And, so, it goes on and on and on . . .

One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.

Mark Twain

LIfe can be so exhausting . . .

 
Sometimes a frisky dog can get tired . . . even in the midst of enjoying a tasty bone.

Where Charity and Love Prevail . . .

 
At our parish, we have two charitable giving areas in the vestibule of the church. Two good reasons: They are a reminder and a convenience for people who want to give without being a burden. On one side of the area are two, large baskets for non-perishable food stuffs that is collected and distributed by the St. Vincent de Paul group. On the other side is an in-parish donation box for 'pennies for Heaven'. The idea is that people can empty their pockets of loose change, such as pennies, and the pennies add up and go to benefit others. They have both worked out wonderfully over the years.

The years, however, have brought about changes. People from the surrounding neighborhoods have been using the food donation baskets for what they might deem 'shopping' when, in reality, they are stealing. We have one 'regular' visitor who has been counseled to check in with the office and get on the distribution list if he needs food. He continued to raid the baskets even bringing along a grocery bag. He is quite forward about this and will do his 'shopping' even when parishioners are in the area. He has also helped himself to change from the penny box, too.

I actually witnessed this, one day. I was standing right by the food baskets and he comes into the vestibule, goes over to the baskets, and is quite disgusted to not find anything in them. He checked the penny box on the way out and, again, was angry to not find any change.

I noticed that the baskets are now gone and a sign directs us to bring the food stuffs directly to the church office. The penny box is also gone and takes with it a beautiful idea because people put greed over something lovely.

What really annoys me is that some parishioners do their 'shopping' from the baskets! Does the world 'steal' no longer carry and stigma? Judgment Day will be a shock for all of us because we all have glossed over what are, in actuality, sins. One can't obtain ultimate forgiveness for stealing until reparation is made. You have to wonder how these people perceive this 'help-yourself' attitude and do they realize they are not only stealing from the church but from the people who really need the help that comes from the food baskets and the extra pennies fund.

I was glad to see both items for donations put within the safety of the church office. The regular 'shopping' gentleman paid a visit today and he was very angry. Entitlement seems to be second nature to many today.

How low can we go . . . ?

On the news, last night, the commentator said that a middle school class wanted to do some musical event or something. They wanted to sing "When the Saints Go Marching In" but the powers that be in the school objected to the use of the word 'saint'. They got to perform with one word change: saint was changed to ant. What? I don't know about other people but I would not want to sing a song about wishing I could join a bunch of 'ants' marching where ever it is they will be allowed to go in this song change. You have to wonder about the fear some people have at the mention of  God, Saints, Faith, . . .

Marriage counseling - shared from the Internet . . .

After 35 years of marriage, a husband and wife came for counseling. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the years they had been married.

On and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured.

Finally, after allowing this for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and after asking the wife to stand, he embraced and kissed her long and passionately as her husband watched -with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze. The therapist turned to the husband and said, 'this is what your wife needs at least 3 times a week. Can you do this?'

'Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish.'

Abstract Tomato?

 

My husband insists he was trying to take an abstract photo of one of his tomato plants. I contend he just got the sun in the wrong direction when he snapped the picture. With a little touch up, here and there, I think I improved the initial picture. My husband now says it represents isolation, man's inhumanity to man, a fearful world . . . I'm sticking with my first observation - he didn't watch his lighting when he took the picture!

For when you are down and troubled . . .

“The Immaculata permits our falls to cure us of self-love, pride and the rest, and to bring us to humility that we may be dependent on the graces of the Lord...  In case of a fall, do not be saddened for that is a form of decadent pride; rather with great love and joy of heart arise at once and go forward! Make up for the fall with a perfect act of love and, of course, with constant, constant effort. … Let us always put our foot on the first rung, as St. Therese of the Child Jesus says, until we win over God, who will come and pick us up and take us above.”  ~St. Maximilian Kolbe