Today we remember Our Lady of Guadalupe. Since roses are part of the story, i found this photo of a Rose growing not too far from Nazareth – a place where a young Mary might have walked along the shores of the Sea of Galilee..
“Wonder is the beginning of Wisdom.” Greek Proverb
Blessed is she who believed… & blessed are we as we wonder at her faith !!
grace, peace & Resilient Roses
Virginia : )
Everyone doesn’t have to be so serious all Advent. Sure, I’m reading my nightly stack of Advent devotionals (where do you think all the good quotes come from?) But, it’s also kinda good to do a little hilarity. ‘Tis the season of good cheer and all that.
A few weeks ago whilst acquiring the latest Lois McMaster Bujold Miles-Universe adventure for my Kindle White (my old Kindle was great but this giftie from my gadget savvy brother makes reading a crisp clear adventure) I saw another Advent reading opportunity albeit of a galactic variety & grabbed it. The opportunity was downloaded vs. grabbed. Whatever! A few excited clicks later I was able to read:
A Cosmic CHRISTMAS (click here to read about it)
First of all, Baen Books ROCKS. Their Free Library is such a wonderful tool, especially if you have multiple copies of David Weber’s early Honor Harrington books, or David Drake or Elizabeth Moon or (their author list is long) and would like a few for your Kindle (Nook or other e-readers) & don’t want to buy them for the 3rd or 4th time.
“A good book is never read just once.” (C.S. Lewis said something like that.)
‘Tis also an opportunity to sample new authors (check them out!) then acquire them electronically on the Baen website. (Easily done.)
Back to “A Cosmic Christmas.” What a great collection of inter-galactic faith, fun and serious short story craftship: from an AI (artificial intelligence) weapon that helps a family celebrate Christmas (saving lives & providing an ancient ‘Bible’ to strengthen their faith), to futuristic detecting (murder & mayhem), to an eventual celebratory gathering of vampires (‘there’s no good food at Christmas, everyone is so full of good cheer!’) to a human commercial planetary expedition that brings holiday-driven peace to two warring species, to some downright inspirational faith-filled stories that made me tear up a bit. It’s great reading to prepare for Christmas.
Especially the long-ish “Roads” novelette by Seabury Quinn. Originally published in the 1938 issue of Weird Tales, this became quite a popular story through the years. A very different take on Santa Claus beginning with a gladiator character “Klaus” intersecting the lives of Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus in Bethlehem, later witnessing the crucifixion, and so much more.
Just finished that one today. So. Very. Moving.
So, take a break from your heavy Advent tomes & be prepared for a little cosmic faith & a wee bit of holiday hilarity…
grace, peace & Cosmic Christmas(es)
Virginia : )
p.s. if you are looking for more spirit-lifter-upper reads (of the galactic variety) check out this post I wrote about one of my favorite Sci-Fi books: Cosmic Hilarity & the Galactic Gourmet. This is one of the funniest books (of any genre) I’ve read (& re-read several times) in the longest while. ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!! (As are many Sector General offerings of fav Irish author, James White.)
As i set about writing another blog for Human Rights day, my notes reflected what i posted last year – so here we go again with a few new pics …
Dashing about the mad ‘get-everything-ready’ holiday rush, it’s difficult to slow down to think about – Human Rights?? But today back in 1948 a war weary world came together (pushed along by American former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt) to ratify the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Click here to read it)
Each year we commemorate this declaration – the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights gets a bit more media attention & folks working for justice around the globe have their sound byte, but tomorrow the world moves on to the next celebrity crisis…and we pass around another round of Eggnog. Ho hum.
Before taking that next sip of Eggnog (we have several jugs in the fridge, but you can pick your holiday drinkie of choice) think about the many girls & women who have been victims of gender violence –especially RAPE – in places like Bosnia, Kosovo, the DRC (Congo) & Sudan where it has been used as a weapon of war. Often that’s just the beginning of their horrors. In Kosovo when I met with a 12 year-old rape victim that was the least of her worries after being used as a human shield by paramilitary forces in the war zone… and in Africa often kidnapped girls are raped, then forced to be ‘wives’ for conscripted soldiers.
Thinking about basic human rights (and the lack thereof) we take so much for granted. Living in places where people had no rights, I am so grateful for the freedoms & opportunities i had growing up. For example, the right to EDUCATION. So many girls (& boys in some places, but especially girls) don’t have a chance for even primary school since taking care of livestock & crops & fetching water is part of family survival. Where I worked in the Middle East, all the schools were shut down for four years – even kindergarten teachers caught teaching their students were sent to prison. Then in other parts of the world girls still don’t have a chance to study because …they’re GIRLS.
Then there’s TORTURE. (you can set the drinkie down now!)
If we would think more about the Golden Rule: ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ – maybe dehumanization would not happen & this great evil would not persist.
How would you feel if your wife, daughter, son, brother, sister, husband, or father was beaten, imprisoned, routinely tortured? How would you feel if the breaking of YOUR bones was considered “moderate physical pressure?”
So why is it ‘ok’ to torture anyone?? (According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: IT’S NOT OK!)
The most fundamental right, however, is the right to LIFE.
Here’s a paragraph from a younger Virginia in an old Christmas letter:
“…and seeing mass graves of bodies hacked in senseless violence. I spoke with a farmer in a village near Podejevo. The bodies of his father (78), mother (72), neighbor (70), and sister (55) had been dumped into a mass grave we visited. Although his sister’s husband had urged her to flee, she wouldn’t leave her feeble parents by themselves. His sister and parents were killed, their ears, arms and other body parts sliced and mutilated, and yet, with tears streaming down his face, this farmer said, “it’s not right that we burn Serb houses now.” When I asked about living again with Serbs, he said, “we’ve suffered so much it would be difficult,” but then later, however, he told me there was an elderly Serb woman living on his street, “she’s different, we will protect her because she’s our neighbor.”
I remember this farmer, vividly. He pleaded with his sister to join them as they fled their village to safety, but she said, “who will take care of our parents? They’re so old & can’t hurt anyone, why would anyone want to hurt them?” Indeed.
“Nothing matters so much to me as human life. It is something so serious and so profound, more than the violation of any other human right, because it is the life of the sons (& daughters) of God, and because this blood (the murders of so many in El Salvador) negates love, awakens new hate and makes peace & reconciliation impossible.” Archbishop Oscar Romero
Life IS a Gift… and so many like Oscar Romero around the world (& in this country) laid down their lives in the pursuit of justice, equal rights – basic human rights FOR ALL. Thanking God – today & EVERY DAY – for the gift of their lives & their legacy to continue fighting injustice wherever, whenever, however we can…
So pass around more Eggnog, raise those glasses high – and hear Virginia’s Human Rights Day toast: TO LIFE!
No ‘ho hums’ around here – we CAN be Roses & root out the rubble of injustice around us & around the World… Let’s be about it!!
“The Glory of God is a human being fully alive.”
St. Irenaeus
grace, peace & Human Rights for ALL!
Virginia
p.s. i will not apologize for the mass grave photo, but pls note it was the least shocking of the ones i took in Kosovo. Truly horrifying what human beings can do to other human beings. That’s why we need Human Rights educators & awareness & groups like Amnesty International & so many others banging the drum for those who have no rights.
We are ALL created in the Image of God… pink, purple, black, white, blue & green, young & old, male & female… ALL OF US!!!
“A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight His paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the glory of God.”
(Luke 3:5-6)
In the Gospel today we hear the voice of Isaiah (a total Favorite Old Testament prophet – the Word of God through Isaiah ROCKS, BIGTIME!) who foretold the coming of Jesus, our Messiah. The thing about Advent ponderings – we’re meant to peek inside our hearts & minds & give God a chance to make what might have become a bit lopsided straight (or what’s deviously degenerative & crooked in our minds splashed clean with Heavenly Clorox bleach!)
These things happen. Best intentions go awry… insidious negative voices turn us away from God – our Creator & Heavenly Father – who calls us each His “BELOVED” sons & daughters, created in His Image.
Think about THAT when your overly rounded curves get you down. Once after sharing my bewildering weight woes to my Size 2 sister (i gained 20 pounds in Africa, can you believe? Go work in Africa & Gain Weight!) she sent a treasured email I printed out & read over & over again – “consider those curves voluptuous” …
Making the crooked straight – yes, maybe I can make a few crooked pounds Go Away (with a little extra Grace & Self Control) – but i also need to be open to accept The New (things like ‘voluptuous status’ vs. being a Beanpole…)
This morning Fr. Larry Gillick’s Advent Sunday reflection hit home (a great daily devotional tool – check out the Creighton Daily Reflections i started reading them in Africa when my Living Faith booklets came a bit late…)
“We need Advent to remember what’s what and what’s not. The “off-stage” voice of the One Who is to come is what will get things straight, will fill in the empty valleys and level our mountains of defensive fear. To allow this, we trust the call, the unusual, the new of Jesus’ coming. We need these Advent moments to check out our little heart-hands and see if there is any room in those hands for our receiving the new Surprise.” Fr. Larry Gillick S.J.
(click here to read his full reflection…)
grace, peace & Glorious Straightenings
Virginia : )
Throughout Advent we are continually reminded of the special faith Mary demonstrated when Angel Gabriel told her she would bring the Son of God into the world as a baby (altho she had ‘no knowledge of man’…)
She believed the Angel’s words: Nothing is impossible with God… & she trusted God to sort all the details out.
“Let it be done to me as you have said. I am the handmaiden of the Lord.”
Let it BE…
As Fr. Sean reminded us last night, the Beatles may have sung it, but Mary said it first.
Let it BE…
grace, peace & FAITH
Virginia : )
p.s. just have to share this quote from one of my Advent devotionals today:
“That man say we can’t have as much rights as a man ’cause Christ wasn’t a woman. Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman. Man had nothing to do with it.” (Sojourner Truth, 19th Century)
p.s.2 – if you want to know more about the photo, click here to read a previous post with the full skinny
Advent is all about Light in the darkness… there’s the famous proverb that it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. As we see all the beautiful lights decorating homes & streets & churches & stores (& more) – may they remind us to choose Light, because lighting candles in dark places is a CHOICE (sometimes a Very Difficult one!)
The darkness doldrums can definitely Get Us Down. Instead of complaining, however, we can BE Light. It’s a choice… that starts with ME.
Blessings on this 1st Friday of Advent…
grace, peace & LIGHT
Virginia : )
“If peace isn’t in our hearts, we won’t find it in our hermitages.”
Sister Macrina Wiederkehr
In many countries December 6th is a special day where children receive gifts from Saint Nicholas, a Bishop from the 4th Century who is well remembered in Eastern & Western churches. Not many exact details are known about his life, but the Eastern church recognizes this saint as a “preacher of the Word of God & spokesman of the Father,” while the Western church has passed down stories of his timely provision of dowries for the poor girls in his city (who otherwise would have been forced into prostitution) & reputation for helping the poor & oppressed.
… Checking Facebook, a beer-brewing buddy posted today that Saint Nicholas is also the Patron Saint of Brewers. (Who knew? No wonder this saint is so popular in Europe!)
So, how does Saint Nicholas relate to Fruitcake? This may be a stretch (albeit a tasty one!) Think about giving gifts. Consider how Saint Nicholas has morphed into ‘Santa Claus’ bringing toys in his sleigh for girls & boys (good ones, anyway.) Remember Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving in America) when zillions of folks dashed madly about packed shopping malls pursuing gift deals to put under their Christmas Trees “from Santa?”
So what did Virginia do? (& yes, I do so totally get it, regarding the famous Newspaper Headline emblazoned eons ago, “Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!”)
On Black Friday this Virginia (the person, not the State) ordered Fruitcake. Actually, it was Saturday, but that was my ‘intentional shopping’ (& only shopping) Thanksgiving weekend. (To make sure it arrived before Christmas. Fruitcakes take time to ‘set up.’)
You see, my Mama LOVES fruitcake. If you wait too long, they are hard to find (good ones especially.) But the week before Thanksgiving whilst whisking mail catalogues cluttering up the kitchen table into the dustbin, one Fruitcake cover stood out: “Holy Spirit Monastery Gifts.” That sounded even better (given past fudge gift orders from Trappist Monasteries & cases of wine regularly procured from Latrun Monastery on the way back & forth from Gaza.)
I looked online to find more great gifts like coffee, honey & books(!) During a lovely called-to-order conversation, I picked the suggested book (already through the first 5 chapters!) & placed our order (with a large contribution from the Fruitcake co-investor –my brother) & it arrived on TUESDAY (3 days later!)
25th December seemed an awfully long time to wait (my Mama needs to keep up her strength) so we decided to sample The Fruitcake (I don’t particularly like fruitcake, but this is Really Good!) Smiles all around (especially on Mama!)
Purchases with a Purpose. The Trappist monks pray all day & pay their way by making goods for sale (very good ones.) Purchasing gifts from these monasteries supports them & their ministry of prayer. (Click this to learn more: www.trappist.net)
Gifts with a Purpose. Advent is the season of ‘coming’ as we wait the birth of Jesus on Christmas, but it’s also when we scramble to find gifts for our loved ones, neighbors, friends, colleagues (whoever makes our gift lists.) Finding special Fair Trade options (coffee, holiday treats) that help overseas communities or crafts from local artisans near us (‘tis so much fun frequenting Art Shows, craft bazaars at our favorite churches or local causes), or sharing gifts that educate (issue-oriented books & especially movie DVDs tend to make my gift bags for others!) or lift spirits (music, music, music!)
This holiday season, take a moment to think about how you can make Purchases with a Purpose & give purpose-driven gifts.
Methinks Saint Nicholas would approve!
Grace, peace & purpose-driven gifts
Virginia : )
p.s. Researching this blog post (having tea & Fruitcake with Mama this afternoon), it was interesting to note the large tin of fruitcake is almost ALL GONE (in one week.) Purpose Driven Purchases – what more can I say? Delicious! (& the honey is INCREDIBLE!) Delectable!
check them out — www.holyspiritmonasterygifts.com
VALES & VALLEYS
Oh heart, my Heart,
why are you so downcast within me?
Why so much despair?
Not caring, or sharing, the will
to walk the way ahead…
Into the valley of Shadows,
must I go?
Veiled, the vales lie deep before me
Sight hindered, darkness lingers
below the heights
Be still, my quaking heart
open up
…LISTEN FOR THE LIGHT…
Oh heart, my Heart,
Why are you so downcast within me?
Hear my cries, Oh Lord
MOST HOLY LIGHT
This night
Show me Your Way
in this valley of shadows
“Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me…”
(Psalm 23:4)
…’The Lord is my Light & my Salvation;
whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?”
(Psalm 27:1)
grace, peace & Valleys
Virginia : )
p.s. It’s only the 1st week of Advent & Virginia the blogger had No Idea what to post today(’tis true that the Lent post-a-day-athon diligence ’twas BEFORE taking on the night-time-BiPap monitoring gig for my Papa, which leaves Va a bit shattered & scattered …) but during a quick dash to the Pharmacy for Papa’s meds, this Advent-ish poem sorta happened (scribbled out on bits of paper in the dark parking lot… not a valley, exactly, but…) Maybe it might make sense to someone? who read Psalm 23 today?
A Wednesday photograph on Tuesday?? shock-a-roo (for the faithful Roses in the Rubble followers, You Know Who You Are, this is a 1st since Va The sporadic Blogger has been known to post Weds photos on SUNDAY! : )
Couldn’t resist sharing this one early, since Advent is all about that Light in Darkness theme. As Fr. Sean reminded us Sunday, during Advent we’re not just to focus on being (& seeing) Light in the darkness, we’re also meant to root out the dark stuff cluttering up the corners of our hearts & minds.. (letting Heavenly Light Super-Powered broomsticks in to do Their thing, sweeep, sweeep!)
…and then..
“This little light of mine, i’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it SHINE!…”
grace, peace & sparkling Lanterns
Virginia : )
p.s. here’s an inspirational quote for the day….(in that Light Theme..)
“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the Light.” Helen Keller
How could i start this Advent blogging adventure without somehow working in a Rose? From my early 20’s every year i designed my own Christmas cards (now UNICEF ones do nicely given those ‘getting older’ time constraints)… but stumbling upon an old stack today, here’s one from 1997….
Venite adoremus Dominum — O come let us adore Him!
grace, peace & Advent Roses
Virginia : )
p.s. This is such a gorgeous carol… reading the words i can’t help but hear Sting’s voice in the beautifully reflective rendition he sings on his “If on a Winter’s Night” compilation (a total fav i play all year, but especially now … several of the spiritual songs he selected like this one & Gabriel’s Message are so appropriate for Advent..)
Roses in the Rubble 