Friday, October 10, 2014

What? Me Worry?

What, me worry?

As a teenager, I was always annoyed when my mom would talk about how worried she was when any of us kids were out doing something fun or adventurous.  What point is there in worrying? I thought. Worry accomplishes nothing. Worry won't prevent an accident. Worry won't change the course of events.

That's easy for a kid to say, isn't it?

There is much in life that we can't control and worry makes us feel, at least, that we can put handles on our fear and maybe steer it a bit.
That's a feeling we much desire when we hear about natural disasters like wildfires, earthquakes, flooding or hurricanes.  We know enough about what can go wrong that it's only natural to worry.

When one such disaster hit her home state, after having moved cross country, my friend Kristin learned that her dear friend's parents were stranded in the midst of it. Evacuation was impossible because the only road out was demolished by the elements. Conditions for survival were not favorable. The first report she received was that they didn't have cell phone service, internet or land-line connections, and had not been in contact with anyone for a full 24 hours, which turned into 48 hours.

After two days passed without contact, concern grew. It was likely the home was wiped out. Would the elderly couple have had a chance to find a safe place to go?

Everyone who knew them, hit their knees in prayer.

My friend, explaining the situation to her husband, grew frustrated when he commented, "Don't worry. They'll be fine. I'm sure they are safe and just can't call out to let anyone know."

While it was a definite possibility that everything was fine, the worst was also possible.
She shared with me that she didn't like having her worries dismissed. It seemed to her, even more careless not to worry about their safety and the effect on the rest of the family.

I told her there is a difference between worry, which is pointless - and being concerned to the point that one is driven to prayer. I'll admit, I surprised even myself with that one! (Clearly, the Holy Spirit used my mouth!)

Prayer is what works. Prayer is what changes lives. Prayer is what allows the heart to relax when it just feels too much. Prayer brings us closer to God.

Our lazy language resorts to naming that frustrated feeling "worry".
Is "concern" a better word? Or is it seeking comfort from God?

Why is worry useless? Worry is a kind of fear that separates us from God. If we trust in God there is no need to worry. Worry is an insult to God. Prayer is always appropriate.

Oh, and there is a happy ending to the story. The couple were, in fact, alive and well. The situation wasn't always safe, far from it, but they were okay and rescued days later.

Certainly, an answer to prayer.

Monday, May 5, 2014

I Watched Don Jon So You Don't Have To

When I first saw previews for Don Jon - a movie somewhat about p*rn addiction, written and directed by Joseph Gordon Levitt, I felt compelled to see it. One, because I thought it would address the real problems of p*rn in our culture. Also because Levitt is an actor I admire for what seems like a genuine persona. I had hoped he had good intentions in the concept of the film, in part to get society to think about the devastating impact of p*rn.

The trailers for the film bring up one argument, the suggestion that romantic comedies are perhaps as damaging to the female psyche, and relationship expectations as p*rn is to men.
That is what caught my attention. That the movie might address strong impediments to male-female relationships in this day and age.

My friend and I made tentative plans to see it, and in the meantime, I saw that Sister Helena Burns wrote about it on her movie review blog HellBurns.blogspot.com. I was eager to see what a Theology of the Body, and media scholar would say about it (and curious as to whether said Sister would see such a film).

Her clarification from her blog post:
The more I read about the film, the more I realized I could NOT go see it (and not because I'm a nun, but because I'm a human being). A simulated porn montage is featured along with “strong graphic sexual material and dialogue throughout, nudity.” Porn is simulated sex and this film contains simulated porn. These are definitely postmodern times. Therefore, this “review” of “Don Jon” will be my second “historic” review, i.e., the second time I have “reviewed” a movie without watching it.
That made me realize, that I too, could not unsee such images.
As a single woman, teetering on middle age, it's enough effort to not focus on all the s*x I'm not having in my life - no point leading myself into temptation. I shared that concern with my friend, who agreed she also didn't want see images she would want to unsee - so we passed on that film when it came out.

But behold, it popped up on my Netfix feed months later, making me reconsider. Admittedly by now, I was distanced from Sister. Helena's warning.
I prayed about it, and determined that the combination of own media background and years of exposure, and my jaded nature as both an old maid and an old journalist, that I might be objectively immune to the images. If I found I was not so immune, I would abandon the film.

So I'll tell you what you missed and didn't miss. Yes, I may spoil the story - since I'm saving you from seeing it yourself!

There are lots of graphic images, which go by quickly and not for too long - almost entirely of women. The images are shocking mainly because they are so contrived as p*rn. One can't help but think that such relations within the covenant of marriage, a respectful Catholic marriage, wouldn't be so contrived and ridiculous.
They were not arousing or offensive to me, partly because they were so stupid and partly because it causes a woman to compare her looks to those "actresses".  (That's a major turn off!)

What was offensive was the portrayal of Jon's weekly confession. Over and over he admits his sins to the priest who orders three Hail Mary's as penance.
I hated that it might give the impression to non-Catholics, that confession is actually that mindless. That confession might be seen as motivation to continue sinning, instead of it's real, redemptive qualities.
I hated that the priest in the movie never called Jon out on his lack of contrition - that he's not the least bit sorry for his sins which are treated as a habit. He's not trying to reform, and in his mind and culture, its a justifiable habit.

What I did appreciate about the movie was the real admission that men, addicted to p*rn, do prefer it to actual intercourse, which is the most disturbing truth.
Gentlemen, that should be your first clue that it's wrong and harmful to your soul as well as to your body.

As the Don Jon character says, with p*rn, he completely loses himself. With a woman, it was somehow never good enough. Not enough to lose himself.
The viewer can surmise, it's because he treats sex with various women, and even his steady girlfriend, as a wham bam - heated, yet impersonal experience. In that manner, it's just a bodily function, which is completely disturbing.

He meets an older woman, played by Julianne Moore. When she catches him watching p*rn on his cell phone, she calls him out on his addiction. She learns he prefers p*rn to intercourse, and challenges him further.  Moore's character, a widow, explains to him, specifically, that's part of the problem. You're supposed to lose yourself in another person. Not in yourself.

Don Jon tallies his porn free days, and reports back to the confessional. When the priest again prescribes penance, he's shocked. Doesn't he get points for his "sacrifice"?!

Eventually, he learns (from Moore's character) how to "make love". How to lose one's self in the one you care about. This is still off the mark from the true purpose of intimacy. Within the bonds of matrimony, intercourse is not a device to get lost in, but to honor your spouse. Yes, we're allowed, nay, expected to enjoy it. But losing oneself is not the objective, unless in reference to complete giving.

But these scenes, I'll admit, not so surprisingly, were a bit arousing. Perhaps I put my chastity at risk by watching the film, but by doing so, I can confirm it's further proof that graphic, mad, crazy images aren't what sex is about. Knowing that the intimate scenes are a truer expression of what sex should be - I guess I felt validated that p*rn doesn't cut it for me.

It's really not meant for human consumption. It damages relationships. It breaks what binds a couple together. So do, I believe, cheesy romance novels or worse, which also set women up to be disappointed in reality, to be disappointed in men who don't have writers. (Sorry folks!)

In all, it was a well-produced film with a compelling story. While I don't recommend it to a wholesome person trying to live chastely, I can see where it may be a starting point for those people who already indulge in p*rn. Perhaps it can start conversations, between friends, or spouses. It may spark inspiration that they too, can give up this damaging vice, and find their way back to meaningful relationships. If so, the effort may be worth it. Sometimes, someone has to speak the language that the deaf can understand.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Quiet Light - Yet Quite Like Me?

On the feast day of the Annunciation, I want to share a new reflection on Mary our Mother.

Annunciation at the Cathedral Basilica
of the Immaculate Conception
Is it enough that Mary is the Mother of God, mother of all of us on earth, the Queen of Heaven, and the Crowning Glory of Creation?
She is magnificent and holy, yes. But I believe there is more. I am about to tell you something about Mary that may open your heart to hers in a real, personal way.

We Catholics focus on Mary mainly as Jesus' mother. Some are far too focused on her perpetual virginity. Understandable, because that is quite counter-cultural to society today. But we can also consider her kinship to the single, and the alone.

Really.
Bear with me. It's going to take some time to get there!

First, let us look at the reason for the Immaculate Conception. Very many people are confused by this, and believe that the Immaculate Conception refers to the manner in which Jesus was conceived. It does not.

Rather, the Immaculate Conception is in reference to Mary being conceived and born into the world free from the stain of original sin. (Unlike the rest of us sad mortals) She is the only one, besides Jesus, to be completely free from sin.
Mary's soul was and is Immaculate. Spotless. Pure.
It had to be so in order for Jesus to be born of her womb. Her virginity (forgive me for saying so) was not what made her so special. Instead, it was that she was a vessel so pure that not even a little bit of evil could dwell there. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. What other vessel could be fit for God Made Flesh?

A little more background comes from Isaiah 7:14
When the Jewish people were promised a messiah they were told that the messiah would be born of a virgin. Over time, it became very important to society to ensure that there were enough virgins available to fulfill this prophecy. Families would then send their young daughters, as they approached adolescence, to the temple to be sure they would be protected, trained up, and preserve their virginity.  


This was not as dire as it would seem in today's age. (Oh no, in today's American culture, lawmakers want to be sure that 11-year-old girls have access to the Morning After Pill even without consent from their parents because it is expected that every girl be available for sex. Oh how far we have come! Shudder at the thought.) To become the mother of the king, the messiah, would be an ultimate reward for the sacrifice - though it was surely not considered a great sacrifice in that day.

Swinging back on topic - it was not uncommon for girls to be consecrated to the temple for this purpose.

Let us remember that Mary was born to Anna and Joachim - who by that time were quite old. (Like Sarah and Abraham, they spent much of their life without children and certainly didn't expect children at such an impossible age.) 
Therefore, Mary had no siblings, and her parents knew it was best to dedicate her to the temple where she would be raised after their death. It is likely that both of Mary's parents had died by the time she was about seven years old.

Then when she came of age, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, visited by the angel Gabriel, and agreed in her fiat, to become the Mother of God Made Flesh.

Joseph too, was an old man, likely over age thirty - possibly mid-30s by the time Jesus was born. He too, had intended to vow his virginity for the glory of God, so that helps explain the question of Mary's perpetual virginity in case that was bothering you. (It's an obstacle for many.) This arrangement allowed them to be servants to God and serve each other and the world in a remarkable way.

It is believed that Joseph died by about the time Jesus reached age twenty - that would put him in his mid-50s which is quite old for that time period - and would leave Mary widowed by her early 30s.

Then, upon Jesus' crucifixion, He spoke to His mother and His beloved friend John, "Son, behold your mother. Mother behold your son." 
This was an instruction that John should care for Mary, as it was necessary in those days for a woman to belong to a family of some type, lest she become destitute and uncared for.

Now, let's look back at the timeline of Mary's life.
Orphaned in her youth.
Married at age 12 to 14.
Widowed by age 34.
Then her only begotten son was out, traipsing around, preaching and teaching his disciples - where was Mary? Who took care of her and who did she hang out with? 
Her son crucified as she reached age 45 or 50.
Depending how long she lived - Mary was likely alone, without family, for much of her life.

Mary spent much of her life alone.
What does that mean to today's single adults?

For me, it is profound.
It's easy to think that someone so full of Grace, blessed with a devoted husband and let's face it - a perfect child - has nothing in common with me!
Of course knowing that she saw her son suffer a horrific, cruel and unspeakable death, we all have sympathy for her. We know her heart was deeply pierced, and that she can relate to and understand our puny little earthly sufferings.

But to think that she also understands what it is to be alone - that for me, personally, is a game-changer. Mary does understand the suffering of the single.

That is a comfort for me. I hope it may be comfort for you or someone you love. Because, I'll be honest, the whole, "Jesus was single." attempt at consolation is not much comfort at all!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

It is Still Not Good for Man to be Alone! (part three)


As much as I'd like to think that everyone is wondering how to serve single adults within the church, I know that they're not. 

The overwhelming response is generally, "This is something the singles need to do for themselves." 
Which is extra funny when you consider, they're single. If they were good at convincing people to do things with them, they would have convinced someone to marry them. 

But I digress.

How can the Church serve singles? 

Let’s start with married women. 
Please stop blogging about how hard it is to have and raise kids. You’re scaring men and women away from parenthood. 
Many women have the grace to know that childbirth and parenting is painful and scary, yet they’re willing to do it anyway. But when men hear that their lives will be forever changed into something terrible, with everyday sacrifices and no more money – well you don’t have to do any more convincing. Thanks for making single men afraid of marriage and family. That helped. (sarcasm)

Parents: 
Please stop telling teenagers that their lives will be over if they get pregnant too young. That’s a good way to convince them to end their unborn child’s life as alternative to “ruining” their own. 
At what point do you expect them to change their minds and think babies won’t ruin their lives? 
Yeah, I’m not the only one stuck dating grown men who still think babies are the worst thing that could happen.

Priests: 
Include examples of the single life in your homilies. Make a your parish a welcome place for the lonely. Really, really think about why there are no single men in attendance at Mass, and encourage the few that are, to linger after Mass rather than dashing out the side door. This may mean approaching and talking to them.
Include intercessory prayers for those singles who are called to marriage, but suffer for years in the waiting. 
Also, work on a response other than nervous laughter when an adult suffering from prolonged singleness cries out in loneliness. 

Couples: 
When a Nice Catholic Girl (or middle-aged woman as the case may be) asks if the marriage-minded two of you have a single brother or friend or co-worker, and you respond with, “Not one that I would set you up with.” consider it your duty to bring that bloke back to church, so that he will one day be a suitable partner. Come on. Do your part here! 
This "I got mine." attitude among marrieds isn't helping anyone. Your marriage should be a witness to others. If you socialize with people who see your Godly marriage, and they continue to live a life unworthy of a Nice Catholic Boy or Girl or Man or Woman... then just how strong is your witness?

Oh and be careful of the company you keep.
Singleness is not contagious. Divorce is.
I've seen it happen, at least one part of a faithful Catholic couple starts spending time with a newly divorced friend, trying to be supportive - and before long their own marriage is falling apart. 

Please stop being afraid of single people. You are afraid right? That’s why you don’t talk to us. Or extend us the sign of peace during Mass. Or invite us over for dinner. Or out for Sunday brunch with your sweet, sticky little kids? 
We could be incorporated into your family, since we live so far from our own. We’d be a great example of holy, chaste living for your kids – who, if the Church continues as it is going – will likely be unable to find spouses either.

Friday, February 14, 2014

It is Not Good for Man to be Alone (part two)


The first thing God saw, and identified as "not good" was the human He created, alone. 
If that's first thing that really concerned the creator, shouldn't it matter more to the Church? 

As it stands, if a long-time, unintended single expresses their pain and burden of being alone to a representative of the Church, they are met with either uncomfortable laughter, or stoney silence. 

The Church is woefully unprepared for the effects of the sexual revolution on the faithful. The latest data indicates, that for the first time in history, single adults nearly outnumber married adults, yet the Church continues to serve the married, with families, nearly exclusively. Isn't it time we acknowledge the single elephant in the room? 

Two years ago, on Valentine's Day, Catholic writer, Simcha Fisher got a taste of the fury of the slighted single when she dared to grumble about the overwrought holiday in her column in the National Catholic Register online.
The unveiled response from singles: ”You’re married. You don’t get to complain about Valentine’s Day.”  This either amused or irked Mrs. Fischer, so in response in a subsequent column, she asked what it is that singles need from the church.

Whoo boy. Then it blew up. There were hundreds of responses from single Catholics, explaining their marginalized status in the Church and in society.

There, in one place, were tons of suggestions, reasons and ways for the Church to reach out to single adults. (Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about singles in terms of twenty-something’s. We’re talking prolonged singleness for which there seems to be no cure. Other than a call for all the divorcees to get annulments and a heart transplant.)  If one or two churches in every diocese would have implemented just one idea, the plight of Adult Catholic Singles might have eased, just a bit.

The singles flooded the comments with descriptions of the agony of their single life, the loneliness and isolation. The lack of accountability, as daily, they return to an empty house, where it would be nice to just have someone to bounce their thoughts back and forth. 

Sadly, among the wealth of suggestions from those experiencing prolonged singleness, were glib - nay ignorant - condolences from the smug marrieds;

Um, Sebastian honey, we’re over 40, the only impending diapers are our own and most of us already have a mortgage, thankyouverymuch.  World Youth Day? Can 35+ year-olds go to World Youth Day? Wouldn't we be arrested for being creepy predators?!  Oh and don’t forget. Yay! I get to go to the dentist!

Soon? Many singles have been anticipating "soon" for more than 20 years. Every year or two, one thinks, "This is it! God can't hold out much longer. I'm sure I'll meet someone soon and my waiting will be over." Rinse and repeat. Suddenly you're over 40 and invisible to the world.
Soon may never come.

All of this, makes it clear that the Church does not see the adult singles. In the minds of Church-going Catholics, all single people are in their 20s!
  
Insert flashing arrow pointing to obvious problem right here.

Worse yet, the smug marrieds who think all adult singles are perverted, lazy slobs:


Wait a minute, after we're all done being gravely insulted, we need to finish laughing at the absurdity of this comment! 
No distractions yet?!  Har har. If we're not counting the ticking biological clock, does a mortgage, or burying one's parents, or sitting all by yourself in an emergency room count? 

So, what has happened since Simcha’s figurative olive branch? Well, the National Catholic Register promised a single’s column – of which I’ve seen two (2) offerings. One by Emily Stimpson and another by some guy who never managed to complete his thought.  (Although, I was recently at a friend’s house – married of course – who showed me a column by Emily that was really quite good… so maybe the NCR has been publishing these columns in the hard copy, leaving the easily accessible online version to play cricket reruns…  ignoring the fact that the single’s scene is online – but I’m glad my one married friend and someone’s grandma got to see it.)

Where was I? Oh yes, what happened after Simcha extended an olive branch to Adult Catholic Singles? After the roar died down? Pretty much nothing. At least on the NCR, there's not been another word about it. 

All the smug marrieds went back to their Creighton charts, the mommy bloggers went back to writing about the tribulations of mothering. The Catholic husbands who insist that their single brother or nephew or cousin isn’t suitable for a relationship with a Nice Catholic Girl, went back to being okay with that.

It’s time to stir things up. How can you help?

(I'll share thoughts on that in my next post, but I'd love to read yours in the comments.) 

 Read part one of this series here.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

It Is Not Good For Man To Be Alone (part one)


It is not good for man to be alone.
In all of history, it’s the first thing that God identified as “not good”. Up until then, all of creation was good.  Dry land, water, vegetation, the sun and the moon, separation of light and darkness, living creatures.  He saw that it was good. Then God created man and it was self-evident. It is not good for man to be alone.

You would think the church would put more focus on this, based on that revelation alone.
Because when God saw that it was not good, He went right to work making introductions.
God: Have you met horse? Horse is helpful, strong, and really quite beautiful.
Man:
God: Yeah, not a great mate huh? 
After exhausting introductions with all the animals, God created a help meet. Woman.

God wasted no time recognizing the tragedy of man, alone in the world.
But the Church.  The Church takes it for granted. Everyone shows up married, apparently. 

Let’s strengthen marriages, the church says. Let’s build strong families. Yes. Of Course!
You single people… take care of your own needs. But you know, don’t sin… stay chaste, in return we’ll ignore you when you show up at Mass on Sundays. But could you volunteer for this and that… you know, since you have so much free time because you’re alone.

And we shouldn’t complain about it either. That one I don’t understand.  

When The Church plunks World Marriage Day down on the same week of Valentine’s Day (also known as Single’s Awareness Day)  – it is a bit of insult added to injury.

Hey, I’m more than happy to focus on strong marriages. I support all of my married friends, encouraging them through their struggles, rejoicing in their joys, making sweet baby gifts, offering to babysit so they can have time alone, together.
 
A little reciprocity would be nice. Just a little acknowledgement that it must be hard to approach and then live your 40s without marking any grownup milestones like marriage and children, not to mention the horror of facing family dynamics at holiday gatherings. (Sweet Lord, take me now.)

Admittedly, the Catholic Church was completely unprepared for the fallout of the sexual revolution. Logically, the Nice Catholic Boys and Girls weren’t going to succumb to it.  What the Church was unable to realize, is that the Nice Catholic Boys and Girls suffer the repercussions in ways those who participate in the debauchery never will.  When the rest of the culture delays marriage, it has a ripple effect. Men and women who wanted a life of marriage and family, live without both.
The irony is a tragedy. Because secular feminists get to have babies. They may not want them, but they get them. They may never have a wedding, but they get the family. Meanwhile the chaste, single Catholic Girl prays for an opportunity to have babies, but those babies will not turn up until a Nice Catholic Boy gets his head and heart into gear.

God was distressed to realize that it is not good for man to be alone. So much so, that He set forth to do something about it, pretty immediately. Why then, is the Church so stubbornly opposed to intervene in what is “not good” for it’s single population?

It is not good for women to mourn the loss of their fertility, while still hoping and praying for a husband. It is not good for men to live without companionship, to rely on p*rnography as a substitute for intimate relationships or to be so concerned about losing everything in a divorce that they never take on the risk of loving someone, united with God.

What is the Church doing for Adult Catholic Singles?
When will they start thinking about it? 

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Wait

Can't say that I'm a Bachelor fan.
I've always found it too strange that every time a girl gets sent home, the voice over insists that she's heartbroken.

But I digress.

The latest Bachelor wedding celebrated the union of Sean and Catherine. I didn't watch the full coverage. I'll admit I totally missed the wedding, but I saw the hour-long build up and I have to say it was strange.

The producers of the show made such a big deal about this couple saving sexual intimacy for their wedding night, that it was a bit disturbing.

I love that they waited, and that they weren't shy and hush-hush about the fact that they weren't dig'n each other's bones during the entire engagement... it's nice to see some Christian values.
But the emphasis the show put on it was bizarre.
Would they do the opposite?
"Jack and Jill are getting married in the next hour. They have been having lots of sex, and they seem to be very good at it. Which is very important because we can't trust that two people are meant for each other and prepared for marriage unless they are good at boinking each other. So thank heavens this marriage will last because they boinked."
See how ridiculous it sounds?

I've never understood the concept that a couple needs to test the waters, or worse yet, "test drive" before they get married, because, "Sex is such an important part of marriage."  Sexual compatibility must be proven before you commit to one another? How weird.

You know what - I think there are a lot of men in the world with whom I could be sexually compatible. But finding someone I could share a life with? That is really hard to find!

Methinks the emphasis is on all the wrong things.

I give this Bachelor couple credit for focusing on true compatibilty over their baser instincts.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Calling Sin Sin

Calling sin what it is, is not hate. It is love.

The attitudes surrounding everything from the HHS Contraceptive Mandate, to the Duck Dynasty Debacle, seem to be that if Christians or Catholics disagree with something, it can only be about hate.

If we speak out against free, universally accepted and ingested birth control, it's a War Against Women! Wha? What?!

When Phil Roberston pointed out homosexual sex is unnatural, sinful... it was identified as hate speech.  Why does anyone think if one doesn't support what they consider wrong behavior - that they must hate the people involved?

I think that is really twisted thinking. It makes me wonder if the "You-are-filled-with-hate" finger-pointers, are actually the ones who hate. If they can't comprehend disagreeing with someone without wishing that someone ill will, what does that say about them?

The most loving thing you do for someone, is to encourage them to do better.
When you're raising a child, you point them in the way to go. It is the loving thing to do.
And I can see why adults don't want to be corrected. But you just can't ignore truth.

Truth is the truth even when no one believes it.
A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it. 

How do we help people to understand that sharing the truth is loving? Even when they disagree. Especially when we disagree.