Hello again. I know it’s been awhile but I and most of my family have been consistently sick for the last two weeks or so. I’m not quite sure if I’m the mend yet, but if I’m not this certainly isn’t going to make me feel any worse.
Let me start with some good news. We are officially in moving mode. Yes, we have found a new place to call home. It’s in Appleton and has three bedrooms, 1.75 bathrooms, a family room, a wood burning fireplace, and an attached 2.5 car garage. I really hate moving, but am very excited to have much more room in our new place. If anyone has any boxes that they don’t need or would be willing to come and help us move, feel free to comment back. I’m just kidding about the help, but pray for nice weather at the end of this month, would ya?
The weather sure got nice in a hurry. Those of you who have read this blog in the past or know me personally, know of my loathing of winter and anything having to do with winter. So I was thrilled to have nice weather this early in the year. But I’ve been sick almost from the beginning of the nice spell, after hardly being sick all winter long. I’m sure this too will pass, and if this is the price to pay for an early spring, so be it. But I’d like to call the bill paid in full now and move on so I can begin to enjoy the nice weather. Before it’s gone again.
Finally, since it’s Easter weekend and all, I’d like to talk for a minute about something I’ve found to be equal parts fascinating and disturbing. That would be the whole “Catholics Come Home” ad campaign that has been on every T.V. channel lately. Now there is nothing wrong with reaching out and trying to reconnect with people who may have left the faith behind and find out if they would would be willing to give the relationship one more try. But in light of the most recent sex abuse scandal involving priests and deaf children, with cover up stretching all the way to the Vatican and the Pope himself, the question that begs to be asked is “come home” to what?
Now, let me state for the record that I was born and raised a Catholic. I never really took it very seriously as a kid, but I suppose most kids don’t. It was just out duty to go to religion classes, take First Communion, and go to confession every once in awhile. Also, as a teenager, I had the privilege to meet and become very good friends with Father Martin Carr who really was one of the good guys and is fondly remembered in Oshkosh and the Fox Cities for his life’s work, “The Place To Be”.
With all that said, I’d like to address my original question. Come home to what? In my opinion, trust is the bedrock any relationship has to be built on. Without it, most relationships stand little chance of survival. My first marriage is a shining example of this and I’m sure there are many more out there who could point to trust. among other things, as one of the chief issues in their own past or present relationships.
So, if former Catholics left the church in the past, what is the reason supposed to be for coming back this time? How does the church stand in judgement of so many people for their lifestyle choices, Gays and Lesbians as examples, yet take no responsibility for their own actions? Standing up and apologizing 30 – 40 years after the fact isn’t nearly enough penance to pay for moving pedophile priests from place to place for years, all the while delivering children into the hands of these monsters.
I’ve got to be honest, I don’t understand the need for organized religion in the first place. If someone wants to have a relationship with “God”, they certainly don’t need to belong to any church or religion. Calling ourselves “Christian” or Catholic or Lutheran, is just another way we judge each other and separate ourselves from each other. It’s these labels which move us farther and farther away from the relationship with our own personal idea of God.
I hope that everyone out there can find something in their lives to believe in. Something that gives them comfort during life’s most trying times. And if you’re looking for a relationship of faith, have faith in yourself and trust yourself to do what’s right for you. Most of us try to do the right thing on a daily basis. We help where we can, we’re honest and hard working, enjoying simple pleasures shared with family and friends, and when our time here is done if a good life lived isn’t enough to get me to whatever the next level is, so be it. I know I’ll be surrounded by many people just like me. And if the folks responsible for the atrocities in the Catholic church can just say I”m sorry to “God” and still get in to whatever “heaven” there may be, then I don’t want to get in.
That’s enough for now. I’m gonna go and take some cold meds and wait for the Easter Bunny. As always, I’d be thrilled to hear your opinions on my latest rant.
I’ll talk to you again soon, I hope, when I’m out here playing in quicksand.
Comments (2) »
I was born, baptized, raised, confirmed, married in the WELS Lutheran church. My children were baptized Catholic, raised WELS and confirmed WELS… And when it came time to help with my marriage… nobody from either religion came to help though it was requested… but both religions were there to judge and condemn when the divorce was finalized… The Chatholic church was glad to take my ex-husbands money and call my children bastards after 20 yrs of marriage. I was MIA for 10 yrs from the WELS church and nobody missed me until this past year when I got the letter in the mail of, your soul is at risk and we are worried you’ll go to hell. I do not believe in hell after life just the one we put ourselves through here. I told them to take me off their list of members, they said a team of the pastorial staff was going to come to my home to intercede on my behalf. I told them not to bother that they had their chance to support me and I no longer was interested in their shame because I didn’t trust them. I have been expunged from the good WELS saved soul list!
I have traveled to China, Guyana S.A., S. Korea where there are a variety of religious sects and far less judgement. I no longer belong to any formal religion and my relationship with God is stronger than ever. Who can not believe as they gaze at the starfield above their head, or see a new life of any form be born, or hold someone’s hand as they die. God is within not out… When we put God outside of us, s(he) is lost and so are we… Seeking to live my highest self is the greatest thing that I can do… only I can choose to be all that I can be… I have faith in a source power but believe that it is a collective consciousness and I am only a piece of that energy of creation.
Read any of Gregg Braden? I love all of the string theory work in physic’s. I commit to making a difference in myself and work towards social justice that will make a difference on the planet. God is as good as I create him/her to be… I am blessed and so are you if we only believe and live our highest good… Then the planet and everything that inhabits it is blessed and regenerates too. Thanks for your thoughts and your blog.
I am still sick with the crud. Easter plans aborted for the quest of wellbeing. Family time will happen when health is back onboard and nobody in my inner circle is at risk of this virus. I too have been sick for almost 2 wks. So now I bless the virus that has made me stop and be still so that in between naps I can decided what comes next in my life which seems to be in a transition as well. Congrats on the new house… Pick n Save gives me boxes in produce with the lids… Pretty nice, just sayin. <3
Bonnie: First of all, I’m sorry about your illness. We are in varying degrees of sickness ourselves and had to cancel our Easter plans as well, so we understand what your going through. Feel better my friend.
Secondly, thanks for the comments I made yesterday. I was born Catholic and changed to the UCC when I got married the first time. The only reason I did it was to appease my in-laws. My mothers own comment was she was glad I went to “some church”. It was a real struggle for her to come to my church for special events involving my children. It was this attitude from my own family that I was referring to when I mentioned the judgementel nature of organized religion.
I became an elder in my church and really got a behind the scenes look at how this “non-profit” business is run and started to realize that there was a cost associated with the “saving” of our souls. And like you, when I was going through my divorce, it became clear to me that my souls salvation was less the issue and the condemnation and judgement of the Pastor of my church I found appalling. At a time when I desperately needed a friend, they abandoned me and my family.
I’m not trying to put anyone down who belongs to an organized religion. If they can find the comfort and peace of mind that should come as a part of a spiritual existence, great. I just think it’s a shame that Christianity continues to try to scare folks with this whole heaven and hell, eternal damnation approach.
I just try to be the best I can be, and on those days when I fall short (there are a lot of them) I get up the next day and try to do better.
I couldn’t agree more with your entire text regarding formal religion. Very well put.
I’m trying not to get to preachy when I blog, but lately I seem to have a much lower threshold for all of the B.S. out there and I think it comes out when I write. I not trying to offend anyone but I do believe that we are all responsible for our own happiness and that we all have the capability to create an ideal state for ourselves. Thanks again for the comments. Feel better soon.