Video: Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

Shhh.....

John Lennon didn't believe in over-population either!

I have to agree with Thomas on this one: I never thought I'd agree with John Lennon!

American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic!

Grace pouring out on me . . .

This past Tuesday was the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

I really love this feast and was excited about celebrating it. For those who may not know, it is the celebration of our Mother Mary's conception in the womb of St. Ann. It's a common misconception that this feast day celebrates the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb. That is actually the feast of the annunciation, March 25 (exactly 9 months before Christmas).

I attended mass Tuesday morning and my husband was going to attend that evening, at 7 PM. after work, I went to the gym and then decided to meet up with my husband at the church to attend adoration for a little while. We sat and reflected and prayed for about 30 minutes before heading back out into the pouring rain around 8:30 PM. Tim hopped in his car and I tried to get into mine - only to find that the key wouldn't turn in my lock.

My interior door handle had been broken, but usually locked and unlocked just fine. I thought perhaps this was just one of a very few exceptions. I walked around to the other side of the car to unlock the door, only to realize by looking through my window that the door was already unlocked!

Walking back to the driver's side, I opened it and got in, thinking that my lock must simply be broken now, along with the already broken handle. It was a few moments before I realized the truth: my gym bag was missing.

My heart sank into my stomach as I thought frantically and searched around the car - but it was gone. Someone had stolen it from my car while I prayed inside our beautiful, peaceful church. I was shocked.

It took me a few moments to realize all that I had lost: my gym toiletries and clothes were of little matter. But my nice sneakers - that was quite a loss. I was a little upset, but that was okay. My driver's license - replaceable. My debit card - a slight hassle to cancel, but I could deal with that. I called my husband to tell him briefly and then began to drive home. Quite suddenly, I realized: my iPod had also been in my bag. I cursed aloud.

When I got home, I immediately called and filed a police report. I also called our insurance company to find out the coverage, but the deductible wouldn't be met so it wasn't worth filing a claim. When Tim arrived home shortly after me and questioned me about the incident, I suddenly burst into tears.

I was angry. Angry that people could be so selfish. Angry at myself for simply being upset. After all - it was just STUFF! Did it really matter? I tried to tell myself that it didn't. But I couldn't shake how violated I felt.

Why did someone do this? And at the church of all places! Why did God let this happen? I had gone out of my way that evening to go and see Him, to worship Him, to pray to Him; and this was the thanks I got?!

The next morning, I emailed my manager to let her know that I was going to be late to work as I needed to replace my license and bring my car into the shop ASAP to have the lock fixed. Her reply was soothing to me:

Hang in there, it seems Our Lady gave you a special cross on her feastday.

She was right. Have I not always, time and time again, asked for Our Lady to pour out the beautiful graces of suffering to me? And here she was, bestowing that grace upon me and all I could do was reply in anger? I was snubbing that great gift; and by doing so, I could not obtain the merits of it.

I'm not saying my anger is gone. But I am trying, step by step, to accept the reality. And I hope, more than anything, that whoever took those items from my car truly needed them more than I did.

God bless,

Lauren

Bible Yoga

A fellow blogger did a review of our beautiful new bibles. You can read his review here:

http://absnospin.blogspot.com/


My favorite part was this:

Caption: "Bible Yoga Success"

In the spirit of the holidays...

Get into the holiday spirit with the famous holiday hawk!

Belated Thanksgiving thoughts. . .

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone this Thanksgiving weekend. I would like to just make a few quick comments about what I am thankful for this year.

First of all, I am thankful for my husband, who is not only a spouse and lover, but my very best friend.

I am thankful for my extended family. For my mom, dad and brothers, Brian and Matthew. I pray for you daily. For my grandma who is and always will be, my best friend.

To the wonderful company I am a part of: Saint Benedict Press. I am SOO blessed to have been given the opportunity to have this job. I love working with all of these wonderful people and I LOVE having holidays off so I can visit with my family! (Thank you, Frances, for recommending me and Conor, for hiring me.)

To our Lord above and His Holy Mother Church, for loving each of us frail beings. We would all be lost without You.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'll leave you with these words from my fellow blogger, The Crescat:

http://thecrescat.blogspot.com/

Dear Turkeys; 

I am sorry God made you inferior and flightless. Therefore it is your plight to suffer the fate of being devoured by millions of Americans tomorrow. I apologize in advance for the ravenous way in which myself, my family, and the citizens of this nation will masticate your tender juicy golden browned carcass. 

Love, 

Carnivore Kat

The Blind Side: a story of compassion, family and love

For most of his life, Michael Oher couldn't have thought of himself as much of anything. With a mother high on drugs or drunk out of her mind so often that she could not even remember how many children she had given birth to over the years - nevermind who the fathers were of these various children - Michael's life was nothing much at all.

When he was still young, he and his brother were taken from his mother, split up and put into foster care. He moved from one foster home to another . . . running away many times to try and find his mother again. He often slept in a chair in the laundromat when he didn't have anywhere to go.

Okay, wait - this story is getting to sound pretty depressing at this point, don't you think?

No, you don't. At least, if you know Michael's story at all, or have at least seen a preview for The Blind Side, you know it is not depressing in the end.

You see, Michael doesn't sound like much from this perspective, with just words. But Michael LOOKED like something quite different. Especially if you put him in a uniform and stuck him on a football field. At a height of 6' 3" and just over 300 lbs, Michael is one of the best you'll ever see.

But even that is not what makes Michael different. Because the way Michael's life started out coupled with his athletic ability was not what made him a member of professional football. It was one woman, and one family, who opened their home to him and gave him something to believe in: himself.

The film, The Blind Side, which arrived in theaters this month is a beautiful journey into Michael Oher's life. Quite frankly, I have no idea if the details I gave above are completely accurate to the true story, but they are how the movie portrayed it. Whether it is the truth or not is irrelevant because this movie should stand as an example for us all.

Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy took Michael into their home during his junior year of high school. However, the true charity in this decision was taking this homeless boy into their hearts. He became part of their family and, more than that, they grew closer as a family. Michael gained a brother and a sister and the family of four became five. Michael continually showed them what family life was about, though he'd never had a good home life before.

On thanksgiving day, after serving up the food, the family hops quickly back to the couch to continue watching football. When Leigh Anne can't find Michael, she discovers him sitting politely at the dining room table. This prompts her to turn off the TV and corral the rest of the family to the dining room to sit down for a proper "family-time" meal.

The entire story was wonderfully acted as well. I've always thought of Sandra Bullock as a mediocre actor (though she is my husband's favorite movie actress) but she did a phenomenal job as Leigh Anne. I found one reviewer who said:

I sure wish Sandra Bullock would get out of the business of making crappy rom-coms and make more movies like The Blind Side ..

I couldn't agree more.

Leigh Anne was a woman with money, a loyal husband and two beautiful children, she had no good reason to pull Michael out of the rain and give him a place to sleep, except that she cared deeply for him. All the same, she had a hard time showing him how much he meant to her. When she drops him off at college at the end of the movie, she gives him a quick squeeze and then hurries away, leaving the rest of the family to say their goodbyes. Michael decides this isn't enough and goes to the car door, opens it, and finds her trying to turn her head away to hide the fact that she is crying.

The dynamic of this women is beautiful because she a stunning example to all women and of so many women. We want to be beautiful, successful women with good families. We want to reach out to those in need. We want to feel a deep sense of belonging, of love, of LIFE. But how many times do we try to push away our tears of joy . . . ? How often do we shy away from revealing to others how much we care? Leigh Anne gave Michael everything. Michael knew she cared for him. But she still couldn't reveal to him how much Michael had touched her heart.

I would like to add one negative aspect about this movie. This is truly the only thing I wasn't fond of and should not stop you from going to see it. One review I read about the movie was that it was a conservative, Christian story but still seen through the eyes of a liberal Hollywood. This statement was never more evident than in how Leigh Anne and Sean's marriage was portrayed. Whether it was accurate or not, I do not know, but I was disappointed by how controlling Leigh Anne was in their marriage. They took a light tone with this concept, Sean was making jokes constantly about how he really had no say in anything and that she did whatever she wanted whether he liked it or not. (This is not to imply that Sean didn't want to help Michael - he did.) But I felt that this was yet another example of Hollywood undermining the marital state and the husband's role as the leader of the family. It just left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.

The final verdict: this is a MUST SEE. If nothing else, it will remind you how precious your family should be to you.

I hope it also inspires more lower class young men and women to remember that they have abilities to do things that perhaps their society thinks they could never do. Michael was lucky because the Tuohy's reached out to him. But that doesn't mean other young men and women can't find similar opportunities in different ways. Reach for your dreams . . . they aren't far away, but you have to go after them.

NOTE: This movie contains no foul language, no sex and very little violence. There is one brief fight scene but it is pushing and punching only, no blood. There are a few guns in the film but they are portrayed in appropriate light as being abused (as in the case of a young man threatening someone) or for protection (Leigh Anne proudly admits that she is always "packing"). There are a few references to extra-marital sex but they are perceived in a negative light. Oh, and there is one scene at the very beginning that is a little gross as you watch a football player's leg snap.

A matter of time...

Just two days ago my husband and I celebrated our second anniversary. As the date approached, we commented to one another how strange it seemed that it had already been two years. On the other hand, we also found it difficult to remember what it was like before we were married because we've become so comfortable with it and it almost feels like things have simply 'always been' that way.

I can remember with perfect clarity waking up the morning of our wedding. My maid of honor, Liz, had stay the night with me but I had woken up before her - and my tummy was not happy with me. I hadn't expected my nerves to get to me like that - but they did! A bathroom trip later, I was fine and I slipped on some jeans and a sweater and drove to St. Gabriel's Church, where perpetual adoration was available. I prayed a Rosary while contemplating the day before me - and knowing that I would arrive back there within a few short hours with my new husband.

I remember being told by one of my bridesmaids, Laura, to take the time to enjoy the day because it would fly by. This was the best advice I could have received. I was relaxed and enjoyed every moment. . . get my hair done. . . drinking Starbucks that (I think I recall) Kristen had picked up for us. . . hanging out at the hotel. . . doing my make-up. . . lunch being late (about the only time I got slightly stressed. . .)

I remember arriving at the church. . . having confession with Fr. David. . . I remember him telling me that I looked beautiful and he was amazed by my calm and, he laughed, that Tim was a basket-case (which I found quite amusing).

The mass was amazing. . . our vows. . . our rings. . . Fr. David singing the "Agnus Dei," which brought back memories of daily mass at Villanova. . . the shower of bubbles afterwards. . . the laughter.

The reception. . . glowed. There were no words to express how beautiful it was. . . and I felt like a princess in the midst of it all, on the arm of my prince.

I remember so many details with clarity and I keep the close to my heart. I remember driving away in Tim's car at the end, watching our guests disappear behind us and then turning to each other and saying, "Wow. . . it's over!" Though it wasn't. . . another Rosary at St. Gabe's and then a flight to our beautiful hotel (the Charlotte Westin, which is still, in my opinion, the most beautiful building in the city).

We'll be returning to Charlottesville this weekend, where we spent our honeymoon. I look forward to seeing those familiar places again.

How amazing that a single day two years ago can seem like a lifetime ago and yet a moment ago.

I cannot recall what it was like when I woke up and Tim wasn't sleeping beside me. I cannot recall my life when my espresso wasn't prepped for me each morning. . . when I had to make my own lunch. . . when I had to remember on my own to take my vitamins. . . when I had to cook my own dinner.

I imagine that the same thing will be true once we have a child. I won't be able to recall what it was like to sleep in until 8:30 on a Saturday. . . I won't remember what it was like when I could eat a meal with both hands. . . I won't remember what a day was like when I didn't hold my children.

I look forward to not missing this time now once I am in that time then. For now, I will enjoy each moment as those days approach. I pray that they approach in God's rapid time. :-)

American Papist's Papal Photo of the Day...

No one dared challenge the pope to liturgical-musical chairs.

[Photo: AP Photo]

See original post here:
http://www.americanpapist.com/blog.html

Support (only) a PRO-LIFE healthcare bill!

Just wanted to encourage friends and family to use the link on the USCCB website to your Senator's & Representatives in D.C.!

While there are a lot of different issues to consider with the Healthcare reform going on in Washington right now, we must remember that above ALL else, innocent human life MUST be protected. Please encourage your representatives to support & vote for bills that explicitly deny abortion access within any part of the healthcare plans created.

I just did. It took me about a minute and a half. Please spare a few minutes in your day to protect our country's unborn.

Memories and thoughts...

When I was a teenager, my grandmother used to tell me that throughout my youth, I always had a tendency to bring up the subject of my father around my birthday (mid-October, for those who don't know). I had never noticed this as a child but I suppose it makes sense . . . although, I tend to think that my birthday wasn't the occasion that brought these thoughts to mind so much as the upcoming holidays.

You see, I have never spent a single holiday with my father. My biological father, I should say. My adopted father, who I have known for about 23 years now, has been present for birthdays and holidays most of my life. So please don't misunderstand these comments to mean I don't appreciate all that he has done (and still is doing) in my life. I love him and I respect him dearly.

But my biological father has almost never been present in my life. Almost. He was there on my birth day (or perhaps the day after?) but only because my grandmother brought him to the hospital to see me. Then through the first two years of my life he was vaguely involved. By that I mean, he arranged to see meet up with my mother several times but never (or nearly never) showed up. My mother tells me he didn't care.

I wonder if anyone in the world can understand how impossible it is to believe your father doesn't care about you. It's not about just wishing he would so you could know you were important to him . . . it's about constantly hoping that he wasn't the terrible person everyone tells you he was. It's about being scared that maybe he really was just an evil man who cared for nothing in the world but himself. It's about the deepest desire of your heart to hope he turned to the Lord during his final moments and begged for mercy. It's about clutching your hands together in prayer and praying mightily for his soul all the time wondering if it matters at all because the flames of Hell may have already engulfed him.

You see, when I was just short of three years old, my father jumped from a five story building and ended his life.

No one knows what happened to him. I'm uncertain as to whether I ever will really know. The police report claims it was suicide. My mother has tried to claim he was likely involved in a drug gang and was murdered (she has no evidence, mind you).

I think I've mentioned before on my blog that my favorite virtue is Hope. I'm not sure how anyone could understand how important this little virtue is for me because honestly without it, I would have given up long ago.

Morgan Freeman's character, Red, in The Shawshank Redemption, tells Andy once, "Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." But Andy later proves to him that "hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."


Andy is right. I don't know where my father is . . . but I hope every day that I will see him again in Heaven. And I pray for his soul's release from Purgatory into that Eternal Bliss. 


I hope . . .

Money, Money, Money

Money is a necessary evil.

Or so they tell me...

But sometimes I wonder why we cannot live without it. Because honestly, I can't stand it. So often it seems that money causes so many more problems than it solves.

Some of you may have seen my Facebook status today regarding my desire to start over to before we had money. I honestly think it might do us some moral good to trade goods and services rather than use money as an exchange system. I'm an artist who needs food - you're a farmer who needs to advertise your product... ta da! I create posters, emails, marketing material - you give me food.

I believe we could truly strengthen our moral character more through such a system. We would abuse what we had less - not throwing away money frivolously because we could better see how our goods were depleted through frivolity.

But I suppose that is simply an Utopian idea that will never come true...

We'd also more easily be aware if our goods were taken from us when they were not suppose to be. Today, one of my student loan accounts drafted several HUNDRED dollars more from my account then they were suppose to and with the subsequent automatic payments I have setup for monthly bills, my account was overdrawn and I was charged another several HUNDRED dollars in overdraft fees.

NOT COOL.

See, that's what I'm saying. But if some guy came by and started walking off with 10 of my cows - I'd notice!!

I know - you think I'm crazy. But let's be serious, what GOOD is all this money doing?

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary - how wonderful!! Check out the details in the Saint of the Day gadget to the right for more info.

I hope you will join me in praying a rosary today. If you don't know how or don't know what the rosary is...

It's a wonderful mediative prayer that has been a part of Catholic tradition for hundreds of years. In praying several prayers repetitively, we meditate on the events in Christ's life: from His conception in His Blessed Mother's womb... to His suffering on the Cross... to His resurrection... and beyond!

To learn to pray the rosary, just click here: http://www.theholyrosary.org/


Prayers go out today especially for my good friends who celebrate an anniversary today - and in thanksgiving for the birth of their second daughter yesterday! Blessings abound!

Hail Mary...

Praise, Jesus!

Good news!


Anne went to the doctor today and had a mammogram & ultrasound performed and - voila! - no lump!


The nurse explained that what she and her doctor had felt may have just been a "trick" of folded skin. 


Anne will be following up with her doctor again to be sure so please continue to pray but it would appear we are out of the woods!


Her guardian angel is watching out for her!!

Incense Emissions...

From the American Papist blog today:

Vatican efforts to reduce incense emissions have proven largely unsuccessful.

[Photo: Reuters] 

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux - pray for us!

I write today in celebration of my blog's patroness, Saint Thérèse of the Little Flower and I ask, in particular for her intercession today of all holy days!!


One of my best friends, Laura, is due to give birth today and I have been especially requested by her and her husband, Mike, to pray that Baby Ireneaus is born today! 


They arrived at the hospital at about 2 AM this morning, finally feeling like her labors had progressed enough to warrant the trip (after three weeks of Braxton Hicks)... but after 5 hours, alas, no progress and she was discharged.


However - she's pretty far along and her labor was very quick with her first child so there is some concern that if/when her water breaks she won't have much time to get to the hospital!!


Plus there is the added fact that little Mary Grace is not allowed in the hospital (new under 18 rules due to Swine Flu) so they MUST find someone to watch MG, too!


When I spoke to Laura this morning, her exact request was, "If Saint Thérèse is on her game, she'll let us get to mass this morning AND deliver this baby on her feast day."


Amen!




I have several other prayer requests, too!!


Today at 2:30 PM I am scheduled to receive injections in my lower back at Carolinas Rehabilitation. This is aimed to help relieve the pain associated with the several slipped discs in my spine.


For Anne Phillips - who will be undergoing testing this Friday on several lumps in her breasts. 


For Barbara Homans (my mom) - Anne is one of her best friends and my mom is shaken up about Anne's condition. My mother is also scheduled for her yearly mammogram this afternoon.

For my grandma who is undergoing tests this week as well... it appears she may have a muscle condition which is affecting her ability to move her legs properly. This is especially worrisome because my grandma has always had her mobility and losing that would mean a big change in her life that I know she is not prepared for.

For Tim's grandma who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.


God bless!
Lauren

"Further up & further in..."

My blog is named after St. Therésè's concept of riding a "little elevator" to Heaven. I have to mention that I am constantly amazed at how often Catholic theology uses the concept of having many 'levels' to achieve a spiritual goal.


For example...


This Fall my company is publishing a book titled, Hungry Souls, which chronicles stories about holy souls in purgatory who have visited loved ones on earth begging to be prayed for so they can reach Heaven. 


My co-worker, Lesly, has been reading the book and mentioned to me today how it is interesting that purgatory is defined as having many 'levels' and depending on what level those Holy Souls are at determines what they have permission to do (the lowest level  they can do nothing but wait for prayers to elevate them to the next... as they progress they can entreat souls on earth to pray for them, etc.).


This prompted me to recall Teresa of Avila's beautiful Interior Castle or, the more secularly known, Chronicles of Narnia.


My husband and I were watching The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Sunday night and I recalled Mr. Beaver's hushed instructions to Lucy when they first meet after she asked about the safety of her friend, Mr. Tumnus:


"Further in..." Beaver whispers to her and her siblings. And he scampers away, prompting them to follow him.


C.S. Lewis proves his deeply Catholic thinking once again with this reference of saying that Lucy, Peter, Susan & Edmund must move further "in" Narnia to find safety and find deeper meaning. This concept is expanded all the more in the final volume of the Narnia series: The Last Battle...


The world comes to an end and Lucy (along with other Narnia friends) is brought to Narnia as She is fading into nothing. Lucy weeps at the sight, having held Narnia near and dear to her heart for so long. 


But Lucy is filled with joy when Aslan brings her (along with the others deemed worthy) into a new world. "Further up & further in..." she is told... and they move into this new Narnia - which is so much more wonderful than the original - and up the mountains only to discover and newer and MORE wonderful Narnia there. And on it goes... "further up and further in..." until Lucy cannot recall why she ever thought the original Narnia was wonderful at all since these new ones shine so much brighter.


There are so many layers to our faith that we cannot imagine. We deepen our relationship with God and we wonder how it was possible that we thought our faith was ever this wonderful before...


Our faith is the same way. The key is to always to pursue that deeper level - with God, with our spouses, children, friends...


We must continue to move "Further up & further in..."

The value suffering for Edmond Dantes

When I was in high school, I was very involved with Life Teen, my church's youth group program. During my senior year, I heard the story of the Miraculous Medal which was given to Saint Catherine Labouré by Mary in several visions during her life. The front of the medal depicts Mary standing atop the world with her hands - palms out - by her side and light pouring from her fingers. Mary told Catherine that the lights were the graces given to her by God to give to souls who asked for them. She went on to explain that those graces which appeared very dim were those that were not asked for often. One of these graces was suffering. After hearing the story, I told my close friend and mentor, Dee, that I intended to begin praying to God through Mary for the grace of suffering. To which Dee replied, "You will regret asking for that." I told her I did not care - I desperately wanted that grace!!

Little did I know what was in store for me in making that prayer. I prayed for suffering and received it in abundance - but I also know I've received the grace along with it. I have had many a moment of sobbing with emotional and physical pain and distress pleading to God "I've had enough! I don't want this anymore!" and begged Him to take suffering away. But always, as it is with our Lord, I quickly saw the graces earned by my suffering and I always end up requesting that suffering again.

This evening I watched The Count of Monte Cristo. A very good movie (based on the famous book) that I would definitely recommend to anyone. But in watching it tonight, I felt a tap on my shoulder from God reminding me once again of the importance of suffering in our lives.

For those who do not know the story, I'll tell it briefly. Edmond Dantes is a young man when he is falsely imprisoned for treason to France. He spends 13 years in a horrid maximum security prison and after several years there befriends a priest who is digging his way out of the chateau. Eventually, the priest dies and on his deathbed, tells Dantes to trust in God. After 13 years in prison, Dantes bitterly replies, "I don't believe in God." To which the answer comes, "It doesn't matter. He believes in you."

Dantes escapes the prison and immediately begins to seek revenge for his imprisonment. When he finds his fiancé, Mercedes, married to the man who betrayed him, his anger only worsens. When Mercedes is finally able to confront him, knowing who is he, she begs him to put his revenge aside and simply be with her. When she tells him that God has offered them a new beginning, Dantes replies, "Can I never escape Him?" She says, "No. . . He is in everything."

It takes the entire story for Dantes to finally realize the value in his suffering. When finally given the opportunity to kill his betrayer he realizes he cannot do it.

Dantes is a wonderful literary character living the story of suffering that we all live. No, we are not all falsely imprisoned for over a decade - or are we?

Sometimes I think we are allowing ourselves to be imprisoned when we do not cherish the value of our suffering. We shut ourselves away from God as Dantes was shut from the world he knew. We ask, "Why me?" or say "I don't deserve this!"

But it is critical remember that when suffering in those ways, we are one with Christ - who deserved NOTHING of the suffering He bore through His Passion and Death. And so when we suffer, we bring ourselves closer to Him and ride that 'little elevator' up another floor.

Healthcare... determining charity versus responsibility

I have recently gotten addicted to listening to the news, specifically to News Talk 1110. My favorite is Tara Servatius from 3 PM - 6 PM weekdays. I highly recommend tuning into her show (wbt.com if you aren't local). Tara is a local host in the Charlotte area and she does a fantastic job of covering both local and national issues.


Not surprisingly, Tara has been discussing (what she calls) "Obama's Health Control Plan" a lot lately. And I have to say that the entire issue has put me "on the fence" about a lot of my political views and how those views relates to my moral obligations as a Catholic Christian person.


Now, don't get me wrong - I think that 99.999999% of all this health care talk is garbage. I think the government has no clue what they are actually doing. I am tired to no end of hearing how questioning Obama is racist. I don't like Obama. I don't care if he's black or white or PURPLE. He is an idiot and him being black has nothing to do with it. As one person commented on The Curt Jester's blog: 

"I hate his commie-hippie, white half. It's okay for a white to hate a white - right?" 

Well, no, let's be Christian about it, please. But I digress...


The whole lot of them (White House, Senate, House, etc.) aren't doing it the right way. The liberal nuts believe that everyone born deserves to be handed everything they should ever need or want. Wait, I take that back, the poor people deserve to be handed everything they should ever need or want. The rich people deserve to have it ripped out of their hands to give it to the poor. 


Who came UP with this idea? Seriously, they must have been high.


Life is not fair. PERIOD. We are born into a world which contains many things: love and comfort and trust and beauty... but that same world also has despair and pain and heartache. And NO ONE is immune. None of us are 'entitled' to not have suffering. In fact - we deserve pain and we should and WILL have it in our lives. And despite what the politicians or philosophers or left-wing media might want you to believe: suffering is GRACE. It is good and holy and brings us closer to Christ. 


What does that have to do with healthcare, you wonder?  Everything. 


My cousin, Christopher, (who was also my godfather) died almost two years ago from brain cancer. The entire process of his illness and death was terribly hard on my whole family, most especially my Grandma and my Aunt Barbara. I would call my grandmother to check up on her and Christopher (she was basically his nurse for nearly six months) and she would tell me how terrible it was that he was suffering so much and that he didn't deserve to suffer. 


I've never had the heart to tell her that she was wrong. As a human being, Christopher was made to suffer, just as we are all made to emulate Christ's suffering on Calvary. Christopher was not an especially religious person. Though raised Catholic, he hadn't been to Church in many years. But I believe he understood better than my family the point of his suffering - for he never complained. He never asked, "why me?" His deepest concerns before he passed were for his family - his mother especially (who would join him not long after). And I believe that his suffering connected him more with God and I pray that it gives him swift passage through purgatory to Heaven.


My point is, whoever we are wherever we come from we cannot escape suffering (and frankly, we should welcome it with open arms --- another topic for another time). The government would have you believe that each of us deserves health care so that we can get the treatment we need when we need it (never mind the fact that the government plans won't actually give us that). 


Obama used the example of one woman who was despairing because she had cancer but no job and therefore no healthcare. While I don't believe in just handing her healthcare on a platter for nothing, this is where my political views start to fight with my moral views. How can you tell her that she cannot have healthcare unless she works for it? What if her illness prevents her from working? What if she has no family to care for her? It is here that things begin to get fuzzy... as a Christian, I cannot turn her away. She must be treated with charity in all things. However, I might wonder at this being something that is the responsibility of the government? I don't think so... The government does not exist to be a charitable organization. I do believe that there must (and does) exist organizations -- people -- who can help her for little or no cost. 


I know I am a poor example of it but I believe that we as humans and more specifically Americans need to better learn how to 'deal with it.' Not that I'm saying we shouldn't use and benefit from modern medicine to help us but so much of the world has taken it to extremes never imagined - trying to rid ourselves of pain at any cost and extend our lives to the breaking point (perhaps instead of extending our lives we should be focusing more on the life to come). On the other hand, we use "medicine" for such destructive means as well: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty -- things for which science and medicine should have NEVER been used for. It is beyond ridiculous.


My lunch break is almost up so I must draw this to a close...


My end point: we do have a responsibility to be charitable towards those in need around us but it is not the government's responsibility. We also have a responsibility to encourage people to help themselves rather than just hand them what they need.

Through the eyes of a child...

I had the tremendous opportunity yesterday afternoon/evening to visit a friend, Julie, and her three boisterous boys. 


Julie is the sister of one of my best friends, Laura. While Laura and her family (Mike, Mary Grace (1 yr) and Irenaeus (birthday-to-be soon!) live many miles away in Woodbridge, VA, Tim and I are lucky to have Julie, her husband, Jonathan, and their three boys living a short way away in Rock Hill, SC. 


Since Jonathan was out of town this weekend, I visited with with Julie, Caleb (4? or 5...?), Ethan (3) and newborn Gabriel. I had a wonderful time playing with Caleb & Ethan while Julie did a few chores and I even got to assist in changing and feeding little Gabe. (What a joy!)


The most wonderful part of the day was attending mass with all four of them and I had a wonderful spiritual experience of seeing the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass through the eyes of a child as I had never imagined. 


Caleb being slightly older than Ethan, he was able to stay calm and quiet through Mass for the most part (though he is still a kid). Ethan, on the other hand, is at that perfect age of being distracted by everyone and everything - as you would, of course, expect from a three-year-old boy. 


When Ethan continued to have trouble focusing on sitting still, I took him outside for a bit during the Homily. We sat down on a bench there and he was still very upset. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that he wanted to go to the "Drop In" (the potluck dinner they were attending after mass). I explained to him that we couldn't go yet because it had not started. In fact, everyone that was going was back inside the church! This didn't help him in the least. I considered him for a moment and wondered what the next best step was to take. Should I stay out here the rest of mass? If I took him back inside surely he would just get upset again, I thought. But why? 


What made mass interesting for me, I wondered? I knew the answer instantly - Jesus was present there. How simple. Jesus WAS there... what made Ethan any less able to understand that beautiful fact? No reason I could think of. So, I decide to tell him. I'm sure he had been told before but he is young and it is easy for us mature adults to lull ourselves into boredom at mass if we are not focused enough. Satan can so easily tempt us into thinking of our grocery lists. So much harder it must be for a child to focus when they are used to running and playing all day long.


I sat Ethan on my lap and said, "Okay, Ethan. We cannot go to the drop-in yet because it has started. I know you want to go now but guess what?" I paused for the effect. 
He stared at me, listening. "What?" he whispered. 


I continued, "There is something SOOO much cooler going on in there!" and I pointed to the doors of the church. "Someone is going to be there VERY soon. Do you know who it is?"

"No."


"Jesus is going to be there."


His eyes widened and I was honestly surprised. I really had no idea what kind of response I would get but he was in total shock. His ability to believe my words was plain. Jesus was going to be there.


I continued, "Do you want to see Jesus?"


"Yes!" came the gleeful reply.


"You've seen him before, you know. What is it that the priest holds up during the mass?"
Of course, I should have counted on this but it made me laugh when the reply came: "The book!"


I chuckled, "Yes, that is true and Jesus is present in those words in the Bible that we read. What else does the priest hold up?"


"A cross!"


Okay, so we were getting a little off-topic but he was understanding elements of the mass - that was a good sign. 


"Well, sometimes he holds a cross, too. But do you remember seeing him hold up a piece of bread?" Ethan nodded. "Well, when the priest holds up the bread that's when Jesus is there! He is the bread! Isn't that cool? Jesus is right there in the bread! And then after that the priest holds up a cup with wine and you know what?


He was riveted, "What?!"


"Jesus is in that wine, too! He is right there!"


His shock continued and he remained very quiet. I continued, "So, do you want to see Jesus?"


"Yes!"


"Okay. You can see Him. BUT in order to do so you have to be quiet through ALL of the rest of mass and you have to sit still. Because otherwise, we're going to have to come back out here and you'll miss Him. Okay?"


"Okay," with a nod.


"Are you going to be quiet?"


"Yes."


"Okay. Let's go!"


I carried him inside and we stood in the back while Father finished his Homily. While standing in the back, I noticed the table setup with the bread and wine there ready to be brought forward at the presentation of the gifts. I whispered to Ethan, "Look, Ethan. Do you see the bread there on the table?" He nodded. "That is the bread that is going to become Jesus! So you have to watch the bread, okay?" Another nod.


Once the Homily was over we went back and sat with Julie, Caleb and Gabriel. I held Ethan on my lap and we sang as they brought the gifts forward. At the consecration, I pointed to the priest and bread that was changing into Our Lord and I whispered to Ethan, "Look, there He is! That's Jesus!" He stared once again.


I'll admit, he wasn't completely focused but to me that didn't much matter. Whenever I pointed and whispered he look intently.  When we prepared to go up to receive, I told him, "When you get older, you'll get to eat Jesus and then He will live inside you! And he will help you to be a good boy and grow up strong!" The smile on his face was priceless.


The spell broke when mass was over but to me that was no matter... Ethan had watched and listened and saw Jesus there - sacrificed for us all. I go to mass several times a week and I do try to focus on what is really happening there. But this mass . . . though distracting and not having even attended the entirety of it . . . was one of the most wonderful of my life -- because I was able to view it through the eyes of a child.


Thank you, Ethan.


::in HIM::
Lauren

Come for the 'Ride'

Dear Friends & Family,

I had been pondering and praying about the idea of beginning a blog for awhile now. I wondered if it was appropriate since so many of my friends have blogs mostly for the purpose of sharing news about their growing families and I am slightly concerned that beginning this blog might send an unintended message. I hope this clarifies that this is not my intention.

I wanted to begin a blog mostly because I have so many ideas in my mind sometimes that I wish I could write out and give it up to God and my dear friends for feedback and thoughts... so many of my closest friends are either far away or (like myself) always very busy so getting together regularly isn't very practical.

I know that at least one of my co-workers (who I would like to consider a friend as well) would possibly gawk at the idea that writing this blog is to help me try to improve my socialization with the world around me. And trust me when I say that I would infinitely prefer to sit around a cozy living room with cups of tea and fresh baked cookies and talk with all of my friends about everything under the sun... but these days the earth spins too fast for such regular possibilities and my craving for sharing ideas is too strong so I must find an alternative... so welcome to my elevator.

Riding the Elevator

I'd like to briefly explain my selection for the title of my blog: "Riding the Elevator." It is taken from one of my favorite TAN Books, "The Story of a Soul" which is the autobiography of the darling Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. If you have not ready this amazing little book, please do not hesitate to read it! (I have a copy I would be happy to lend to local friends.)

Thérèse was a young Carmelite nun who wrote the story of her life only under obedience to her superiors. She had no wish to make herself more than she was (which to her was nothing but an instrument of God's to do with what He wished). She lived the simplest of lives and believed in serving God and others through her "Little Way" that is, in every little thing no matter how inconsequential, tiresome or painful.

I name my blog in honor of her Little Way which she liked to phrase her "elevator" to Heaven. I wish for nothing more than to ride up this little elevator. My vocation calls me to lift up my husband and (God-willing) future children with me as well.

I hope you will help me ride this elevator so we can all reach that beautiful Place together one day.

This blog will be about many things... random ideas... religious topics... and (yes) political ideas about current events.

It will also be about my family - both immediate and extended. I hope it might help us stay a little closer - since we seem to keep spreading farther apart as some of us move to the other side of the world (literally) and other's of us depart this earth completely (may the souls of my cousin and aunt through the mercy of God, rest in peace).

I heartily invite ALL of you - friends, family, near or far to comment on my blog at any time. It exists to promote conversation and ideas.

I look forward to sharing many thoughts and experiences with you all.

::in Jesus through Mary::

Lauren