Justice in the Family, Justice in the World

When I set out to write this blog, nearly four years ago, I did not have a clearly defined focus. I was in grad school and about to be married. Obviously a lot has changed. Atticus and I have been married almost four years, I finished grad school with my MA, have been pregnant twice, and have one lovely little almost 2 year old girl.

Over the past four years I’ve written about the seasons of the Church year in the home, cooking, books, miscarriage, sub-fertility, pregnancy, being a new mom, love, loss, and just a little bit about this faith which is the center of our lives. In short, I wrote about anything which tickled my fancy.

I will continue doing this, as least some of the time. But for the last several months, I have felt that God wanted me to incorporate more of the truth of social justice and Catholic social teaching into my blogging world. I have resisted this tooth and nail. Mostly because I was thinking about it all wrong. I assumed that God wanted me to turn my blog into an academic place where I would essentially write articles about Catholic social teaching theories and then hash it out with haters in the com-box. This sort of blog is as unappealing as possible. In short, I said “Thanks but no thanks.”

And I haven’t been able to write anything worth a damn in the last few months, because I didn’t know what to say.

Talking about NFP makes me tired. Talking about politics gives me migraines. And the only thing I really want to talk about (how I, no, am not pregnant yet, and yes, am trying my best not to freak out) is not really worth talking a whole lot about just yet.

I tried the whole “keepin’ it real” blog for a while, and that worked out well when I thought I was losing my mind every.single.day.

Then I discovered something in the last few months. There isn’t a lot to keep real anymore. I have one kid, she’s almost two and just figured out how to climb steps last week. She’s mellow, she entertains herself while I make dinner (most of the time), she’s not a picky eater, and she sleeps 12 hours every night. This is not the stuff of which comedy gold is made. I’m not saying she never acts like a toddler, or drives me crazy, but I guess I’m just used to it or something. Perhaps the meds are working too well. Anyway, I love “keepin’ it real”, and I’m sure I will from time to time, but these days, if I kept it real many of you would probably want to hurt me.

By now you might be wondering what any of this has to do with social justice. I’m getting there.

It all started with my Dorothy Day post for Ignitum Today. I was writing that post and I thought to myself, “Self, this is the kind of thing it is exciting to write. Do this more.”

That thought, and a lot of prayer, became this new mission and focus.

This blog is no longer just about me, or just about my family. My vision for this blog is to become a place where we can all think and talk about what it means to live justice as a family, and how that can bring about justice in the world.

I believe with every fiber of my being that as goes the family, so goes the nation, and eventually, the world.

I am convinced that justice within and as it regards the family is the vital element to creating sustainable social change.

I am equally convinced that Catholic social teaching provides the best blueprint for living justily in and with families.

I am also sure that our family has much, much progress to make towards living out justice with each other and the world around us. I want this blog to be a place where families like ours, imperfect and striving, can work together to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God”.

If you have ever wondered how your family can live a just life, if that’s even possible in a world of such injustice, I have too. If you have wondered, “What difference can we possibly make, we are just one family?”, we have too.

I want this page to be a space where we can explore and reflect on those questions together, maybe not always agreeing, maybe not always finding a solution, but being willing to “live the questions” together, knowing that the ultimate answer lies in Christ.

My first assignment is this: What questions do you have? What topics pertaining to families and justice would you like to explore? I have some ideas in formation, but two (or more!) heads are better than one, so please, please let me know what kind of posts you’d most like to see!

Welcome to the quasi-new Fumbling Toward Grace, I hope you’ll stay around.