traveling wisdom

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

Thy Kingdom Come

Psalm 65:9

You visit the earth and cause it to overflow.
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A friend recently told me that in the Catholic church they practice novena. I'm not Catholic and didn't know what that was so I looked it up and found that it is nine days of prayer and devotion to obtain special graces. It has a long and diverse history that I didn't fully read about, but in the past it has been practiced at different times and for various reasons. The nine days leading up to Christmas is one of those. During these nine days, symbolic of the 9 months Christ was in Mary's womb, the people pray for Christ's coming. So much of Christmas is tradition and just what people do without thinking about it. I like hearing about how other cultures celebrate and worship - it gives fresh persepective as I look on from the outside, and allows me to see the reality underneath all the hoop-la. I like the idea of novena - though I think its more real than just a religious idea. The reality novena speaks of is God on earth. Did God really come to earth? That is the claim...and it is an extraordinary and rather ridiculous claim if you think about it. I've thought about it a lot, and I decide to pray the novena. I don't know what special graces are exactly, but God's kingdom on earth strikes me as something extremely special and more full of grace than anything else I could think to pray for. And so I pray for Christ's coming...."Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Mansfield Park

"I see more distinctly through the rain."

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"Beware of fainting fits. Beware of swoons."
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"I do not trust him... his sole interest is in being loved, not in loving."
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“Are you certain?”
“I have no talent for certainty.”
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"Run mad as long as you choose, but do not faint."
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"Its just that the temptation was too strong for a mind unused to making any sort of sacrifice."
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“Is there anything to be done?”
“Wait.”
“Wait?”
“Time can do almost anything.”
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At the time when it was natural, and not a moment sooner..."
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"I was so anxious to do what is right that I forgot to do what is right."

but I'm just asking You tonight...

I just got a new computer (well, >2 mos. ago), but still, I haven't gotten any music on it yet, so I put a cd in at the beginning of the week, and have just been listening to that same cd ("Can You Hear Us?") over and over. Currently my favorite song is track 5: "Elizabeth". I can't decided whether I find it encouraging or discouraging.

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and You can save a whole nation at a time,
but I'm just asking You tonight... please save Elizabeth.
I'll keep on listing those I love,
or ask for all the nations to come,
or plead for those who have never heard,
and those who've been hurt by the church,
or beg for those who have nothing to eat,
or little girls being sold for pennies,
or ask for freedom for the slaves in chains,
or for peace to come where wars rage.
And I know that You can save a whole nation at a time,
but I'm just asking You tonight... please save Elizabeth.

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There are things I want... by things I don't mean material stuff... I can't help but think that surely God wants the things I ask Him for too b/c they are good things. So I pray for them...and I'm convinced God must consent ...they are good things!

Was visiting with a dear person recently... had a hard life. And I can't imagine living that life, can't imagine I'd be able to endure it. I assume myself exempt from such hardship...that I, for some warped reason, think I should have a rosy life, blessed beyond measure...is this a health and wealth gospel I've adopted for myself? Why do I think I should have everything I want when my friend has suffered so much...do I think myself better???

And then I listen to this song...oh, man am I self centered!!! so consumed with praying for these things I want, they are good things of course, but they certainly benefit me too. I pray for these things while others pray for food, pray for war to leave their country, pray for protection from violence and sexual abuse...and many of these people have been praying far longer than I have.

So that's a little discouraging...to be reminded, "Hey, there's people out there with far greater needs than you, and they're still waiting for help...so get in line." I hate waiting in line...

but I'm also encouraged. hmmm, not sure why, but I am. The world is undone from all sides, and all the gazillions of people covering its surface - they've all got their hands in the air - all wanting something. I'm one of them. Just one in the crowd. But I'm encouraged because crowds never seemed to be a problem in the past...

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feeding of the 5,000
Mark 6:34 & 42 "When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd...They all ate and were satisfied."

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healing the paralytic
Mark 1:4 & 5 "Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him...and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"

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Mark 1:33 & 34 "And the whole city had gathered at the door.... and He healed many who were ill with various diseases."

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Mark 5:24, 27, &34 "and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him...she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak...And He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.'"

Sex Sells

So, supposedly there's a clothes store in NYC where the window display consists of live models dressing and undressing. They were talking about it on the news, and two commentators were brought in to discuss whether this was morally ok. The commentator in favor of the window display argued the following: "Sex Sells!" Indeed it does. ..."What in the world kind of arguement is that!?!"