My Thoughts
We should remind ourselves frequently of the post-war confession by the German theologian and Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller. It speaks loudly about the cowardice of politicians, intellectuals and clergy in the face of evil.
My Thoughts
I never know quite where my thoughts might take me. All in all, I believe that to be a good thing; at least it seems to keep things interesting, though thoughts seldom overstay their welcome. As I was thinking of one thing, another thought quite rudely shoved it aside which is something not so uncommon these days given these unsettling circumstances. The rude thought was nothing new, rather old for the modern mind: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Those who refuse to bother history will have no idea as to when or where or what or who was first to pen the line. Which is terribly sad when you stop to think about it.
My Thoughts
There is something utterly mystical and magical about opening a book for the first time. Like Forest Gump said, “My mama always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” The same mystifying moment occurs whenever you first break open a new book, you never know what you will find tucked inside. What mystifies me most is why so many seldom have the urge to break open the pages and discover the hidden treasure buried deep inside. Whether it is fiction or fact, science or science fiction, pulp or classic, verse or prose, each is a window that when opened can and will fascinate and enrich the mind through the simple act of reading.
My Thoughts
Those who know me also know I have a bona fide, long-standing love and respect for the works of G.K. Chesterton. As George Bernard Shaw would note, Chesterton was a “colossal genius.” Chesterton and Shaw were famous friends (Chesterton referred to Shaw as his “friendly enemy”) and both thoroughly enjoyed their arguments and discussions. Although rarely in agreement, they both maintained good-will towards and respect for each other. However, in his writing, Chesterton expressed himself very plainly on where they differed and why. In Heretics he wrote:
My Thoughts
I have lived in many places over my seventy-three years on God’s green earth—well over thirty places, but then who’s counting? It might be more; might be less; in the end I doubt much of it matters one spot at all. I have never seen the garden of Eden; never been to heaven, though I sure would like to get there someday. I have no doubt at all that I have been through the gates of hell a time or two and have no craving to ever spend any more time there. Too hot and not much on air conditioning (the devil controls the thermostat.)
Love Never Fails
You might say that I have always been partial to weddings. As the proud father of two exceptionally brilliant, beautiful, and talented daughters—and naturally I am totally and completely without bias when I speak of them—I have had the wonderful privilege and the distinct honor to give their hands, their hearts, their bodies, and their souls over to become one in heart, mind, body, and soul with another in the blessed and holy Sacrament of Matrimony.
just one breath away
Some years ago I was introduced to a small book with a rather odd title: The Great Divorce. Written by the marvelous English author C. S. Lewis, it is an extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment; a beautifully woven allegorical tale of a bus ride from hell to heaven.
In the preface, Lewis begins with mention of William Blake’s book The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and thus explains his own rather odd title.
the virtue of poverty
What ought we to think of poverty? The common vision of it fails to lead to understanding for as with so much of what we perceive these days to be true what rolls off the tongue is too often unrelated to reality.
a voice of one crying in the desert
Robert Cardinal Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 24, appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Conakry in December 1979 at the age of 34, the youngest ever elevated to the Episcopacy. Pope Saint John Paul II at the end of his three day visit to Guinea in 2001 appointed him Secretary for the Evangelization of Peoples. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Cardinal in 2010.
is the same as not to see
Areader recently took me to task for not delivering on a promise to complete recently took me to task for not delivering on a promise to complete the discussion concerning the conquest of Nature and C. S. Lewis’ prophetic warning of the dangers such conquests will inevitably bring. To that reader I must offer my sincere gratitude for reminding me of that promise for I confess it had slipped my mind.