The Way to Build a Church :: Weekends With Chesterton

For the last couple weeks I've been enjoying reading Chesterton's St. Francis of Assisi. It's a wonderful read that I would recommend to those of you who want to begin reading Chesterton because he writes this biography with the aim of revealing the romance and wonder of St. Francis's extraordinary life of faith to the modern, secular reader.

Chesterton is the best at going off topic. This can produce almost mind-blowing effects when we realize the connections he's making that we could never have thought of, or it can sometimes be a little overwhelming and slow down the reading until we wrap our brains around his connections. In St. Francis of Assisi so far his random diatribes have been delightful snippets of historical wisdom, commentaries on modern philosophy, and ideas about the Church.

Here's one passage that stuck out to me:

This comes shortly after St. Francis's "conversion" where he is intent on rebuilding God's church, and has even gone to the lengths of selling his father's goods so that he can give money to the poor and help restore churches in disrepair. But his father considered this stealing and took him to court which in turn made St. Francis give his father the clothes off his back and walk out of the court room with absolutely nothing. St. Francis then began begging for actual stones in which to rebuild the Church.

The beauty of this metaphor, even if it was an actual event, is gripping. Begging for stones. The image is great for inspiration not just in our spiritual life, but in practicing it in a concrete way. 

I also had to include the description of this being a paradox because I can't resist Chesterton's obsession with paradox and how he finds them everywhere. The paradox being that to build a spiritual church one must physically build a church. I believe Pope Francis knows a thing or two about this.

Swing by Amongst Lovely Things this weekend for more Chestertonian thoughts to ponder! 

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Seven Quick Takes vol 81.

Joining the 7 posts in 7 days queen, Jen!

{one}

Jen picked the best week possible for me to actually accomplish 7 posts in 7 days because my husband was away this week for work so I had spare time in the evenings and a heightened need for adult communication and thus - blogging! 

The house got totally neglected though. It's like a small bomb has exploded. But a bomb that was located in the pantry? Seriously. There are dry spaghetti noodles everywhere. I crunch with every step I take, but thems the breaks when theres only one adult around with 5 kiddos.  

So happy my husband must return and save me from death by dirty floor; or toddler tyrants who have really taken a nosedive in their behaviour; or watching all the bad tv; or too much wine. 

I've written all week while drinking too much wine.

{two}

My husband left Sunday afternoon, and what should happen Sunday evening?? A water crisis!

Because we live in a rural area, read - middle of nowhere, we get our water from a well that feeds a water treatment system in my house which supplies both my house and my parents house down the road. Well, Sunday night something went funky on the water system to which we didn't really have a solution and/or understand so we were in a major water conservation mode which included only drinking water and toilets. At first we thought it was a malfunctioning part of the indoor water system but when the whole thing went kaput on Monday my dad figured it must be the well pump. Which was really inconvenient since its 250 feet down, covered in several feet of snow and would only be fixed in this weeks abysmally freezing temperatures hovering around -15 to -20 C. I was coming up with survival plans in my mind while simultaneously freaking out and wanting a shower until miraculously a water well specialist was able to come Tuesday evening, fix the pump by dragging it all the way to the surface and replace it in less than two hours and full water rights were restored! Wednesday I was able to shower and bathe 5 stinking children, but I was getting pretty close to waving a white flag and moving into a 5 star hotel with a second room I could lock all the kids into if things didn't turn around real quick! 

Hey, if I liked living without running water, indoor plumbing, and the ability to bathe I'd like camping. And I don't like camping.

{three}

So the weather. It's starting to put me in a perma-bad mood and it is not pretty. This weekend it's expected to break records it will be so cold. And I'm not talking Atlanta-just-below-freezing records, I'm talking breaking Canadian records. Like -45 C with the wind. It's just getting so close to March and I am past my point of endurance. For Lent let's give up the cold! And we'll all suffer by not having to crank up the heat everyday, and build fires, and wear mittens! Or I guess I offer it up? 

{four}

The Downton finale was the best episode of the season. Which doesn't say all that much, but it felt like a treat to watch for a change!

I liked a lot of it: such as everything Rose wore, Paul Giamatti - can't believe I had to wait all season for him but he was perfect, Isobel and the Lord's burgeoning, but very serious, sort-of romance, Mosley coming out of nowhere and turning out to be pretty likeable, the storyline with the Prince of Wales and stealing back the letter, Bates being a general badass (I know, I know, he killed he-who-should-not-be-named but I was kinda cheering for that to happen all season), and finally seeing the London house!

It always has bugged me that we never saw the London house. Of course they had a gorgeous London house, and we needed to see it!

I'm so sad for Edith. Edith, why can't you make better choices?? It's going to be a huge train wreck.

Men fighting over Mary. I feel like this is something we're supposed to like, but it still feels really strange. It's like Downton Bachelorette or something. And way for Mr. Blake to throw a curveball that episode, or have one thrown for him. Now that's he rich but shirks his wealth I can't help but feel that increases his appeal. I can't refer to him as Blake though, to me he's Andrew Foyle and that's what I call him. I also think the writers are purposefully trying to keep us from choosing sides. But I know that once we're led down the garden path of objectivity something dramatic will be thrown into the story and we won't believe that we thought we like Gillingham/Blake. I think I'm officially on Team Andrew Foyle.

{five}

I'm not settled on what I'm giving up for Lent. I don't know if I will give something up, but I do feel that I'm going to be focused on quiet. This seems simple, but life with 5 kids offers little quiet. I feel though besides the kids, I'm choosing noise more often when I do have the choice. I'm going to try and think how to actually implement this idea, but I know it's going to have to come from something I'm choosing in between all the kid chaos. 

{six}

My sweet immobile baby turned 11 months this week and still shows no desire to move under her own power. I mean, she can, when forced, but she doesn't see the advantage. Not when she's got people to carry her and 4 siblings to serve and entertain her wherever she may be. But because I want her to be moving under her own steam when this snow finally melts, ya know - June, I've been getting her going on a crawling workout where she suffers on her stomach on the laminate floor and slides around. She can do it about 5 minutes before becoming completely miserable. She's a hilarious, crazy baby. 

{seven}

I always mean to link to great things I've read all week, but this week I can't remember anything. Forgive me because I think I'm a little tired of this single parenting business. There has been so much great stuff to read anyway because of this awesome 7 days of posts, so go visit Jen's link-up and visit all those hardworking bloggers! And thanks for putting up with me 7 days in a row.

Have a warmer weekend than I!

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Turning Towards Lent

via

Lent's coming to us next week, although fairly late in the year comparatively, and I'm just beginning to think about it. Because I have to, because it's less than a week away. 

I think I'm a fairly common example of how pesky human nature can be, especially how prone it is to procrastination, I'd put off lent for as long as I could. Probably until right about the end of the liturgical year where I would then completely freak out and figure I better squeeze in a couple weeks of sacrifice, if I could fit it in. Which is yet another reason why it's nice to depend upon a bigger, universal entity to make these types of decisions for us. 

I love the idea of having a season devoted to sacrifice, prayer, penance. If it was only a day what kind of sacrifice could it demand? If it was only a week I wouldn't get into much of a routine or really make any lasting change or dent in my own bad habits of luxury or be able to even see any of my own weakness buried in all my distractions, and crutches, and dependencies.

I'm not too sure how good it is for us to look back upon Lents and see how much we accomplished, but that seems to be the tendency. Why can't we look back and see the grace instead of what we did, how we did it, how much we accomplished? In a season where it should be about our turning to God, our conversion to God, our repentance to God, we're completely preoccupied with what we do, which seems to be entirely missing the point. And I fall for that terrible line of thinking every time.

Last Lent I was in the throes of the final pushes of pregnancy. I remember anxiety plaguing me more than just the physical difficulties of the last months of growing new life, and it was the emotional toil that felt the hardest. I felt as if I was waiting and stuck. I couldn't make a baby come out when I wanted it to, so I was stuck with waiting, literally lying there waiting for the big event to happen. I felt weighed down physically, mentally, and emotionally. I didn't suffer happily or constantly offer it up. I don't think I accomplished anything. But I did have to pray every day just to get by. I felt very impoverished of consolation and strength. Weak in my lack of control, trust, and hope. 

I can't say whether or not last Lent made dramatic, instant changes to my soul. But I do know that times of sacrifice and suffering are not times where we accomplish things either literally or spiritually but when God works. We don't always see it, we don't always feel it, but the sacrifices and suffering that bring us to God in our smallness and weakness is at the heart of Lent. 

Lent is really the uncovering of our weakness. Hopefully through our offering of sacrifice, but sometimes in the suffering that we do not seek out. Pope Francis has said that our weaknesses and denials make up a type of poverty that we should be willing to give up in order to help others in their poverty. He reminds us that the truth of self-denial, going through suffering, and offering and living it for others is going to hurt; "I distrust a charity that costs nothing, that does not hurt."

I'm going to keep this in mind in the midst of the small daily hurts, and hopefully in the bigger ones that I don't see answers or ends to this Lent. But what we also cannot forget is that Lent is a time of reflection on the virtue of hope. We may be offering penance, but we do so in the hope -- the expectation and knowing that Easter and the Resurrection are surely coming. 

It's the paradox of Lent: the poverty of suffering and penance with the knowledge of the impending rich joys of Easter. 

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Everyday Hospitality and Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist

I recently read Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist and it has gotten me thinking about the charism and ministry of hospitality in our day-to-day life.

In Bread & Wine Niequist has created a compilation of essays and her favourite recipes that come together in a wonderful and insightful food memoir of sorts. She talks about the importance of food, hospitality and entertaining and how closely these things intertwine with relationship, community, and sharing faith and love.

I enjoyed the read, but maybe had higher expectations than what the book delivered. This may be because I thought this was going to be a little more hands-on, more of a guide to learning to love cooking and entertaining, or how to embrace more hospitality. And although her spiritual insights were inspiring and very true, I couldn't help but think, "This is such a Catholic concept, yet she's writing as if it's an amazing new discovery!" Which is a thought that occurs to me often when reading evangelical Christian books, and not with an attitude of snobbery, reveals to me yet another way in which all truth is Catholic.

Recent holy Catholics like Catherine Doherty and Dorothy Day have believed strongly in all the aspects of hospitality feeding the soul and nurturing those in need at a most basic level, as well as a long Catholic tradition and ministry of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked which has led to a very deep tradition of the virtue and beauty of hospitality.

I really enjoy entertaining, cooking, hosting, throwing a good party. But I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, and I think this book is good for encouraging those who may feel hesitant. The book makes the point that we shouldn't be trying to impress, but trying to minister and love those we invite into our home. We really build relationship and community with those we share food with, and opening our home is builds this strong community through casual meals and get-togethers. We should maybe be pushing outside our comfort zones a little to create something that builds a culture of people who want to spend time with one another, enjoy each other's company, celebrate each other's goals and share each other's sorrows.

Niequist's style of entertaining and hospitality isn't quite as the same as mine however. While I may dream of creating luxurious evening dinner parties consisting solely of adults while not having to serve toddler food, what happens in reality is usually hosting for more than 10 people with the majority of guests being under the age of 10. I wish this type of entertaining would be more elegantly thought of because it doesn't have to be complicated or fancy, but it can still be delicious and flavourful while done with easy style. We shouldn't cut ourselves off from entertaining because our families and circles of friends are larger than the norm. It's an important way can we minister to each other as families, and continue to build a more family friendly and Catholic culture for ourselves and our children.

Niequist's attitude and love of food is contagious. I hope I can put her beautiful attitude about sharing her love of others, journeying with friends and family through life and all it's difficulties, and just enjoyment of eating and cooking into practice.

Are you a food memoir-aholic like me? Or does the idea of cooking and cleaning and entertaining more than your kids leave you moving towards the couch?




Joining the Housewifespice love of What We're Reading Wednesday.

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Does Being a Mom to a Bunch of Kids Make Me a Bad Friend??

I've been thinking about this topic for a while and I can't quite figure out if I'm being ridiculous and overly neurotic and obsessive or if it's an actual fact. And thus: blogging it.

Do you think being a mom to a bunch of kids makes you a bad friend?

I'm saying a "bunch of kids", because I believe in making time for friends and that this was easily possible for me until the people in diapers outnumbered the people not in diapers in our house. Now I'm not saying making time for friends is calling them everyday, or seeing them whenever you want, because that's a much more difficult prospect once you've birthed another human, but intentionally maintaining friendships can be easier than we think. Just a phone call every so often if it contains a meaningful conversation, or maybe keeping up texting, or even just a hello every once in a while on the ol' book of Face. Just something to let you know you care enough to check in, and ask them how they're doing means so much.

I'm also asking this lately because I have always been believed strongly in women and mothers keeping up their friendships while having kids. Friendship is one of the most important relationships in life, you can't get around it. I'm sure you've known the girls who've naively thrown off friendship in favour of boyfriends, or husbands, and end up lonely a few years later. Or maybe women who have  become so completely enamoured with their babies that they simply forget how to make time for pursuing and maintaining the bare minimum of friendship. I know while we grow and mature friendships change, but even though they may change their importance and existence is something worthy of our time and priorities. No matter how strong a marriage or how much we love our children the fact that we need other women who understand us, talk to us, sympathize with us, and laugh with us doesn't change.

Lately though I've wondered if I've been an awful friend. I feel as if I've been stretched to my limit with kids, toddlers, baby, then husband, then a little time to myself. There's simply no extra time. Beyond that if I do have time away I feel as if I'm a weary killjoy, counting the hours because of babysitters or needing to get back to a nursing baby. I feel like I'm a terrible listener because my attention span is as short as the time it takes to be constantly correcting toddlers behaviour and manners. I boss friends around to place to place, keeping things running on time, and doling out fashion advice because I'm so used to commanding a small army of wayward child-size barbarians in need of civilization. I feel as if I'm losing sociable skills because I'm constantly surrounded by toddlers, all day every day!

These frustrations become amplified around my single and/or childless friends. I know that maybe they'll understand me one day, but I worry that in the present we'll drift too far apart; that we won't even be in touch by the time they become mothers rolls around. These frustrations and worries have been weighing on me recently. Knowing that there is no easy fix, that I can't simply plug quality time into the friendship bank and have instant success, makes my friendships seem precarious in a way.

Am I worrying too much, fretting over my weird insecurities? Or is this something I just need to mature about and get over? Have you figured it all out? And if so-give me all your wisdom!

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Monday Motivation

Oh, another Monday!

Sometimes Mondays can be so filled with stay at home mom melancholy. A long week stretches ahead with no sleep in sight and only messes to clean up and fights to break up and food to distribute to the starving masses.

However! I had a fairly great weekend despite grumpy babies and difficult toddlers and over-emotional 6-year-olds (I'm not naming any names or anything!) so I hope I'm headed towards a decent Monday.

The thing about motherhood is that it's a whole lot more dependent on your own attitude than you really want to admit. You're always going to have a kid going through some "stage" of difficulty. If you have more than one I think that's almost a guarantee. There are always going to be messes, there are always going to be a discipline/behaviour/learning issues to deal with, there will always be laundry. But we do have a choice involved with whether or not we're going to let our children and their different needs for mothering dictate how joyful or discouraged we get. And sometimes that seems like an annoying fact of life because it's a lot easier to grumble and blame it on the teething baby than to choose happiness.

The tried and true proverb of the years flying by is oh-so-true though. I don't want to look back and think about being a constant grump for those years where my children overflowed with bottomless joy and wonder. So I think of that when I need to snap out of the irritable, spiralling out of control bad moods. Sometimes its enough to make the choice to change your attitude that can kickstart a better pattern, even if it's just a few more smiles and more time for cuddles.

When I think about it, making a choice makes room for grace. With a small act of the will God can do so much. In that way our small choices mirror Mary's perfect "yes". 

A picture of each of my babies, Gemma through Nora, all at age 11 months. I'm getting all sentimental about my babies getting so big so fast, what is going on?!

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Seven Quick Takes vol. 80

Just seven extremely quick takes today - I'm out the door to the exciting pastures of the city, make sure to do your time over at Jen's for the goods!

{one}

Well, I'm glad February is chugging right along. I'm not getting my hopes up of anything resembling spring coming anywhere near a month from now. But once February is over you feel as if you're at least in the home stretch of winter. Oh those glorious days when I don't have to get babies bundled to go outside! An extra half hour a day just from that! 

{two}

Oh, am I, too, obsessed with the Waterlogue app? Why yes, yes I am! 

One of my dreams is to be able to paint with watercolours. I have just no natural artistic ability in that direction, but I've always thought it the prettiest drawing/painting type skill to have. I think because I imagine myself a la Emma Wodehouse serenely being able to make a watercolour of the gardens and so forth. 

But - ha! Now I can combine my failed dreams and slight addiction to Instagram with Waterlogue! Muahahaha!

{three}

I hope I'm the last one to finally listen to the great podcast "A Good Story is Hard to Find" with the wonderful Julie Davis of Happy Catholic and Happy Catholic Books on Patheos. It's a really wonderful podcast full of great conversations about books, and tv, and movies from a smart Catholic perspective and I've been listening to old episodes all week. Really good stuff.

I kinda love podcasts. They feel like listening to blogs for me. When well done they're great conversations with interesting people about interesting things. And since there is no such thing as good talk radio anymore I really love listening to them driving since it takes me an hour to get anywhere. Do you have favourites or any to recommend? I'm all ears. (Punny!)

{four}

I've been a human kleenex this week, or at least that's what my husband calls me. The kids caught some kind of cold, one of those annoying kinds that make them just sick enough to be miserable and have a constant stream of...nose moisture. Carrying the sad babies all day makes every part of my attire a convenient kleenex for them. I went through two sweaters yesterday, and was a very alluring and attractive sight by the time my husband got home. The thing is it doesn't even phase me. I've passed a point of hygiene no return!

{five}

Have you voted for your favourite G.K. Chesterton post from last weekend's Weekends With Chesterton at Amongst Lovely Things?  I'm fairly certain the voting is still open today. There were some really wonderful Chesterton posts that are worth reading. And if you can't find a favourite you can always vote for me! 

{six}

Some links that were interesting this week:

Nuns in literature and other writing from the Guardian.

Faith and freedom in the Ukraine.

9 of the most beautiful buildings we've ever torn down. But I'd argue about that Federal Building in Chicago, I'm not a fan.

{seven}

Well, I'm warning everyone that I think I'm going to attempt Jen's Seven Days of Writing challenge next week. Why I can't remember what she really calls it I do not know and I apologize. It's a good challenge for me who never feels like I have good enough ideas to write about and then when I have them usually trash them because I never have more than ten minutes at a time to flesh out a topic. I'll save all my boring minutiae for you next week - get excited! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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