Reason #18 Just War

So the other day Alexander and I were chatting about David and Goliath. He told me David cut his head off, I said that I didn't remember that part of the story so we looked it up and of course he was right. We then read about how he carried the head around town for a while after. Alexander asked what everyone did after that so we talked briefly about how the loser was supposed to be the others slave etc.

Anyway, he later came up to me a little troubled about fighting and how that worked with me telling him that it is wrong to hurt other people and fight. So we talked briefly (he is only 6) about how there is criteria for what fights are worth fighting and considered just.

I thought about and realized that this is somewhere that Catholic schools are really lacking. Growing up as a girl, I could never get into the wars. The violence, loss of life and blood shed was just too much for my heart to handle so I memorized, regurgitated for the test and moved on. I still don't know much about a single war. What would have been fascinating and helped me see through all the bloodshed (and I am guessing would help other sensitive children) is for the discussion to also include an analysis of whether the war was just or not. I know this might seem like a lot to ask of a teacher, but it will definitely be the way that my children are presented information about wars. The church has laid out very specific criteria for a war to be considered just and how we view the answers to the criteria can be a little gray but worth an interesting discussion and doesn't allow for the memorize and regurgitate that I think so many children view school subjects as today.

My Middle Child

So Dominic decided that he was going to take a bath and then changed his mind. Since he already was already naked, Alexander suggested maybe he should just get dressed (it is only 2:30pm). Dominic said, "okay but can someone else get me clothes, I don't really like going up and down in the same day." referring to the stairs he would have to climb to get clothing. I think he needs to buy a ranch house when he grows up.

Note: he is still standing in the bathroom naked and probably freezing b/c he doesn't want to walk all the way upstairs.

God Bless Dominic (and whoever he marries).

Too funny not to share...

So the question remains, paid off or threatened?

"When U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced in spring 2003 that he would not run for re-election in 2004, the Bush administration approached Edgar about running for the seat. Due to his overwhelming popularity that still exists today, Edgar was seen as a very formidable Senate candidate.

Edgar seemed likely to enter the race, but he suddenly announced he would not seek the seat, saying instead that he was giving his wife an early Mother's Day gift. His medical problems (he had recently undergone heart surgery) were also cited. The Senate seat eventually went to Democrat Barack Obama."

Just can't trust those Chicago politicians. I was looking into it and 3 out of 5 former IL Governors have been arrested, one of the other ones had a policy he made that only allowed for republicans to have state jobs go to the supreme court. The fifth is Jim Edgar. So the question remains was he paid off or threatened?

Coffee banner to the right

Just a note lest you thing my last post was in vein, the coffee banner on the right is coffee sold by monks to help them raise the money they need to spend the whole day in prayer for the greater good of the rest of us. They have some regular/flavored varieties as well as an organic/fair trade and they are all exceptionally yummy.

Reason #17 Santa Claus

So today I read in the paper that retail sales have been the worse they have been since 1969 this Christmas Season. As a retailer, it has me a little worried as I have bills to pay that will inevitably come out of family savings instead of sales, but as a Catholic I am ecstatic. How I would love for every family to get one special gift from the heart and that be all. The twist that our culture has put on St. Nicolas who started by giving to people who had NOTHING is amazing. We have used it to bribe children for our own parental gain (naughty or nice anyone), but last time I checked St. Nicolas did what he did out of a love for God's children not to reward the good and punish the bad. I keep hoping that people's worry this year and reduced spending will bring to light that they didn't really need all of that stuff to make the Christmas season special. There is no greater gift than the gift that God gave us and Mary lovingly accepted on Christmas day (well she accepted it 9 mos early, but I digress).

I have dreams of lighting candles in the snow, stringing popcorn (or eating popcorn with a string and needle in hand), and a celebration of Holy Mass instead of oodles of presents that will fall apart and be in next years garage sale.

Advent 2008

I am so excited for advent this year. I really want to use this as the purple season that it was meant to be. I have all of the Christmas presents wrapped and distributed so except for writing Christmas cards, we have nothing to do but prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord as an infant. We are still trying to figure out our whirlwind tour for Christmas when really I just want to spend the time at home with my beautiful family. I did decide that after this year we only do Christmas visiting after Christmas so that Advent can remain the time of preparation that it is supposed to be.

My prayer for this advent is that every day my soul can truly "Proclaim the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant."

May every day we look at the blessings that God has given us as "favor on his lowly servant." May our culture someday view the conception of a baby as a reason to proclaim the Lord's greatness and blessing rather then a punishment.