Sunday Snippets

I’ve got good news and bad news. First the good news: It’s time for “Sunday Snippets”! Each Sunday, Rann hosts “Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival“, a meme that invites Catholic bloggers to provide links to their blogs, so readers can feast on that week’s banquet of posts. My reentry into blogging has been off to a sluggish start, but I did get in a couple of posts this week. I joined Colleen Spiro’s weekly meme “Deo Gratias”, where I counted some of my blessings. Then I did a reflection the importance of rituals, especially in light of the annual Ash Wednesday rite.

Now for the bad news: It’s that time of year when we have to “spring forward” an hour. Well, daylight savings time isn’t really so bad, but I sure hate losing an hour of sleep! On the other hand, since Lent is upon us, perhaps I should see this as an opportunity to combat the deadly sin of slothfulness.

I hope your Lent has been off to a good start!

Ashes to Ashes

Rituals—we all do them, whether we recognize it or not. When we think of rituals, the first things to cross our minds will probably be stately religious rites, such as chanting liturgy or performing a baptism.  Fraternal organizations, which I suppose could be considered quasi-religious groups in many respects, likewise make heavy use of rituals in their meetings and various activities. For instance, when initiating new members, Freemasons lead the initiate through a ceremony that tells the story of Hiram Abiff, the legendary architect of King Solomon’s temple. Even purely secular organizations, especially the military and other governmental entities, make use of rituals, such as saluting the flag or firing a volley to honor a deceased serviceman.

These ceremonial activities are not the only type of rituals that we engage in. Some of our daily activities—making a cup of your favorite coffee each morning, kissing your children goodbye as they head off to school, lounging in your recliner to read the newspaper after work—are, in a sense, rituals. These routines help give shape to our lives and serve as little reminders of what we hold dear, from simple pleasures to our loved ones.

Despite the ubiquitous nature of rituals, some groups will claim to eschew them. For example, the charismatic churches that I attended while growing up generally frowned upon rituals—or for that matter, anything they considered too “traditional.” On countless occasions I heard the admonishment to “break away from tradition” and instead embrace less structured, emotionally charged forms of worship. A Pentecostal pastor in my area echoed this sentiment by insisting that the decline of many mainline churches was due to their being “liturgy-laden.”

Their objection to religious rituals seemed to be based largely on the concern that they can become mere perfunctory routines rather than heartfelt acts of worship. Granted, that can happen, but I think they’ve overlooked some important points. For one thing, rituals do in fact abound even in non-liturgical churches. Closing eyes and bowing heads in prayer, lifting up hands in worship, anointing people with oil when praying for them, clapping during the songs, shouting “Amen!” at the preacher—when you get down to it, these and a host of other small actions are really little rituals in themselves. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Let’s face it: rituals—whether religious or secular, public or private, formalized or casual—are an integral part of our lives. Furthermore, I believe formal rituals lend dignity to an activity, reminding people that this is something to approach with respect.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Observed by Roman Catholics and some Protestants, it marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of penance, fasting, and almsgiving. Ash Wednesday derives its name from a ritual performed at masses or other worship services around the world on this day: having ashes smeared in the shape of a cross on one’s forehead. Why ashes? We read in the Bible of people putting ashes on themselves as a sign of mourning and/or repentance. As the ashes are applied to their forehead, the worshipper will hear the admonishment “Repent, and believe in the gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

A simple ritual, but one with deep import. As Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” We need reminders that our days are numbered and that we should always strive for holiness. Hence the benefit of rituals such as placing a cross of ashes on our heads, to help us keep in mind the brevity of life as well as God’s love for us, a love manifested on Calvary.

For those of you who observe Lent, I pray that you will not take for granted this and other rituals that we will go through during this season. Let us remember their significance so that they may serve as vehicles for drawing closer to God.

Deo Gratias

In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thess. 5:18 NAB)

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude benefits every aspect of our lives, so we should all pause now and then and reflect on what we can be thankful for. As the old hymn goes, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one…” Fellow Catholic blogger Colleen Spiro hosts Deo Gratias (Latin for “Thanks be to God”), a weekly meme where we share what we’re thankful for. Please join us every Wednesday as we count the blessings in our lives.

• I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the dark tunnel of unemployment I’ve been wandering through for months now. First, I’ve been offered a customer service job with a company, which is scheduled to begin in a couple more weeks. However, yesterday I went in for an interview at a local employment/headhunter agency yesterday and learned about some other job opportunities that might prove better a better fit for me, both in terms of pay, schedule, and type of work. The interviewer said he thought I was a ‘shoo-in’ for a job at an insurance agency that would be very similar to my previous job, and I’m waiting to hear back on that one.
• Eucharistic Adoration. Our parish has opened a little perpetual adoration chapel, and I’ve joined the volunteers who will be praying there regularly. During my assigned hour this Sunday morning, I really felt God’s peace as I prayed and meditated before the blessed sacrament. I’m so thankful for this new opportunity to worship our Lord and grow spiritually.
• Lent has arrived! Rather than focusing on austerity, I like to view this season as a time to draw closer to God and grow in holiness. Each year, our parish distributes The Little Black Book, which contains daily Lenten reflections. I enjoy getting to learn interesting facts about saints, church history, and various spiritual practices from around the world. And of course today is Ash Wednesday, and I look forward to mass this evening as a beautiful kickoff for Lent.
• Old Man Winter decided to grace us with a last bit of snow and ice on Monday evening through Tuesday morning. While I’m ready for spring to be sprung, it was a treat to wake up to a blanket of white yesterday, especially since this will out of all likelihood be the last of the ‘white stuff’ that we’ll see until next winter.

For these and many other blessings, Deo gratias!

Deo Gratias

Hump day is here! (Hmmm, I wonder where that camel from the GEICO commercial is?)

Yes, with the arrival of Wednesday, the week is halfway over. This would be a good time to stop and be thankful for the blessings we have received so far this week. Fellow Catholic blogger Colleen Spiro hosts a weekly meme called “Deo Gratias” (Latin for “Thanks be to God”) for just this very thing.

What am I grateful for this week? Well, I’m grateful for…

• Sunday mass. Getting nourished with the Word and the Sacraments is always cause for thanksgiving. Plus, I got to sit down with acquaintances after the service and enjoy coffee, donuts, and fellowship.
• Being able to get through tae kwon do class yesterday evening, in spite of some back pain I’d been experiencing sine Saturday. I think I pulled a muscle during Saturday morning’s class, but the discomfort is gone now.
• Unseasonably warm weather. It’s been overcast and rainy today, but thankfully Old Man Winter isn’t battering us in all his fury like some parts of the country are getting. (Along with that, I’d add that I’m grateful to be in the South, not the Frost Belt!)
• God’s grace to see me through the problems I’ve been facing. Just as St. Paul discusses in 2 Corinthians, God’s grace is proving sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in weakness.

So, a happy Hump Day to all, and Deo Gratias!

 

Sunday Snippets

To blog or not to blog? That is the question. Or at least it’s been a questions that I’ve pondered over the past year or so, and as you can say, I decided to answer that question in the affirmative.

It feels good to be joining the “Sunday Snippets” gang, after over a year of absence. Join us each week at Rann’s blog, This That and the Other Thing, for this weekly meme. Catholic bloggers are invited to post a link to their own blogs!

This past week marked my reentry into blogging, with two posts on this new blog of mine. My first post is a fun introduction (or perhaps I should say reintroduction) of myself, and in the second post–a participation in Colleen Spiro’s weekly meme “Deo Gratias”–I express gratitude to God for some recent blessings. For your viewing pleasure, the post also includes several pics of the winter finery that our area donned this week.

 

Deo Gratias

An attitude of gratitude–something we’d all do well to cultivate! To help promote this beneficial attitude, fellow Catholic blogger Colleen Spiro hosts a weekly meme called “Deo Gratias”, which is Latin for “thanks be to God”. Every Wednesday, join us as we share the things we are thankful for.

1. I’m thankful to be getting back into blogging. I just uploaded my first post today. Blogging offers us a platform for ordinary folks like me to share our views with a wide audience, which is something that not long ago we would not have been able to do. 

2. Mother Nature graced us with an abundant snowfall, a rare treat for those of us in my part of the country. I woke up this morning to a lovely wintry landscape. (Photos posted below.)

3. I’m thankful for the support of my parents during this period of seeking employment. And I’m also going to thank God in advance for the work He has for me!

4. Plenty of time to read some good books–what more need I say? 

5. I’m thankful that God has gotten me through life’s ‘slings and arrows’ thus far, and that He will see me through whatever lies ahead as well!

For all these things, and so much more, DEO GRATIAS!

Our back yard cloaked in white.

 

My mother sets out a banquet of seeds and bread for our little feathered friends.

I suspect our tree is asking, “How much longer till spring??”

As much as we might enjoy the snow, I’m not sure our poor car shares our enthusiasm.

I’m Back!

Ever feel like most of the things you try to do in life proceed in fits and starts? Like when you do get ahead, it’s two steps forward and one step back? If so, you’re in good company! Or at least you’re in my company, because that’s how life has seemed to go for me. Well, in my case, my progress sometimes feels more a two-steps-forward-and-three-steps-back pattern. I’m not sure that can actually be called progress, but at least I’m moving! Such has again been my experience at blogging.

About a year ago, I vanished from the blogosphere. My first blog started out with my posting occasional pieces about myself, my job, or something that had caught my attention, but gradually my blogging activities came to consist of little more than posting an occasional religious video from YouTube or a humorous image. Laziness and apathy led to my dropping even those token gestures and bidding my poor little blog farewell, to languish alone and forgotten. (Hopefully it’s been able to forgive my abandonment and move on with its life. If it hasn’t, I’ll find it a good counselor—I suppose I owe it that much.)

Yet the siren call of blogging continued to tug at me. Writing has always appealed to me, and I’ve even harbored the desire to write full time. Thus far, that dream remains unfulfilled; in fact, I’ve done no writing to speak of for a dog’s age. Since writing skills, like muscles, will atrophy if left unused, I figured it’s time to get back into writing shape, hence my grand comeback to the blogosphere.

Those of you who participate in Rann’s “Sunday Snippets” meme at her blog might remember me. For those who are not one of the “Sunday Snippets” gang (though if you’re a Catholic blogger, I strongly urge you to join this wonderful group) or not one of my friends or relations, here’s a little introduction about myself.

Top 10 List of Stuff You Should Know about Me

10) I love reading science fiction and fantasy, especially the latter. If you see me staring at my e-reader, mostly likely it’s because I’m engrossed in a world of swordplay, myth, and magic.

9) I occasionally knit items (nothing too complex right now, as my knitting skills still haven’t gone beyond basic casting on, binding off, knitting, purling, and the like—but I’m trying to learn more, and I’ll probably post things about ye olde craft of knitting from time to time).

8) I was born in Atlanta, GA. And with the exception of a 3-year stint in Indiana and a 1-year stint in Costa Rica, I’ve lived in the South.

7) I’m the result of a union between a Yankee and Southerner. My father hails from Illinois, my mother from North Carolina.

6) I have one sibling, an older sister who lives in Hawaii.

5) Jobwise, I’ve worn various hats, including office assistant, telemarketer, English instructor, and insurance agent. As of this writing, my job hat bears the words “between jobs”.

4) I started college thinking I’d be lawyer, went to an evangelical seminary for a couple of years, and earned a master’s degree in English. Like my work life, my educational path has had more twists and turns, ups and downs than a roller coaster.

3) I’ve struggled with an anxiety disorder all my adult life. I wrote about it a few times on my old blog. In case you’re wondering, I’m doing relatively well today, much better than I used to be. I’m a survivor!

2) I was raised a charismatic evangelical, but for about seven years I went through what I now refer to as my “angry agnostic phase”. Largely due to the emotional turmoil I was experiencing at the time, I walked away from Christianity and declared myself agnostic. (When I told a friend of mind about my having been an “angry agnostic” for a while, he joked that he thought that would make a good name for a rock band! But seriously, I’m glad that phase is behind me, and no, I’m not proud of it.)

And finally (drumroll, please…):

1) I came into the Catholic Church on Easter 2007. For the first 3 years after entering the Church, I seriously considered the priesthood/religious life, but eventually I concluded that was not the route for me to take. I’ve remained just a regular layman, still trying to find my place in the Body of Christ.

Anything else you’d like to know before I bring my glowing introduction to a close? Oh, my name. There are some who call me… Tim. Just kidding—a little inside joke for all you Monty Python fans. My name is Evan. Well, that’s actually my middle name. I’ve never gone by my first name, but my first name’s meaning (“lives by the linden valley”) provided the inspiration for the name of my new blog.

So here I am, back in the blogosphere. And as Jed Clampett might have said if he’d been a blogger, “Let’s commence to bloggin’!”