In the world

In my first media & society class my prof explained the Catholic World View (CWV) as being the 360 degree window in a revolving restaurant. That the CWV encompasses everything we face in the world. Media specifically. He explained that Catholicism sees the world from different angles; that truth is truth, no matter where it's found. And that that truth is God's truth.
I have always had a distaste for the us-and-them attitude some Christians have toward the world. I know it can be a big bad ugly world out there. I know that God's goodness is hard to find sometimes. But rather than throw in the towel and declare the world nonredeemable, and proceed to hide in whatever safe, Christian environment we have chosen for ourselves, why can't we find (seek out/hunt down/pursue) the goodness of God out in that ugly world and make it grow.
It seems Christians all over the place, Evangelical and Catholic alike, say they accept people where they're at. But there's always that caveat that says, as long as "where you're at" is within the walls of this church where we have the control...as long as someone brought you to youth group/church/Sunday school...because hell if I'm going out there to the bars/nightclubs/dungeons where you live and be exposed to your icky sinful lifestyle. Blech!
Would those Christians be the ones yelling at Jesus for speaking to tax collectors and prostitutes?
I prefer to see the true, good and beautiful wherever I can find it. I prefer to press into that line between "in" and "of" and see good things where the people, who are supposed to be salt and light, have stopped looking.

Mis Clases

So far I like my classes. But just like last semester, I'm afraid of a couple. This semester my big fear would be Spanish. Now, I got an A in Spanish last semester. Yay me, right? Well, I swear I had to go over everything I learned because I didn't remember a thing. Plus this new prof talks to us in Spanish and then expects us to respond. I'm nauseous before every class like it's my first day of kindergarten.

Then there are the writing classes that I'm happy about. Although, public affairs reporting gives me hives a bit. I've never been interested in the news. I mean, I'd like to be updated about current events in some way other than reading dry news stories. And I certainly don't want to write dry news stories. But of course this is one of those dreaded required courses associated with my area of study. I can pretty much deal. And any writing is good practice.

But the class I'm MOST excited about is my Media and Society class. At an orthodox Catholic university we get to apply the Catholic world view to every issue in the media today. I'm learning new and exciting things in my class about Catholicism and how all my doubts about coming to a place where the super-holy live were unfounded. According to my prof's lectures my ideas about interacting with the world are in line with what the Church teaches. There are so many things the prof has said that have given me goosebumps. I've bounced in my chair and pumped my fist and exclaimed, "yeeahh!" more times than I can count.

This makes me excited about being Catholic.

Plays Well With Others

After 4 years of living alone I now am sharing my living space with a roommate. I met her at the very beginning of last semester when I didn't know anyone. She and I became friends quickly and then had to say goodbye when she left for her semester in Rome. She and I kept in touch while she was there and so I knew that she hadn't figured out where to live when she got back. I, of course, need to not spend so much. Having someone share the rent while I cut back in other ways will assure that I won't starve before next year's loan arrives. This is good.

On the other hand, I will have to relearn patience with the living habits of another person. I don't anticipate any problems because Jessica is great...but she is another person who will be inhabiting what used to be My Apartment. I'm sure this will take some getting used to for both of us.

Other than the financial benefits, I will also have someone to talk to, and more importantly, I will have someone to listen to. When living alone, one tends to be much more focused on one's self. There's really no need to think about anyone else. My mess is my mess. The dishes aren't done? It's because I didn't do them. Also, when I'm alone I think about me and all my "problems," which is not even slightly productive. I'm looking forward to the distraction, actually. My problems are all consuming sometimes...but really...they're mostly just boring.

So I'm cautiously looking forward to my semester with a roommate. I think we will both grow from it and that is always a good thing.

I did it.

Dirty Dancing is On Demand. And I pushed play.
Oh yes I did.

Naps: And How They Are Beautiful

I came home from my morning class. By morning I mean 10 a.m. which isn't that bad. But I'm soooo tired right now and my next class isn't till 2:30. So I'm just gonna curl up under my blankie and snooze for a bit....why? BECAUSE I CAN! Yeah.

I've Made a List !!

And I'm actually getting stuff done! Yay me.

I must tell you that I have three (3)....count 'em three (3) writing classes this semester. Creative writing, feature writing, and public affairs reporting. I might not be writing many blog posts till May. I'll try keeping you posted on the important stuff...but seriously...I'll be writing till my fingers bleed I think. Cut me some slack, would ya?

Love you all!

I Clearly Need My Head Checked

Monday night was my last night of work before going back to school. I had 10 (now 6) glorious days of nothing-to-do. Ten days in which I would solve all the world's problems (after solving all my own,) 10 days of writing and goal-setting and blah blah blah. I don't do well with nothing-to-do. I mentioned to a friend that I hate having demands on my schedule. For instance, if I had 4 weeks of freedom to go into work when I felt like it, or not if I didn't, I'd be a happy camper. The second I see my name on what is called a "schedule" I get all resentful and mad that I have to go into work. So I've been house/dog sitting for a friend and it's been pretty fun...except that I've gotten NOTHING accomplished. I seriously want to go into work because I'm sooo bored. But there are plenty of things that aren't Crabhouse related that I wanted to do. I wanted to write...I wanted to go over the Spanish I learned so I'm prepared for next semester...I wanted to improve my prayer life...HA! I've done none of these things. So apparently I need a schedule...and apparently there has to be a threat of disciplinary action in order for me to follow it...and apparently I'm not good at disciplining myself.

So I guess my dreams of working for myself need to be adjusted a little. (or I need to be adjusted a little)

One New Year's Resolution: Learn to be disciplined. Ugggh....that's gonna hurt.

As we say goodbye to "The Holidays"

I was just reading a quick Christmas post from Meegs and she had a line from a familiar carol.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
with peace on earth good will to men.”

And I was thinking how so many carols are overlooked as cultural attachments to a "holiday season." There are Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs and I dunno, maybe there are Kwanzaa songs. So we know them as the songs we hear playing at Macy's once the 4th of July products are put away. I think we see them as part of the commercialization of Christmas. I hear "Yay! no more Christmas carols!" this time of year, every year and sometimes it's from my own mouth. But I was just thinking about how I really love certain lines from some of those songs ... lines that contain some pretty serious theology. I'm talking deep stuff, the likes of which the Barenaked Ladies have never dreamed. Let me give some examples...starting with one of my favorite Christmas medleys by the Ladies themselves with guest appearance by Sarah McLachlan.

Glorious now behold Him arise
King, and God, and Sacrifice
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Worship Him, God most high

Sacrifice is not something we like to think about when discussing Baby Jesus. Nor is it something the Barenaked Ladies typically sing about. And yet, they do so without apology. Here's another favorite of mine. I'm using the original words not the new ones that people use because they don’t understand the original. I’ll explain later.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth

That’s the most profound thing I’ve ever heard in a song. And it's right in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. I'll explain by saying first that the way the words have been changed – “the soul felt HIS worth” – destroys the meaning and depth completely. The CCC says: “Christ, the final Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully reveals man to himself and makes his supreme calling clear” It is Christ who reveals to us, our own worth. And you’ve probably heard it a million times in the last month. But wait there’s more from that song:

Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Or this song:

Mild he lay his glory by
Born that men no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth

There’s some heavy meaning in some of those over-played songs. Maybe we should consider the catechesis that occurs subliminally during Christmas shopping before we bash the capitalistic system that has taken Christ out of XMas. Maybe he's not that far away.

Maybe I should have thought to post this a month ago. I'd hate for you to drag out your Andy Williams Christmas album when you just put it away.

May you all have a Happy New Year!