-
By Valerie Schultz
Wednesday, Feb 08 2012 05:42 PM
Here's a brief diary of one of the more horrible cycles of life:
Day One: There's a tingling feeling on my lip that feels vaguely familiar . . . Oh no. Please don't be a cold sore. Maybe I can think it away. Maybe if I ignore it, it won't happen . . .
Day Two: Dang, I knew it. It's a cold sore. It's in early formation, swollen and tender, and I need to face it with dignity and grace.
Day Three: Maybe this one won't be so bad.
Day Four: It's bad. It's very visible, even with makeup. Maybe prayer will help.
-
In the new translation of the Mass, which Catholics have used since the first Sunday of Advent (the liturgical New Year's Day), a particular change has struck me. During the Eucharistic prayer, the priest no longer says to the congregation, "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith." Instead, he simply says, "The mystery of faith." He says this rather expectantly, as though the phrase were followed by a colon. (It is not: a period punctuates in the text.) We then proclaim the designated response.
-
When my children were youngsters, I developed a theory of what I thought of as "conscious parenting," meaning that everything I did as a mother had potential long-term and life-changing effects on my daughters, and I wasn't ever going to know which of my words or actions was going to stick in a way that lasted into adulthood. Everything mattered.
-
Recently I was struck by a couple of comments written by fellow columnists in The Californian: "I would like to thank many readers who have sent emails regarding my 2011 columns. And I thank others who have stopped me ... in the most unexpected places to share your opinion ... I am still not used to the attention and always slightly embarrassed. But please, don't stop. It scores big-time points with my wife," wrote columnist Steve Flores, reflecting on the delightful occurrence of being recognized in public by a reader of the paper.
-
"If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.
-
What is the respectful way to mark the passing of an atheist? The usual words of condolence or remembrance are tinged with the divine, with comforting references to an afterlife that are offensive to one who does not believe in God. Still, I feel I would be remiss not to wish Godspeed to Christopher Hitchens, a brilliant writer and the civilized world's most celebrated atheist, who recently succumbed to esophageal cancer at the age of 62.
-
"Th
e Lord is near to the brokenhearted ..." (Psalm 34:18)Christmas, as much overindulgent fun and delight as it is for children, can be a tough time of year, especially if you've recently lost someone to death, or if you've lost in love, or even if you've lost a friendship in a falling-out. If you have little money, or no job, or a home in foreclosure, or seemingly bleak prospects for the coming year, the holidays can increase the stress that already pervades your every normal waking hour. The early darkness of December days can be a cold reminder of defeat. The festive Christmas feeling in the air, the joy and laughter of others, can actually work like a depressant for someone who is already sad.
-
The first Christmas card of the season usually arrives in the mail at the beginning of December, announcing its difference from the rest of the mail with a Christmas stamp, or a red envelope, or maybe a handwritten address. We savor every card we get. Christmas cards are delicious little slices of life that we serve each other, as delectable as peppermint mochas and sugarplums, filling us with anticipation as the mailbox is checked each countdown day until Christmas.
-
Imagine for a moment that your spouse died. Of course that is a terrible way to start the morning, but sometimes playing the "What if?" game in your mind brings useful insight. So imagine: Your spouse has died, you are grieving, and your vision of the future is upside down as you face life without your soul mate.
-
The inspiration for a Thanksgiving column came from my co-workers, who, at the beginning of November, started playing Christmas music on our office CD player. This is obviously the national trend: Ornaments and house decorations started appearing in stores at about the same time, and my daughter's retail workplace had put on its Christmas face even before Halloween.
-
In our modern times, when strawberries and grapes are available at any grocery store in January, and asparagus can be purchased in August, when watermelon is a year-round food staple, it can be difficult for our children to appreciate the seasonal importance of the harvest at the time of Jesus.
-
Tehachapi Peak rises as a source of pride for us Tehachapi residents. At 7,986 feet, it is the highest point in the Tehachapi Mountains. The peak is a favorite destination of hikers, runners, visitors and others who thrive on altitude. For locals, reaching the peak marks a beginner's major accomplishment, a child's rite of passage, a serious athlete's training goal, and a casual hiker's affirmation of faith in a fantastically creative God.
-
Thanks to Sister Marie Francis Schroepfer, assistant director of the Diocesan Social Justice Ministry for the southern part of the Catholic Diocese of Fresno, Bakersfield is now home to an established chapter of California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty. Since Jesus himself was a victim of the death penalty, it makes sense that people who follow the teachings of Christ would stand against capital punishment. But personally speaking, some of the most vocal advocates of the death penalty I know are folks who consider themselves people of faith.
