Tag Archives: paradox

The Hour Glass Revisited

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As an explanation of the Form and Content of our beautiful and beloved Catholicism; the Holy Spirit gives us the hour glass as a working model. What does this mean?

Consider the hour glass, unmistakable in its form, design and purpose. It’s immediately recognizable; in its symmetry, its functionality and in its simplicity, no other structure is like it, no other structure can take its place. It is the Form. It is the way that it is, because it is the only way it can be. This is the Church.

The sand; each grain is exquisitely unique.  Distinctively faceted, a shade apart from the rest, fashioned by God and honed by nature. This is the Content. Bathed in paradox, because the only element each grain truly shares is that each is different. Yet taken in their entirety, each is uniform, locked in perfect harmony with the rest. This is the Body.

We realize the Form can not be changed, rearranged or altered in any way. And nothing can be added or taken away from the content. Not even the most beautiful diamond among the sand, for nothing else belongs there. There can be no substitutes; there are no equivalents, for only a genuine and measured amount will work.

Simply put, the “Hour Glass” provides the best example of the Church. Without the Form the Content fulfills no purpose.  Without the Content the Form has no function.

         Free From Suffering

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As Christians, we are familiar with a world view which simply states; we are “in” the world, not “of” it. Can we apply a similar concept to our present-day sufferings and the life events which have wounded us? What would this look like?

Could we contrast our sufferings as being free “of” them or free “from” them? If we have made creditable observations, then one conclusion would be that it makes sense to say; I am free “of” them. That those events from the past and today’s worries do not define me.  I have recognized the impact the past has had on my life, as well as the time and calories I am burning to deal with today’s troubles. I am free “of” them, but not free “from” them. If this is a viable conclusion and I think it is; then the next step would be to realize I never would want to be free “from” them. In part, who I am is a product of how well I navigated those troubled waters. My achievements then and now are in some respects a testimony of how well I managed my life, the good and wrongful decisions which were made at the time and the benefits I enjoy today because of those experiences.

ologyism

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How about a new word for secularism? How about considering that God is not being rejected or excluded from public affairs? How about considering the God standard is exactly what is being applied and used to measure the value and quality of our civil society? How about considering secularism is really “ologyism”? How about considering, Theism as seeing value and quality as being discovered in the Word of God and “ologyism” as seeing value and quality as being invented by the will of the individual. So, you take some psychology and a dose of biology and a dash of theology and a little spooky philosophy; blend it with twenty first century individualism, expressionism and some lively liberalism; mix well and bake for twenty-five years; spread it over middle and upper-class Americans while attending state sponsored schools and presso-chango “ologyism”. But it’s the very virtues found in Holy Scripture which are used to measure the results of this “ologyism”. So, if the “ologyist” really believes that the logic, reason, understanding, awareness and the power of their will can lead to the perfectly structured society, well then at least give themselves a new name because ideologist, socialist, utopians and democrats are already taken.

The World According to A. J.

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  1. Under promise and over deliver.
  2. Women want their men to know what they are thinking, men want to be surprised.
  3. A hungry runner runs a better race.
  4. Love is faith in action.
  5. Saying you’re sorry implies you won’t do it again.
  6. If you don’t dream, how can your dreams come true.
  7. If you don’t pray, how can you’re prayers be answered.
  8. To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
  9. Don’t be a name caller. Bullshit!!! I’m a big boy, I know better than to fight fair.
  10. Judge people by their friends, they chose them.
  11. Never tell all you know.
  12. Don’t play games, answer all questions honestly or lie to protect your best interest, either way, everyone will know.
  13. The truth is simple, seldom easy…..
  14. Say “bless you” about everything. Blessed is the man who comes in the name of the Lord.
  15. Remember the 3 L’s; Life is for living, loving, learning and laughing.
  16. You can forgive on your own, it takes two to reconcile.
  17. If it doesn’t look right, there’s probably something wrong.
  18. Pray that your life will be a blessing to everyone.
  19. Every day spend some time with the Lord, start with six minutes and work you way up to eternity.
  20. Every day our current administration creates and perpetuates political and social issues which need our immediate attention.