(image via Pixabay) He used to stand by the driveway to the abortion clinic, in the city I grew up in. He stood there in his button-down and dress pants, short light hair nicely combed, face just slightly tan, a picture of American respectability. He usually wore a baseball cap, as well; a navy blue cap with an insignia marking him as part of a Conservative organization that both picketed abortion clinics and patrolled the Southern border of Texas. He had... Read more
(image of wineglass via Pixabay) Me: I think abortion is a terrible evil, so I think we should work as hard as we can to create a society where mothers and children are welcomed so that they don’t feel like they need to make that choice. Giant Internet Hand of Spanking: How dare you! You think abortion should be legal? Me: No, I never said that, but I think the best way to help is to work to create a society where... Read more
I hate the days I have to share horrible news. Scrolling through the newsfeed, as I do several times a day, I came across the news about Kayden Culp, a ten-year-old special needs child from Texas who is currently on life support after a gang of bullies his age lured him into an abandoned shack and set him on fire. I’m nearly shaking with rage and horror, but I’m not surprised. About nine years ago now, I worked for a short stint... Read more
(image via Pixabay) Here’s another status posted by my friends at The Friendship Room. This morning I sat with a very young women, she is heroin addicted , she was sold by her own parents to a man several years ago- she came running to find me , yelling my name down the street,after she escaped a man trying to strangle her for 20.00. To say it is difficult to see such pain is an under statement – raw suffering... Read more
I watched the Vice Presidential debate last night. I’m still not sure why I did it. The debate was held in Uncanny Valley; it started with an eerily motionless woman seen from behind, reading lines off a TelePrompter that was clearly visible to the audience. Then we saw the candidates– Kaine, whose triangular eyebrows and grouchy demeanor made me think he was going to chase me around the Overlook Hotel with an ax, and Pence, who is a little more... Read more
(image via pixabay) I have been blogging for over six months now. Six months. Half a year and I’m still here, you’re still reading. Awesome. I haven’t run out of fun stories or irritated rants yet. We haven’t even gotten to my worst story about Halloween on the Planet Charismatic, I’ll be with you to hold your hand on election day. And after that we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving and the Byzantine Catholic version of advent which is six whole weeks... Read more
(image via Pixabay) Great Grandmother was a Secular Franciscan. “I could be buried in a nun suit if I wanted to,” Great Grandmother said. Great Grandmother lived alone in a quaintly decorated apartment, all blond wood and bubblegum-colored tiles with a pathway of clear plastic mats protecting the carpet in the hall. The living room had lamps with dangling glass prisms around the shades, and I wasn’t allowed to bang them together to make them jangle. The kitchen had cherries and peaches... Read more
(image via Pixabay) Last week, if you recall, I watched and reviewed the pilot episode of Fox’s The Exorcist. I found it a boring episode with far too many inept visual and plot references to the excellent William Friedkin film of the same name and a tin ear for portraying actual Catholicism; however, I enjoyed the last fifteen minutes and was interested to watch the next episode. I predicted that the series would be good if it quickened the pace, continued to... Read more
(image via Pixabay) My name is Therese of Lisieux. That’s not the name people call me, but according to the Church it’s my name. Therese of Lisieux was my confirmation saint. I didn’t want her to be my confirmation saint, mind you; there wasn’t a single moment of her hagiography I identified with. I was a bookish homeschooler nobody liked; I spent my time reading fantasy and science fiction novels, and writing terrible fanfic in notebooks. I wanted to be Joan of Arc.... Read more
(image via pixabay) Remember that every human being is an icon, and gaze on this icon with me: Human beings are absolutely wonderful. Even and especially when you don’t understand what they’re going through. I love this guy, and I love this monologue for every truth it calls to mind. I don’t think he meant it to be a meditation on grace, but it is anyway. Everything is grace. Bad as they are, our sufferings are special grace. Our very weaknesses are our superpowers.... Read more
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