Easter 2009: Resurrection & Renewal

This Easter finds us far from family and friends yet we stick to established patterns, one of which is attending Easter mass. I attend with my husband for, though I am not Catholic nor of any particularly strong faith, I find this particular mass rekindles in me that sense of renewal inherent to Spring and the many ways resurrection and renewal can occur.



Of course, the church we went to was new to me; on the surface, rich-looking!) (I wondered what Jesus would think!) but filled with regular joes and josephines faithfully attending to the priest's words. He spoke with a heavy Spanish accent but most of what he said was understandable. I particularly liked his analogy of rolling back the heavy stones in our hearts (as was done at Jesus's tomb), and gave that idea some thought.



I, like my mother, love to sing hymns so I much enjoyed following the lead of the disembodied singer/organist who couldn't be seen (at least from my vantage point) behind the organ but whose voice was lovely and light. I could have been at a service anywhere in the world which is what I guess is nice about catholism: its uniformity. No surprises. Well, ok. One surprise. As the theme is resurrection, we recited the words of baptism (me following in a book) and the priest walked throughout the church, annointing us with a sprinkling mace-like thing from the aisle. As it's a big church, he had to hurry. No one put up an umbrella.



Back home, I stopped to put away some library books (my new job) and came across this book which I read just this afternoon: The Shack by Wm Paul Young. If you believe in God, you know He works in mysterious ways still, I thought it odd that I should stumble across a book on a day when I was consciously thinking of rolling back the hard places in my heart, and this book addresses this very idea and more.



Whether your struggles be with faith, acceptance, forgiveness, hatred, fear, or trust, I suggest you try reading this book. Take from it what you will but trust me: you're sure to take something. And...it might help roll away that stone in your heart.

Conflicted

On the political spectrum, I admit I'm a little left leaning with the odd inclination to the right, and am still an innocent in the world despite what I know about the capacity of humans to destroy other humans. People I know state their concern for Canada and the influx of certain immigrants and their impact on our society. Some people I know are very anti-Muslim. Some make a distinction and say they're anti-Islam. Some state their concern that the Christian way of life is much threatened.

I believe in "live and let live." In Canada, we live in a multi-cultural society which I like and am proud of. Thanks to our open doors, I've come to know so many more people than plain old white English-speaking people like myself. I know one Muslim and was very impressed by his openness, behaviour and beliefs. He lives his own life his own way and does not impose his beliefs on me or others yet openly answers any questions I may have. I know a few Jewish people, and can say the same for them too. I know some Catholics, Protestants, aetheists, Bahai's, Lutherans, and more, and can say the same for them too. I know French, English, Polish, Italian, American, British, Cuban, Irish, Ukranian, Australian, Indian, Persian and people from more other countries...they too are the same. The majority of people I know try to live their lives and live within their own religions if they have one. There are always those who try to impose their beliefs on others but I find them everywhere and in every group. So long as they do it non-violently, that's ok by me.

It's rational to feel threatened given what happened at the twin towers and the many other horrible killing and fearful events since. I try to understand the things coming at me in the world that shake up my utopian view.

For example, Pat Condell, a comedian, is known for his rants, not necessarily funny either. I've listened to two of his rants, trying to keep an open mind. He referred in one of his rants to a short film made in 2008 called "Fitna" by Geert Wilders a Dutch MP, which is causing all kinds of controversy in his homeland, and throughout the world. Is the video hate literature or a word of warning? It seemed easy enough to view yet the pages where you view it often get closed down so forces are definitely out there that do not want it seen.

The other side of the story is this rebuttal video which point by point negates the stance taken in the Fitna video. If you've come this far in reading, I trust you'll view both videos. I also found this article entitled Wilders Shore Of Free Speech Endangered by Kenan Malik in the Australian that discusses this but from the perspective of free speech.

Islamophobia. Anti-semitism. Racism. Sexism. Ageism. Homophobia. Secularism. There's an "ism" or "phobia" out there for everyone. And they are very heated, hot topics. Where do you stand?

I wonder, had we the internet back in the 1930's, how the world would have responded to the uprising of Nazism? Would our ability to communicate so instantaneously ultimately in some miraculous way have staved off the Holocaust and saved lives? Or would we be sitting much where we are today? Endlessly discussing, writing, opining, and finger pointing but still doing nothing? What is to be done?

I pray one day we'll all be more enlightened. I pray we'll find a way to help advance those whose beliefs are antiquated, unjust, unfair and harmful to others. Yes, I'm doing it. I'm doing what causes the conflicts in the first place. I'm saying my way is better. The modern way is better. I'm falling into the same old trap everyone does (I don't want to live your way, I want to live MY way!) which is why I despair for the dear old human race.

Hating to close this on a down note, I do state I am optimistic about humanity's future and our capacity to grow and change for the better, for we have proven it over time. And every new person I meet, no matter where they're from, no matter their culture, reinforces the idea we all just want to live peaceably. If this little blog has in any way made you reflect and reconsider your own stance on "isms" and "phobias", then I feel it's been worthwhile. Peace.

PS - it's highly likely some of the above links will change in time. If so, feel free to look further on your own.

I'm proud of Canada

This is about as blatantly political as I get. I find it ironic that 2 days after unanimously celebrating Canada's birthday, we're divided about celebrating Canada's choice to receive the Order of Canada.

The abortion issue has always been highly controversial and divisive in Canada, and I would add, throughout the world. Today, in Canada, people are reacting to the news that Henry Morgentaler, MD, has been named to the Order of Canada.

Some think it's an abomination, a day of shame for Canada. I think it's a day of pride for Canada and I congratulate those who decided Dr. Morgentaler merited this honour. Seldom does one see a person who puts himself and his family on the line for his beliefs.

I won't enter the discussion of when is a life a life and whether one has the right to take a life. I'm sure to get a few comments pro and con and I respect those who would argue with me.

I believe Dr. Morgentaler's work has saved lives. His work brought abortion out of the backstreets and into safe, clean clinics. His work has brought the word "abortion" into the open. It has been and will continue to be the source of much controversy and dispute, and his receiving the Order of Canada won't change that. But let it be a good thing as we, society, continue our evolution and our struggle in dealing with choices.

More on the story: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/02/f-morgentaler.html

What is the Order of Canada? http://www.gg.ca/honours/nat-ord/oc/index_e.asp

God versus Gosh

We’ve all heard the “Oh my gosh” ubiquitous to American television shows and society in general. We also often see the acronym OMG which may or not refer to the same expression or its alternate. Let’s face it, we all know they really mean to say: Oh my God. So why don’t they just say it?

Because Christians have been taught it is wrong to take God’s name in vain. Matter of fact, it is the 3rd of the 10 commandments. Early in life, possibly in Sunday school, I was taught this. But I admit I don’t really know why it’s so bad to make reference to God. For Heaven’s sake (am I swearing?), even my mother-in-law, a kind and lovely woman who was a God-fearing Catholic, would say in French “mon doux” thus avoiding the more explicit “Mon Dieu”. She didn’t wish to be blasphemous (that is, impiously irreverent); she was a very pious woman.

Point 1: So…the first word of the 3rd commandment I was taught as a kid gives you the first clue and Rule No. 1: do no wrong which is why so many people opt for gosh. They’re hedging their bets. I think they’re probably thinking “God” but just saying “gosh” for safety’s sake. God knows what they’re really thinking.

Point 2: There’s the part in the 3rd commandment about God being His or Her name. Simply naming God is a no no. In this site it says “to use His name:
- is to bring attention to who He is (I say, the more publicity the better – no?).
- means you are acknowledging His existence (is that such a bad thing these days?).
- is to call upon the One has proclaimed who and what He is by His name.” (Well, OK – let’s move on the point number 3)

Point 3: I didn’t as a kid and I can’t honestly say now, I truly understand the “in vain” part of the commandment. So let’s think it through: in my mind, in vain means for naught or for nothing as in the expression “it was all in vain.” So this implies that when we OMG, we’re calling upon Him for nothing, and we’re wasting His time. Hence, Rule Number 3: don’t call on the Big Guy for just nothing. It’s akin to crying wolf and we all know how that ended up.

Point 4: The same site quoted above says our kind lost how to truly pronounce God’s original name but states regardless, we shouldn’t fool around with the name most of the world has come to associate with Him (or Her) as this is very serious stuff. So here’s Rule Number 4: don’t mess around with things you don’t understand. You don’t cry “Fire” in a dark theatre and you don’t OMG just for the Hell of it. You just might end up there....I guess.

Personally, I am frequently guilty of OMG'ing but haven't felt guilty or in the wrong. Usually I reserve OMG for when I’m in awe of or overwhelmed by something. For example, hearing of a horrible accident, or learning of something incredible or heart-rending, like 2004’s tsunami or the destruction of the World Trade Centre. Prior to writing this mini-essay, I never gave my use of the expression a second thought. After all, if God does exist, he must attend these or similar happenings. If God does exist, he is supposed to be love. How can I or anyone rationalize the contradictions of it all? I know, I know. This is where faith comes in.

So, do I now hedge my bets like my dear mother-in-law with her “Mon doux”? I don’t know. I’ll certainly be more aware of the history and meaning behind OMG, and no doubt will reconsider whether or to what extent I believe in the infinite self-named “I am.”