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Truly Random Thoughts, Volume 4: Alice, Anne, Money & Science

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This week shows how truly “random” are the things that catch my eye/ear online.  No common thread,  just lots of interesting things to ponder.

Memory Eternal: The Life and Quiet  Ministry of “Ann B.” –Terry Mattingly, Get Religion.  I love “Get Religion”–I don’t recall it as a Patheos blog.  Perhaps that is new?   Lovely story about the religious life of Ann Davis, better known as The Brady Bunch’s “Alice,” who died this week.

Raising a Moral Child-The New York Times.  “People often believe that character causes action, but when it comes to producing moral children, we need to remember that action also shapes character. ”

A New Way to Declutter--Anne at I Need Some Inspiration.  So super glad this real-life friend she has a blog now, finally.  Anne, you just need to put an e-mail button so I can subscribe that way.  Not that I don’t have so many e-mails, but for some reason, it is a way I catch up (at least occasionally) on my favorite blogs.  I felt “inspired” by this post to tackle our own basement, which looks suspiciously like the one in the photo, except not as spacious.

 Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say –– The New York Times

“We have too few college graduates…we have too few prepared for college.”

“Those who question the value of college tend to be those with the luxury of knowing their own children will be able to attend it.”  Hmm.

“Young and Debt-Free!” — Jill and Jeremy Tracey, WCIC-FM.  I found this mini-interview–about a young couple who paid off $42,000 in student loan debt in two years– inspiring and challenging in a good way.  The couple used the Dave Ramsey principles to pay off their debt on super low incomes, and it just shows it can be done . I read Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money, the newest Dave Ramsey book (from the library, natch).  I find his approach interesting–for me, it’s not the “be all and end all” on financial health, but he does have good things to say about living within your means, especially for people who have gotten into serious debt.  The book itself was a little padded, and could have worked better as a much shorter read.  I am making a note to write a post along these lines–there really “ought” to be a Catholic book for young people about financial literacy and  stewardship, and there isn’t.

“Spiritual and Secular Mix in Case for Sainthood” –New York Times.  “Saints are intercessors in heaven, but they’re also models to emulate. They live lives of heroic virtue. So the idea is to have as many models as possible.” I reviewed the book The Miracle of Father Kapaun last year– it was a very compelling read.

“Why You Hate Work” The New York Times. Such interesting info graphics here. One great quote: “THE simplest way for companies to take on this challenge is to begin with a basic question: ‘What would make our employees feel more energized, better taken care of, more focused and more inspired?’ It costs nothing, for example, to mandate that meetings run no longer than 90 minutes, or to set boundaries around when people are expected to answer email and how quickly they’re expected to respond. ”

“Why Science and the Humanities are Better Together” –NPR Science Friday. I listened to this podcast on a run recently, and I found it fascinating and informative.  Walter Isaacson is interviewed here about giving the prestigious Jefferson Lecture, and how he recalls going to see Walker Percy give the lecture more than 20 years ago.  Since my husband is a big fan of Walker Percy, and met him on several occasions, Isaacson’s admiration and homage to Percy in his own lecture was compelling to me.  I hope to listen to the entire lecture soon.

What have you been reading or listening to this week?

Random Thoughts, Volume 2

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Last weekend, I was on a two-night campout with my younger daughter’s American Heritage Girls troop.  And truly, I had a great time.  I would say so even if my whole family, children included, did not read my blog.

But, to be honest, before this, I used to say to people, “You know, the closest I get to camping is Hampton Inn.”  I love the outdoors, but I really like to come home to my own bed, or a Hampton Inn.  Some of you will know what I mean.

Even though I was officially having fun, after the first restless night with lots of little girls tossing and turning and needing to go use the latrine, I was pretty tapped out during a lull on Saturday afternoon.  So I might have hiked the half-mile to the minivan to take refuge for a little bit of quiet and non-outdoors.  I am sooo glad that I did.  That’s because I caught the very end of The Moth Radio hour. I generally stay away from The Moth, as I generally find it a more pretentious and annoying version of This American Life.  While I love and find   so Catholic and catholic, so many of the stories on TAL, it can also occasionally veer into the annoying category.

So my first random thought is to share this and invite you to take a few minutes to listen to “Before Fergus,”  Lynn Ferguson’s story of when she was pregnant at an “advanced maternal age.”  Listen if for no other reason than to hear her Scottish brogue.  Lovely.  Sitting there listening to it, and having a few minutes of quiet, was just enough to help me get back to several dozen energetic girls, the campfire, and sleeping in a bunk.

More randomness:

Do our Kids Get Off Too Easy? –Alfie Kohn, The New York Times.I found his book Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes

that I read many, many years ago, utterly fascinating, and it really informed how I parent, I think because I was parented this way, without my parents having the benefit of such a book.  “Other researchers, meanwhile, have shown that high self-esteem is beneficial, but that even more desirable is unconditional self-esteem: a solid core of belief in yourself, an abiding sense that you’re competent and worthwhile — even when you screw up or fall short.”

Always Hungry? Here’s Why–The New York Times “If this hypothesis (that “rapidly digestible carbs” are the cause of hunger & weight gain) turns out to be correct, it will have immediate implications for public health. It would mean that the decades-long focus on calorie restriction was destined to fail for most people. Information about calorie content would remain relevant, not as a strategy for weight loss, but rather to help people avoid eating too much highly processed food loaded with rapidly digesting carbohydrates. But obesity treatment would more appropriately focus on diet quality rather than calorie quantity.”

The ‘Casket Catechesis’ of John Paul II–National Catholic Register.  Not new but read-worthy.  A man inspired to start a simple casket business after seeing the casket of John Paul II. “I hope that Marian Caskets is a part of this spiritual awakening, where death is accepted but where it won’t have the last word. That’s what the casket catechesis of soon-to-be St. John Paul II is all about: facing reality with humility, acknowledging our sins and asking for God’s mercy.”

18 Reasons Why This Skeptical Pediatrician Came to Love Homeschooling Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, Aleteia.  My brother sent me this article and I found it really interesting and well-argued.  I still felt a little exhausted just reading about this family’s schedule though!  Neat connection: Kathleen attended the 2012 Behold Conference.  I got to meet her but not spend much time with her.

Who Gets to Graduate? –Paul Tough, The New York Times magazine.  Helping the most-at-risk kids to graduate.  I haven’t finished this one yet, but I find it fascinating, and want my teens to read.

What have you read or listening to randomly this week?

The Theology of the Body for Everyone

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Here’s my column that appears in this weekend’s print edition of The Catholic Post.

Earlier this month, I was wretched in the throes of a nasty stomach bug going around. I couldn’t get comfortable. I was achy and dreaded any hint of food or noise. I (half) jokingly asked my husband to put me out of my misery.

As I started to recover, the soothing predictability of HGTV shows like “House Hunters” were the only thing my brain was capable of processing. I couldn’t imagine actually making it out of bed again, much less stand up long enough to brush my teeth, and I knew I would never, ever, eat again.

Being that miserably sick, and being better now, reminds me of a question I once asked a confessor. “Who’s the real me? Is it when I’m at my best, having the right amount of sleep, good food, exercise and caffeine? Or is it when I’m extra cranky because I’ve been up all night with a sick child? Or when I’ve been sick myself, or haven’t been taking care of myself?” He responded, “They all are.”

It’s a fascinating conundrum—how our souls, moods and bodies being connected and so affected by each other, for good or bad. Why did God make us this way?

A new book by an author with local roots begins to unpack some of the answers to this question.

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In These Beautiful Bones: An Everyday Theology of the Body, Emily Stimpson (originally from the Quad Cities, but now a Steubenville, Ohio-based writer), ambitiously seeks to explain why our bodies matter, and why what we do with them matters.

Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, is not exclusively about marriage and sex, as people often understand it. It’s about living a “sacramental life” in all areas of life—taking care of our bodies, the importance of labor, our leisure time, our work and our interactions with each other.

A number of things stand out about These Beautiful Bones:

First of all, just reading the introduction makes me want to hop on a plane to Rome to see many things, but among them the Capuchin bone church, if only to see the memento mori lines, “What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be.”

Stimpson has a careful, nuanced writing style that lends itself well to this topic. She tells real-life stories and . And, sometime I always appreciate, the book is carefully designed and produced and has a great “feel.”.

But most of all, These Beautiful Bones helps readers see how rich and multi-faceted the Theology of the Body is in all areas of life, from how we relate to each other to how we take care of our bodies. Our bodies matter, and everything we do with our bodies means something.

As Stimpson so beautifully puts it, “When we live the theology of the body, when we live a life of self-gift in the smallest moments and the smallest ways, we live a life of witness. And in that, we bring people face to face with the Gospel.”

These Beautiful Bones is an excellent introduction to help readers understand all aspects of the Theology of the Body— how all of us are called to live the truth that our bodies speak in our actions.

Look for a future post on other Theology of the Body books that are well worth reading. 

Meet a Reader: Father Joseph Presley

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How you know me: I’m the parochial vicar (assistant pastor) at Corpus Christi and St. Patrick’s parishes in Galesburg and Sacred Heart parish, Abingdon. I am also a religious, a member of a small congregation named the Institute of Charity (Rosminians), founded by Blessed Antonio Rosmini, whose charism is universal charity.

Why I love reading: In the words of Francis Bacon, “Reading maketh a full man.” By reading we can have all of the wisdom and experience of the past as a gift without the labor of having to work it out ourselves; wisdom that is perennially valid. Bernard of Chartres used to say that we [the Moderns] are like dwarves perched on the shoulders of giants [the Ancients], and thus we are able to see more and farther than the latter. And this is not at all because of the acuteness of our sight or the stature of our body, but because we are carried aloft and elevated by the magnitude of the giants. “For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4)

What I’m reading now:  Two books by Dietrich Von Hildebrand: Transformation in Christ and The Art of Living.

I became convinced that the personalistic philosophy of such original minds as Dietrich Von Hildebrand and John Paul II is the antidote to all the offenses against the life and dignity of the human person and a solid basis for constructing a civilization of life and love called for in Evangelium Vitae. I am reading Von Hildebrand because I find this philosophy to be extremely human(in the sense that God intended), rich and appealing, and I believe that this is the direction that God’s providence is leading humanity at this time.

I’m also reading Father Michael Gaitley’s The One Thing Is Three: How the Most Holy Trinity Explains Everything.

My favorite book: Apart from Sacred Scripture, my favorite book is The Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis. It is like breathing the pure, clear air of heaven when I read it. I can dip into it anywhere at anytime and draw a profound lesson and strength and encouragement along with a clear vision of the truth. Moreover it never wears out. It never fails to re-center me on what is essential what is truly important. Definitely a book I would want to have with me on a desert island!

Meet a Reader: Maria Martin

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I so enjoyed meeting Maria earlier this year when I spoke about books to the local Legatus group, and I am so grateful that she was willing to be featured as a “reader” in The Catholic Post this month.

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Maria Martin

How we know you:

I am a parishioner of St Vincent de Paul in Peoria. My husband Jeff and I have two daughters – Serena, currently a junior at Peoria Notre Dame, and Alyssa, a 7th grader at St Vincent de Paul School. I am Marketing Director of Welch Systems, Inc., our family business, which just celebrated its 40th year. I’ve also been actively involved with the SVdP Women’s Guild and school.

Why I love reading: Reading is relaxation for me. I love to become completely absorbed in a book and am always searching for the next good read.

What I’m reading now: I’m currently reading Khaled Hosseini’s latest novel, And the Mountains Echoed. I also try to start each day with In Conversation with God, which discusses the daily mass readings and gives great insight into how I can relate them to my everyday life.

My favorite book: I don’t have an all time favorite. I love so many different types of books and authors but none have the distinction of being the standout. I will say My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell was a truly enjoyable memoir.

Revenge of the Nerds: How Geekiness can Strengthen Faith (Part 1)

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Following is the first part of my book page column that appears in this weekend’s edition of The Catholic Post.  Since it was a longer review, and I cover other books, I split it into two posts–stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow: “How geekiness can strengthen the family.”

The Screwtape Letters is C.S. Lewis’ classic book of what I like to call “epistolary apologetics,” “letters” from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his apprentice nephew demon Wormwood.

Everything is twisted in the book, so “the Enemy” is God and the advice is all backwards from what would make people truly happy. One letter has Screwtape cautioning Wormwood to avoid letting his subject have any real, natural interests or pleasures, because:

“There is a sort of innocence and humility and self-forgetfulness about them which I distrust. The man who truly and disinterestedly enjoys any one thing in the world, for its own sake, and without caring twopence what other people say about it, is by that very fact forearmed against some of our subtlest modes of attack. You should always try to make the patient abandon the people or food or books he really likes in favor of the “best” people, the “right” food, the “important” books. I have known a human defended from strong temptations to social ambition by a still stronger taste for tripe and onions.”

Count me firmly in the “tripe and onions” category. Whether it’s Jane Austen reading jags, pilgrimages to children’s literature sites, or my well-known and longtime love affair with dark chocolate, I embrace my nerdy obsessions and want to convert you, too.

So I might be a little suspicious of people who don’t have passionate interests, even if they aren’t my interests. (But seriously, how can you not love Pride & Prejudice?).

No surprise, then, that I loved GeekPriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer by Fr. Roderick Vonhogen, a Dutch parish priest with an international social media reach.

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This book is a kind of spiritual/cultural memoir about how Fr. Vonhogen’s religious vocation grew up around, and because of, his own geeky interests. It’s also how he has become a social media pioneer, spreading the Gospel by connecting his passions for computers, popular culture and faith in a natural, approachable way.

GeekPriest can seem light in tone, since it’s making connections between things like Star Wars, Disney or even The Biggest Loser, and living a healthy, well-balanced life. So readers looking for the next St. Augustine’s Confessions might be disappointed.

What GeekPriest does offer is a realistic and deceptively deep look at where good pop culture intersects with our faith. Fr. Vonhogen is not writing just another “here’s why Star Wars is a Jesus archetype” story. Instead, he shares how his struggles through a breakdown and other reverses led to a more mature balance, faith and priestly life.  His honesty and ability to synthesize so well helps this book rise above the common.

I would recommend GeekPriest to teens and young adult readers, and not just because I kept “losing” my review copy of this book as teens and tweens at our house kept wandering off to read a chapter here and there.

I’d also recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about “the new evangelization,” or using modern methods and modern ways to share the Truth. Fr. Vonhogen’s an expert and an example to many, no doubt. GeekPriest offers a challenge to anyone with geeky interests: how are you going to connect this to your faith, and begin a journey to share that with others?

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I’m not sure if this is the right sort of aside to share here, but I want to share two things about Fr. Roderick.  

First  is that I have never met him.  The two times I have made plans to go to the U.S.-based Catholic New Media conferences that he has organized, (even to the point of flights and hotel reservations), family needs required canceling at the last moment.  And even though I’m an avid podcast listener, I have yet to subscribe to any of Father’s many podcasts, something one of my sisters, a fan, found really funny.  So I don’t actually know Fr. Roderick, but feel a genuine kinship with his ideas and love of new media.  And now I promise to subscribe to at least one of his podcast series.

Second is that when I was searching for an image of the book to plug in here to this review, here’s what came back on my Google image search:

GreekPriestBe sure to stop back tomorrow for Part 2 of my geeky book column this month!