Preach it, Papa!

From Pope Benedict's address to artists November, 2009:

Saint Augustine, who fell in love with beauty and sang its praises, wrote these words as he reflected on man's ultimate destiny, commenting almost ante litteram on the Judgement scene before your eyes today: "Therefore we are to see a certain vision, my brethren, that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived: a vision surpassing all earthly beauty, whether it be that of gold and silver, woods and fields, sea and sky, sun and moon, or stars and angels. The reason is this: it is the source of all other beauty" (In 1 Ioannis, 4:5). My wish for all of you, dear artists, is that you may carry this vision in your eyes, in your hands, and in your heart, that it may bring you joy and continue to inspire your fine works. From my heart I bless you and, like Paul VI, I greet you with a single word: arrivederci!

Photo: AFP/GETTY

No more begging

Have you been downtown on a Saturday night lately? Or any night of the week? Have you seen the late-night prowl? The look in people's eyes when they see the object of their desire pass by? How do you account for this? A friend of mine articulated it perfectly- They want....what they want.....when they want it…

I agree with his summation and I’ve been thinking a lot about it.

This phenomenon and an article I read recently from Six Stone Jars are pointing to something that is desperately lacking in our culture, an understanding of God’s hand in our lives and His desire for our good.


God wants our freedom, our happiness, and ultimately for us to be set apart for Him.

Even though He has promised us a feast we walk around begging and telling those we encounter that we have nothing to eat. We are a broken and wandering people. So confused we don’t even know what will satisfy us, we just know we are starving. But God knows. He knows what we need. He also knows when. And how. And His understanding of the situation is far more accurate than our own.

It’s time to start living like children with a loving Father. I, for one, am sick of begging. Especially because I’ve been promised a feast and He who promised is good for it.

{feast image}

Why remember?

Today's copyblogger post titled Defy Convention (or be forgotten) speaks about Frida Kahlo, a Mexican folk painter who is known for her raw self portraits, complete with unibrow and faint mustache. I read the post along with a myriad of other emails as I started my day this morning. But Pamela Wilson, the article's author, hit close enough to home that I am still thinking of her as I get ready for bed this evening. Wilson asserts that we can all be memorable if we give people something to remember us by. And, she tells us, this doesn't just happen by accident, "She [Frida Kahlo] went against the conventions of the day and left her brows and upper lip au naturel in order to stand out. Those were, of course, just a few elements of the overall style that made her unforgettable. Everything about her — from her appearance to her paintings to her personal life — worked together to create a powerful message." She goes on to say that by speaking truth, taking a stand, having a distinguished style, and not going over the top for shock value's sake you can be memorable in your online marketing. I believe she's onto something, and it doesn't stop online. If we want to make a difference, to be truly excellent, and to accomplish our goals- displaying that desire in one single aspect of our life is not enough, it must be expressed in every area. May we be bold in our convictions and allow them to purvey our whole selves.

Thinking light

I don't know that I learned anything today or read much worth while. Sorry to say, there's not much to synthesize.

At Mass Father Nathanial talked about three kinds of power according to Pascal. He said there is political power, the power of knowledge, and charity. I think Pascal's distinction will be helpful in assessing my own motivations and methods for doing things. Obvi charity is the best, but it is easy to fall into being motivated by knowledge or politics/money.


After Mass we had a lovely morning here at the 2241 dream house. My roommates and Justin (Jen's bf) had breakfast. It was what a Sunday should be. Kim later came over to work on her quilt. Then my cousin and her friend picked Kim and I up and we went to the Bronco's game. De-light-ful!! We had our faces painted, enjoyed food and libations, and my uncle generously sponsored the whole ordeal. Clearly he was motivated by charity. It was a great time!!


A Sunday this great can only be followed by an equally great Monday. Here's hoping!

Day 1!

Today was a great day to begin this little blogging project. I went to Mass twice*, thus two rounds of the readings, prayers, and homilies. I read from Getting Things Done, (David Allen), In Conversation with God (Frances Fernandez), and the first couple of chapters of The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin.) Not sure if I can readily find a theme, but I will say one thing. Having a plan makes a difference. Perhaps a plan isn't even enough. I'd say having a plan with a purpose makes a difference. Here is what I read today that defends this claim:


From The Happiness Project, We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed toward attaining it -Epicurus. In life a search for happiness is bound to happen anyway, you might as well set out on an intentional journey toward it rather than look for it based on whims and passing moments.


From Getting Things Done, People love to win. If you're not totally clear about the purpse of what you're doing, you have no chance of winning -David Allen. I think that one speaks for itself, but in case you need clarification, you aren't the only one who wins from having a plan. The people you intend to be a part of your life also benefit. They want to know what it means to be successful, whether they're you're family members, coworkers, employees, teammates, they all want to know they can win.

From the Mass Reading today: Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God. -Galatians 4:4-7. God is intentional. He has a plan. He didn't just arbitrarily send His son because He thought it would be nice. It was nice, but not merely for the sake of niceness. It happened and matters because it won our Divine son-ship and freed us from the slavery of sin. God has a plan and his plan is purposeful.

We are made in God's image, we all search for happiness, and we all like to win, therefore 2011 is a great time to identify our purpose and plan. Here's to more happiness, intention, and freedom in the year ahead!

{"Walk with me" Image

*That's not normal. I went this morning because I thought it would be the only time I could, but then my Mom wanted to go for her Birthday.

Happy New Year!

Another year has passed and with its passing comes new beginnings.

2011 will usher in untold adventures, uncharted relationships, and strengthened hope. I can't wait to see how the year unfolds.


No firm resolutions yet, except that I want to be more intentional about cataloging my experiences in life. Work, book club, blogs, In Conversation with God, homilies, and random encounters give me a great deal to think about each day. I'm going to write with the intention of seeing themes emerge from what I read and experience. We'll see how it goes! I'll keep you posted.




{Library image here and Bird image here}

Wherever could they have gotten this wonderful idea?

Um, hello Anthropolie, have you been reading my blog? Ahem..

(and for the record I did not get my pillow idea from Anthropologie... Better Homes and Gardens, maybe, but not Anthro)