Ranting | The Catholic Realist

What are you waiting for?

Posted on February 27, 2012 by joesuperdad

Resolution time?

I know, I know. Its not New Years time right now. But as we approached Lent, and people were all bandying their Lenten resolutions about, I was thinking of how it felt like New Years resolutions all over again. I, and I’m sure you, heard all the usuals. No snacking. No chocolates. No ice cream. More prayer. Daily rosary. Daily mass. No facebook. Writing letters. The good thing with all of these is that they’re good. They are decisions and changes that can have long term and awesome impacts on us. But why wait? If they’re good choices, good changes that can actually matter, make us better, more holy people, why wait an extra week or so, go all crazy one day, and then get Ashes and all of a sudden act like we mean it now?

The Lenten Police

Posted on February 24, 2012 by RRMM

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling...

We all made it through the exciting first day of Lent (and there’s no possible way you could’ve missed it what with all the Facebook reminders to “Attend Ash Wednesday!” and blogs with suggestions on what to do for Lent or explanations of what I am or am not giving up, etc.).

On Thursday, we faced the reality of what we gave up for the next 40 days when we realized how challenging this or that things might be to do or not to do.

And, now we’re sitting here on our first Meatless Friday – perhaps having forgotten and had a bite of meat to eat and then face-palming upon remembering the Lenten season.

Hopefully, we are finally firmly planted in Lent. With our sacrifices imbedded in our brain, we’re suddenly noticing what others are doing or seeing it unfold as we spend time with our friends and family and someone orders water instead of coke or is reading a book when they would normally be watching TV.

Nope, That’s Not Why I’m Catholic (Part 3: I Actually AM Edumacated)

Posted on February 21, 2012 by ymkbird

So in this series of blogs, I’ve been outlining all the faulty assumptions the non-Catholic or anti-Catholic people I know have about what I choose this faith for my own…and I’ve saved the best for last. Of course, by “best,” I mean the one I don’t handle well.

When it comes to “You’re only Catholic because you were raised that way,” I can usually respond intelligently with a discussion about human development and nature vs. nurture. When it comes to “You’re only Catholic because you’re afraid to go to hell,” I have no problem calmly explaining the bigger picture (Love) that they’re missing.

However, when it comes to the subject of this post:

You’re only Catholic because you don’t know how to think critically.

…or any of it’s cousins including “because you aren’t educated”, “because you just don’t know better” or “because you’ve never bothered to think for yourself,” I have a hard time keeping my calm, cool, and reasonable demeanor and start seeing red.

What I felt like doing after recently reading this line on my Facebook wall.

You see, I’m actually a very well-educated individual, and that education was not “sheltered.” Yes, I did attend Catholic school for Elementary and High School (Middle School was public), but then I went to a public university where I majored in English and minored in Spanish and…wait for it…Religious Studies.

Nope, That’s NOT Why I’m Catholic (Part 2: Love is in the air)

Posted on February 14, 2012 by ymkbird

In my part one, I mentioned that the firestorm of debate that the HHS Mandate has created encouraged a number of conversations with people who are not Catholic or Christian…with atheists, with Satanists, with agnostics…with those who outright hate organized religion and those who are just suspicious of it.

Some of those conversations have been openly hostile, others have been vaguely mocking, and a few have been even curious, but there’s one thing they all have in common. They all have made (faulty) assumptions about why I am a Catholic.

So, I’m here to set the record straight…

You’re Only Catholic Because You’re Afraid You’re Going to Hell

Going to Hell This is a pretty common argument from those who reject religion outright. Here is one example from a discussion with an old college coworker (who at least at that time was a self-professed Satanist) on his blog:

The Catholic Church holds itself as the moral standard bearer for the world because it gains its authority from the divine. These rules are not up for a vote or appeal. If its rules are not followed, the sinner is punished in the afterlife. This is coercion not unlike someone giving orders at gunpoint. It negates the possibility of free will.

Or this comment on one of my Facebook posts by a really close friend. We usually avoid religious discussions, and though he likes to poke fun and provoke me, it’s all in respect and love (I hope).

Well I was going to get a vasectomy but knowing the Church is against it and that Jesus won’t let me into the kingdom of heaven if I do, I’m just going to abstain going forward!

It’s a pretty common argument that assumes that the reason I follow the Church’s teachings or even believe at all is based on my fear of eternal consequences if I don’t.

Just like the “You’re Only Catholic Because You Were Raised That Way” argument, this assumption has some basis in truth, but is missing a much bigger picture. In honor of Valentine’s Day, here’s an analogy that explains that bigger picture…

Nope, That’s NOT Why I’m Catholic (Part 1)

Posted on February 11, 2012 by ymkbird

Throughout the past few weeks, I’ve had a number of conversations with people who are not Catholic or Christian…with atheists, with Satanists, with agnostics…with those who outright hate organized religion and those who are just suspicious of it.

So, I’m here to set the record straight…in my next few blog posts I’m going to share my truth behind the many misunderstandings that have been leveled at me.

“You’re Only Catholic Because You Were Raised That Way”

It’s true I am a cradle Catholic. My mom was raised by a strong Catholic family and I find myself still learning from the lessons she learned at the faithful, loving hands of my grandfather. My dad converted to Catholicism (from “nothingism”) after I was born. They were not perfect parents, but they demonstrated (and continue to demonstrate) for me more than just what it means to be Catholic – they have shown me what it means to be a good person, a happy person.

But wasn't I a cute Cradle Catholic??

I teach Confirmation and one of the most common themes that teenagers are taught during the preparation for this sacrament is that it’s the moment when they become an “adult” in the Church. Confirmation, they’re told, is the time when they choose for themselves the faith that they’ve been taught by their parents, godparents, and others. I think – and have told my Confirmation teens – that this is a line of bull. There is no magic moment when you become an adult in the Church – and there certainly is not one moment when you can separate yourself from the teachings of your parents and be Catholic all by yourself. Here’s why:

We can’t separate ourselves from our history.

I get tired DRIVING 20 miles… har har har!

Posted on February 10, 2012 by joesuperdad

Yesterday, I took an easy jog. Today, I took a just as easy jog. Tomorrow, I race. I love running. I love running hard. I generally am bored with the easy jog days, but I can’t run hard every day. Racing? I love it. And I hate it. It’s all I’ve been thinking about today, to be honest.

This video illustrates conversations I have about once each day:

I am a runner. Long ago, that statement meant something to me. I had what I look back upon now as “a lost decade” of running. It wasn’t lost in all areas – I grew tremendously in my faith, we had 4 awesome daughters, I had the privilege of witnessing countless teens grow in their faith, and I was married to the Wifey of the Universe the entire time. So it was a great decade – just not for running.

A few years ago, I refound this important part of myself. And people shake their heads at me. They think me crazy. The don’t get it. They think it’s about exercise. Or that we’re just dumb. And then I hear all the jokes. (Some of which are included in the video above.)

An Open Letter to Alexander Graham Bell

Posted on February 9, 2012 by RRMM

The dashing Alexander Graham Bell

Dear Alexander Graham Bell,

I just wanted to let you know that I am less than impressed with your “greatest invention” because most of the problems in our world all stem from it.  *

Was it so bad that people had to put work and effort into courting a member of the opposite sex, maintaining friendships, or sharing information? Was it really bad for us to have to wait for a response filled with beautiful words and lovely penmanship signed with a person’s actual name instead of getting a “Wats up?” (yes, spelled that way) or “K” in a text message?

I understand that your intention was to give us the immediate gratification of speaking with and hearing the voice of someone who was important to us. But, you know people. You know we couldn’t just leave it at that. That kind of technology was bound to be changed and all the good it was meant to bring would be tossed aside so that people could use it for their own convenience and selfish purposes. Read More

Obama vs. the Catholic Church: Laugh, Then Cry (Or Cry, Then Laugh)

Posted on February 8, 2012 by ymkbird

Check out this incredibly observant video by Taiwanese animators. Sometimes these issues make me so angry I want to break things and punch people…in the face…with a chair.* This video speaks truth, but also makes me laugh…which is probably a lot healthier for everyone.

Disclaimer: If giant walking condoms or English subtitles offend you, you probably shouldn’t watch this video.

*For the record, I almost never condone the punching of people in the face with furniture. Turns out writing letters to government officials, signing petitions, and praying/fasting are much more effective.

Thanks to @AmericanPapist for sharing!(www.americanpapist.com)

Bullying: “Can’t We All Just Get Along?”

Posted on February 7, 2012 by ymkbird

I happened to walk in on the incident when I was picking my 7 year old up from school last week: Another little boy tackled my son to the ground and then taunted him when my son started crying and asking him to stop. I transformed from harried mother on my cell phone at after school pick up into the raging force that is “Mama Bear.”

I grabbed the offender and pulled him off my son and demanded that he apologize. I told him that he could not treat his friends this way if he wanted to have friends any more. He stuck his tongue out at me and ran away.

There’s something about “Mama Bear” mode that infuses the voice with a special timbre of authority. It carries with it unspoken violence and brooks no disobedience.

“Johnathan Smith,” I called after him.* “Get back here this instant.” He heard the implied threat and turned around and came back and apologized to my son, so I let him off the hook (very giving of me, don’t you think?).

If we all just watched Veggie Tales more often, none of this would be an issue...

Bullying has become a pretty serious problem at the school my kids attend in the past year, and this is not the first time my son has been on the receiving end of it. The principal and teachers are on top of it – they have a whole program they’re implementing to try to weed it out.

Only, I’m not convinced this new program is going to work. Bullying has become so rampant and accepted in our society that a few lessons in the classroom can’t compete with what these kids see day in and day out – on television, at home, on the Internet, even at Church.

Are your tweets boring? Probably, but so what?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by ymkbird

So, I ran across this article (130 million Tweets everyday are not worth reading, researchers find – Telegraph) today and it got me thinking about Twitter…

You and I both have been annoyed by Twitter at some point. Those who don’t use Twitter are annoyed by the whole concept of Twitter. Those who do use Twitter get annoyed by poor twit-equette (yep, I just made up that word). You know, the Tweet with 7 hashtags, the “I got a +K from…” update every 5 minutes, or any of the other annoying behaviors the article articulates.

(If you don’t understand +K, click the link…but I’m warning, you’re about to have your self worth judged by numbers…and you’re going to like it.)

130 million Tweets everyday are not worth reading, researchers find - Telegraph

Having a PB & J today...just like old times. #childhood

So here’s my question: Why do we still do it? Why do we need to constantly be speaking out into the void and desperately hoping for a retweet or a mention? Are we self-absorbed? Insecure? Vain? Is there some sort of deeper fear that’s having an impact on our Twitter behavior? Or are most of us just generally annoying people who don’t do much that is all that interesting?

I don’t have an answer for these questions…after all, that’s why I have a blog, so I can ask these questions without having to answer them. Only…the fact that I even think my thoughts are worth blogging (and then Facebook posting, and Tweeting and re-Tweeting about) comes from the same place.

It’s a place that greets me in the shower each morning and where I think about what I might want to blog about today. Or the place I find myself when I’m at a stoplight trying to craft the “perfect Tweet.”

I think it’s the place inside me that has an intense desire to have a positive impact on the world – even if it’s a small impact. If I can throw a hashtag on a Tweet that makes someone laugh – even if that someone is just my best friend – then I’ve made the world just a little bit better. If one of my random rambling thoughts – turned random rambling blog posts – helps someone else see themselves, their relationships, their job, their life, their God in a little different light…then I’ve made the world just a little bit better.

So, I guess I did answer my own question…the reason I Tweet and blog is because I want to make this world just one smile, one prayer, one self-reflection better than it would have been without me in it.

The challenge now is to remind myself of that every time I stare at that 140 character long blank line:

How will this Tweet (status update, blog post, etc) help make the world a little bit better?

130 million Tweets might be boring to most of us, but if those 130 million Tweets made the world a little bit better place for even one person…well, then our world is 130 million times better. And I’m more than okay with that.

(P.S. Follow The Catholic Realiston Twitter and Facebook…Do it….Now…)