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May 1, 2020May 1, 2020

Mayday! May Day!

How are y’all doing in this weird transition to getting our lives back after long weeks of self-isolation and quarantine in the wake of COIV-19? I know there are many challenges for all of you. I, too, have been deeply and personally challenged. I’m grateful that my family has been blessed with good health in the midst of disruption at many levels.

Rather than focus on the distress call, mayday, I look to the fun and signs of hope that come on May Day. There are many traditions associated with this day, whether it is observed on the 1st, or the first Monday of May. Most of them have to do with flowers, and that’s fitting, as so many gardens are now coming to life after the April showers.

Most of these celebrations have roots in pagan holidays celebrating spring, but as a Catholic Christian, today marks the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker. I love St. Joseph, even though this appreciation has come late in life. His quiet low-key presence in the faith led to my ignoring him. Now as a wife and mother, I recognize what a powerful intercessor he is for the Church, but also, and perhaps especially, for the family. For my family. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t ask St. Joseph for the protection of my family, as he so faithfully protected his holy family.

Today also begins a month-long celebration of the Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. This month is traditionally dedicated to our heavenly mother. I’m so sorry we won’t have a procession this weekend to crown Mary. I have many fond memories of those May crownings from my childhood, and later, with my children. I think I’ll make a little crown of flowers from my garden and crown the little statue I have at home. I’ll share that later, and will invite you to do the same!

This month is traditionally dedicated to our heavenly mother. Share on X

Finally, Iet me encourage you to do a little bit of spiritual reading about Mary this month. There are so many good books to read on the subject. I’ve reviewed many on this blog, including these Marian themed books here and here. You might also be interested in my book, Our Lady of Charity. In fact, I’m offering a limited number of signed copies for sale here!

Whatever you choose, I hope you’ll come back here and share what you read. Happy May Day!

April 29, 2020

3 Things I Learned from Otis

Otis, our lab/pit rescue, is named after Otis Redding. Or the elevator. Or a cabernet sauvignon. Choose the narrative that most appeals to you. He answers to Otis, and that’s important. Frankly, Otis answers to anything, so what’s in a name, after all?

He’s a noble pup, a good companion, albeit a bit clingy during a thunderstorm. He’s also pretty obedient though he barks at the neighbor too much. He also exudes great wisdom if you pay attention.

LOVE ABUNDANTLY

Otis just needs the hint of an invitation to jump into your lap if you’re watching tv. This is quite a feat for him, and dangerous for you. There’s not a lot of graceful movement in a 70 lb. dog when he wants to plop down in your lap and get in your personal space. When he finally settles down, I admit he’s a cozy companion.

Otis loves his humans with abandon and shows it as soon as he sees his friends. His favorite way of showing affection is to lean into you hard and then fall dramatically to the floor for a belly rub.

We should all greet our loved ones with such joy and affection. Hugs are great, but if you’re not a hugger, receiving friends with excitement lets them know you’re happy to see them and is always a winning ticket. Belly rubs might be out of the question — use your best judgment.

TAKE NAPS

This doesn’t need a lot of elaboration. Naps keep you fresh. They melt away crankiness. They while away the time, in case you’re bored.

Otis is a master of finding the one spot in the house where the sunbeams are warming the floor, and settling in for a long nap. He follows me outside every chance he gets, and if he isn’t running around the yard, he is usually splayed in the grass, soaking the sun’s rays.

If you haven’t tried this, I highly recommend it. I prefer a comfortable lounge chair, but there’s definitely something soothing about taking a nap in the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen.

STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS CRABS

In fact, stop and smell everything. Taste life. Look for the beauty in the world around you. Otis is fascinated with everything — from the lovely flowers to the slinky slugs. He stops at everything to investigate, and rarely disturbs it.

This is my favorite lesson. The dog is pure joy and a model of contentment.

April 29, 2020

Review: Essential Writings G.K. Chesterton

I’ve changed my reading routine to include 20-30 minutes of spiritual reading in the mornings. That is dramatic change in my usual speed reading zoom through books — an occupational hazard when you’re an English teacher with multiple courses. Enjoying, even savoring a book is not a thing. Enter the spiritual reading: not just a slow-down, but a conscientious discipline to read a small portion of a work and meditate upon it prayerfully. I look for texts that lend themselves to this, and I discovered that I already had G.K. Chesterton’s Essential Writings (part of the Modern Spiritual Masters Series) compiled by William Griffin.

This collection of essays are the perfect fit for my routine, and gave me many weeks of deep thoughts, the occasional guffaw, and plenty of reflection. Each selection has a brief set-up to facilitate the context of the piece, and was indispensable for my journaling later.

Chesterton’s observations are a little quirky and often surprising, but always spot-on. My favorite essay, “Why I’m Not a Pagan,” explores the limitations of a plain humanity found in paganism, and the elevation of the person through Christian virtue. I return often to my favorite passage :

Charity means pardoning what is unpardonable, or it is no virtue at all. Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all. And Faith means believing the incredible, or it is no virtue at all.

Essential Writings is a great introduction to Chesterton.

Mayday! May Day!

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