By now, you may be wondering who Felix is and why he’s culpable. Or maybe you’re wondering why I’m suddenly speaking Latin. Or why I’d change my blog name from The Broken Quill to Felix Culpa. I don’t know how many years I wrote at The Broken Quill. It was many. Maybe eight or nine. A friend of mine chose the name, and while I didn’t know his reasons for doing so, I liked it. When I... Read more
When I was a little girl, if a friend told me a secret, I thought I was pretty special. If I got to hear it first, I was even more special. And if I was the only one privy to the secret, I was super-duper special. Little girls are funny that way. It’s like we get a running start at learning how to be a gossip. Then we have to un-learn it when we grow up. Then we realize... Read more
When I was a kid, I loved Valentine’s Day. My Mom would always save the shoe boxes that came with our new school shoes, so that when February 14th rolled around, we could convert them into containers that served as Valentine card and candy holders. I remember gluing paper heart doilies, hearts made out of construction paper, and even candy hearts onto my shoe box. I couldn’t wait for my classmates to drop some Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, or adorable puppy... Read more
When it was pre-election season, I put up with all the political posts on my Facebook feed. Though they contained enough vitriol to blow up my phone, I thought the conversations were necessary. So I joined in some, and looked forward to the day when family and friends’ posts of good news and cuteness were no longer lost in the muck and mire of a nation gone cuckoo. That moment came about three or four weeks ago. Then the Inauguration... Read more
The inside of Orchard House looks like a typical Monday this morning. All the blankets I drape over our furniture are askew from people snuggling up for a few hours after church the day before. Bibles lay here and there and seemingly everywhere. Orders of service, too. Most of my dishes are clean, but there’s clutter strewn about in the kitchen. Oh, and clean skillets litter the counters, because my Mom is tall enough to clean them but not put... Read more
So, perhaps you heard there was a Women’s March last weekend? I’m late writing about it, because I’ve been a bit befuddled at such an open, shameless display of bitterness and vulgarity. The entire parade, in my thinking, would be more appropriately called The Wormwood March rather than The Women’s March. The chief constituent of the Wormwood plant is a volatile oil … it is usually dark green or sometimes blue in color, and has a strong odor and a... Read more
Annie When we were first married, Shaun used to refer to a certain human coping mechanism as “kick the dog syndrome.” The symptoms are as follows: -anger-frustration-refusal to talk with the person in which the anger is directed-internalizing said anger-eventually expressing said anger by kicking man’s best friend It’s a disgusting emotional and spiritual health issue worthy of some kind of punishment. A good needle pricking under the fingernails or something like that. Or maybe a four hour session under... Read more
Gracious and Loving Father,We thank you for bringing America through what is in many ways another failed presidency. Another failed attempt to fix our problems. And success at tearing us apart. Americans are not standing united, but we are standing, and we recognize that if it wasn’t for your grace and mercy, we would’ve taken our hostility toward one another to even more destructive heights than we did. Restrain us, Lord. Instill in us a love for our neighbor, no... Read more
In my opinion, once Christmas is over, the snow can dismiss itself until the following November. But of course, I’ve not been put in charge of weather patterns. So once again I find myself stuck in white wintery bleakness, deprived of vitamin D, and dealing with muck-slushy roads until our Maker breathes some warm air our way. Did I mention it’s freezing? And I’m freezing? And every chronic illness I have is flaring?Rejoice in the Lord always. That’s the commandment.But it’s... Read more
They say when you’re highly irritated with someone, you should think of one good trait of theirs and hone in on it. I’ve no idea who “they” are, but I think “their” advice is wise. Focusing on the positive rather than the negative is a good thing whether we’re talking about people or sermons or books or anything at all. So while the world is watching Obama’s farewell speech tonight, I have decided to keep the boob tube off and... Read more
Felix Culpa
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