner
is no refrainer.
Although a manly feller
he loses it over "Old Yeller."

Pax et bonum