How is it that some people can compel us to go beyond our ‘normal’ and to step outside of what is comfortable to us? I think it requires a certain level of respect for and possibly admiration of the catalytic individual for us to respond in a way that we wouldn’t typically. This is what I believe compelled me to move beyond my own comfort and to enter in to a discussion that I knew was going to be time consuming and wrought with deep-seated fundamental disagreements.
Dear American in Paris, in response to your most recent post:
First and foremost, I want to offer to you a most sincere expression of gratitude for prompting this conversation weeks ago. It is as a direct result of your initial query and the consequent discussion that I was moved to actually read the legislation itself and research the basis of the opposition’s arguments. It is through this independent study that I have actually come to form a firm and, what I believe to be, well grounded opinion on the issue at hand. So thank you. All too often, I choose apathy when issues do not impact me directly or immediately and I can’t be bothered to study issues enough to form my own opinion. It is a good and healthy exercise to be challenged!
In address of your above-noted post, it is impossible and futile to continue our discussion as long as your arguments are based on and in opposition to a misinterpretation/misunderstanding of the Catholic teachings about love, life, marriage, procreation, and contraception. For a most direct approach to increasing your knowledge in this area, I recommend reading Humanae Vitae. It may require subsequent review and supplemental study. There is a Wikipedia article with numerous links to related documents.
It is also apparent that your arguments are based on/supported by a misinterpretation/ misunderstanding of The First Amendment to the Constitution. Please refrain from omitting all that follows the prohibition of Congress to establish a state church.
Another misunderstanding/misinterpretation that is made evident by your arguments is that of the Church’s opposition to the legislation in question (i.e. What is the Church opposing and why?). Read the letters from the Bishops themselves. Watch the videos. Educate yourself regarding the actual position of the Catholic church, rather than relying on ‘reporters’ with their own agenda to summarize their positions for you.
And finally, to address what you claim is your greatest issue with ‘the opposition,’ and as if the thoughts, beliefs, and understanding of this intelligent, well-read, informed woman are somehow inconsequential, I recommend the works of Janet E. Smith and Kimberly Hahn; two educated, published women who have searched for answers regarding contraception and come to embrace the Catholic teachings that oppose their use.
As much as I would love to suggest we ‘agree to disagree,’ I simply cannot when I see from your arguments that you don’t know what you are arguing against. I hope that we can arrive at that point eventually, although, I would not be surprised if, upon learning the true position of the Church and understanding their true opposition to the proposed legislation, you would no longer disagree.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
It Won't Always Be This Easy
Swam for about 30 minutes during lunch today. Everything worked out perfectly for me to do so. I don't have a kick board yet but I was able to get out of the office by 11:30 and my first afternoon appointment wasn't until 1:30 so I did a full swim, showered, fixed my hair, and re-applied make-up. Somewhere in there, I ate a sandwich too.
I was even back at my desk at 1:05!
I might have pushed myself a little much. I was still feeling it when I got back to work. It's hard when you have the memory of working out really hard at something, but your body doesn't quite remember like your head does....
It won't always be this easy. Some days I only eek 44 minutes out of the office for lunch. But not usually. This was definitely a good start.
I was even back at my desk at 1:05!
I might have pushed myself a little much. I was still feeling it when I got back to work. It's hard when you have the memory of working out really hard at something, but your body doesn't quite remember like your head does....
It won't always be this easy. Some days I only eek 44 minutes out of the office for lunch. But not usually. This was definitely a good start.
Monday, July 18, 2011
VBS & Kicking
Our church is hosting VBS this week - or as I have decided for my family: "Vacation (from Mom) Bible School."
Neither of my kids are in school, so there isn't anything 'vacation' about it other than a vacation from being home when mom comes home from lunch!! I am excited to hear how their day was and hopeful this this 'up-and-at-em' routine this week might spurt some more activity amongst the family during the weeks to follow.
With a whole hour off for lunch and nobody at home, I was thinking about the snugness of my trousers and being pouty about how I am most definitely looking like a mommy in the middle now that my post-nursing body has returned to it's dormant puffiness with an added dose of sag, when I started thinking about how my mom and dad were active athletes at my age and, specifically, how my mom used to head to the municipal pool for a 30-minute work-out every day on her lunch hour. She kept a short wash-and-go hair style that would make it back to the office just fine if damp. (This is where romantic thoughts of an Emma Watson style pixie cut started to creep back in.) She didn't even have to get her hair wet - she always had her kick board in-tow.
"Ahhh, to work in such proximity to a public pool......if only..." I started to think, when all of a sudden, I realized:
I work about 2 minutes from my apartment.
My apartment complex has a pool.
I go home every day at lunch.
So that't it. I am getting a kickboard. And I am going to go to the pool every day this week (starting Tuesday, of course) that it isn't storming at lunch. And hopefully it will carry over to next week. And the week after that. And it becomes routine. And I might end up with a pixie cut.
Neither of my kids are in school, so there isn't anything 'vacation' about it other than a vacation from being home when mom comes home from lunch!! I am excited to hear how their day was and hopeful this this 'up-and-at-em' routine this week might spurt some more activity amongst the family during the weeks to follow.
With a whole hour off for lunch and nobody at home, I was thinking about the snugness of my trousers and being pouty about how I am most definitely looking like a mommy in the middle now that my post-nursing body has returned to it's dormant puffiness with an added dose of sag, when I started thinking about how my mom and dad were active athletes at my age and, specifically, how my mom used to head to the municipal pool for a 30-minute work-out every day on her lunch hour. She kept a short wash-and-go hair style that would make it back to the office just fine if damp. (This is where romantic thoughts of an Emma Watson style pixie cut started to creep back in.) She didn't even have to get her hair wet - she always had her kick board in-tow.
"Ahhh, to work in such proximity to a public pool......if only..." I started to think, when all of a sudden, I realized:
I work about 2 minutes from my apartment.
My apartment complex has a pool.
I go home every day at lunch.
So that't it. I am getting a kickboard. And I am going to go to the pool every day this week (starting Tuesday, of course) that it isn't storming at lunch. And hopefully it will carry over to next week. And the week after that. And it becomes routine. And I might end up with a pixie cut.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Focus On The Family
My presence here is going to be unnoticably sparse for some time.
We're axing the internet connection at the house. Lots of reasons, but the most important one being the attention hole it has become. I might even end up posting more often, who knows. If I do, it'll be from remote locations.
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| Taken by my father-in-law with my sister-in-law's awesome camera! |
We're axing the internet connection at the house. Lots of reasons, but the most important one being the attention hole it has become. I might even end up posting more often, who knows. If I do, it'll be from remote locations.
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