September 06, 2008> 4:54 PM
quicktake cubed > politics, law, parenting
That's nice and vague isn't it? Yes, it is. I'll try my best to de-vauge-ify it in the following blog post. I often think about many things, and very often too much. I "crank" on things - pushing the gears of my mind into overtime on certain things. This is OK sometimes, but often it's unhealthy. Whatever the case in the following list, here you go...
I said to Liz yesterday in the car, listening to some news on the radio - "even if I chose to participate in the political process right now, I would not want to."I find politics very interesting, but I have very studiously and conscientiously chosen to abstain from participating in the process. I have chosen neutrality. I find it fits my Christian insides best. I stay away from the arguments and sides taken. Not saying it's inherently evil or that Christians can't participate in their good consciences. I'd say, sure they can, but they should take very good care that they do not become formed by the rancor that often accompanies the process. I'll say this about the present race - one of the most ridiculous in memory. Even if it wasn't, I would be on sidelines, but all this, as I said, would make me not want to be in it even if I was. And yes, Palin is hot, that's just a fact.
"...you have also appointed authorities in this world – secular authorities and principally spiritual ones. And sometimes it seems to me that they have been busy filling in the holes that your Spirit of freedom had torn out from the fences of laws and directives in the Pentecost storm. ...They have laid the heavy burdens that they tie not only on others, but also on themselves."–Karl Rahner; Encounters with Silence
I read this not long ago and it echoed my heart. I feel this way often inside the terrible beauty that is the Catholic Church. Many may find the hedge of Canon Law, etc. very comforting. It feels mostly to me like an unnecessary barbed-wire fence. Perhaps better if the proverbial cattle stayed inside the boundaries because of love for the Rancher than because of fear of being pricked by the barbs. I wonder how well that can happen, though, as long as there are dire penalties for the breaking of so many obligations.
Do you ever wonder if you've been, or are, a good parent? Of course that question only goes for parents. I often wonder this. I yell too much. I'm angry a lot - a lot. I hold on too tightly apparently. I have a very hard time with children who finally find a voice to talk back with. I don't find that a good thing at all. I have a very difficult time not comparing my children with myself at their age. Hey, nobody had to make me do anything spiritual. I made my parents take ME to church! I don't get that "boring" thing at all. Now, I have good kids for the most part. I have no major problems there. I'm just tellin' you the everyday stuff wears me out sometimes. It boils my blood hot and makes me want to go hide somewhere. That may be called a retreat or going fishing, I'm not sure (I will Seton, I promise) - maybe I need to get on that. Anyway, I highly doubt that I'm really succeeding as a parent, as a father, sometimes.
September 06, 2008
> 4:54 PM
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