Have been too busy to really put down my thoughts about yesterday’s election, but I can tell you that I am not at all despairing — in fact I’ve been doing Cher-smacks and telling people to “snap out of it” all day — nor do I feel doomsdayish; rather I feel very grateful to have things clarified for us in such a way. I will write more — perhaps this evening — to explain what I mean (so check back)... Read more
Aside from being aggravated by some minor, but continual, issues with my computer today, I’m feeling pretty peaceful about the election, in general. I have no idea who will win, although I suspect Romney is in a stronger position than poll purchasers wanted to see, but I could be wrong. Either way I am at peace. Perhaps it’s because of my conversation with this man — which in part inspired this column — but I prayed the Office of Readings... Read more
Super busy today and wondering how it went for you all — waited longer than usual to vote this morning, but there were also extra lines for out-of-district folks who had been displaced by Hurricane Sandy, so it was hard to get a read on turnout where I live. How’s by you? Some disturbing stories out there of shenanigans and donnybrooks, but not out here in gasoline-deprived suburbia! Post your stories, links to what is happening out there and we’ll... Read more
Originally wrote this for the 2008 election, but whatevs: Jesus, I trust in you. Our nation is overrun with noise, chatter and misdirection. It is not easy to discern the servants from the would-be masters, to know who wishes to serve the nation and who wishes to merely acquire power. Help us to see the way with clear eyes and an open mind. Help us to cultivate silence so that we might hear your voice. Grant us peace within the... Read more
In my column at First Things today I expose some of the cynicism I constantly battle within myself as my mistrust of all politics and politicians continues apace: Assuming it was ever real, the notion of electoral downtime, of productive governance, mindful that a day’s evils are sufficient thereof and that futures are dealt with as they arrive, appears to be over. So too the idea that one runs for office in order to serve by representing the desires of... Read more
Our Year of Faith topics page, which is currently being sponsored by the Norbertine Nuns Capital Campaign, is featuring an usual piece for this election day, in that it is written by a Baptist, not a Catholic, a man who has been feeling fear and despair throughout this election season. November 4, the first Sunday of the month, was Communion Sunday, with Deacons assisting. Not me, yet. I’m a deacon-in-training, a process that takes a year. In any case, I’m... Read more
That astonishing vestment (to me, beautiful-in-message-and-execution) is making the rounds, on Facebook. It’s a vestment specific to the day, as we celebrate All Soul’s Day — a day when, as Dawn Eden reminds us — we remember that our loved ones are still with us, and that we are still connected to them via prayer. It’s good to remember that our time on earth is short — that, as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton said, “we are made for eternity” and... Read more
I get the argument. Some are saying the New York marathon should continue because it’s a display of the city’s indomitable spirit, “nothing can bring us down, yadda, yadda” — and I’m not saying that message is a bad one, per se. But we have children being buried, and lots of people in need of everything — clothing, shelter, food, fuel, consolation. In this case, I think one needs to weigh the need for food, generators and first responder resources... Read more
Credit: NASA/MSFC David Hathaway / Spaceweather.com Says NASA: Yesterday, sky watchers around the NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, witnessed something amazing: A complex network of luminous arcs and rings surrounded the afternoon sun. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” says eyewitness Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. Solar physicist David Hathaway snapped this picture of the display. The apparition is almost certainly connected to hurricane Sandy. The core of the storm swept well north... Read more
I know, I know, I keep saying I’m going to create my annual “Christmas Gift Ideas” post but Sandy has slowed me down a little. I promise to have that for you this weekend (and I have some great stuff to recommend!) but a heads up here, for those of you planning to buy from Monastics — most of them take their orders now and then ship near Christmas so they can pray their way through Advent without a lot... Read more
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