Friday afternoon Jeremy and I got pizza with a bunch of people from the biology department. The dinner was a celebration as our dear friends and former biology grad students, Emily & Alan, are in town visiting for a few weeks. They are staying with us and we are delighted to host them. (They are real troopers. Our guest room only has a twin bed and they've had to use our cots/sleeping bags/air mattress with a slow leak.)
As everyone enjoyed the pizzas, I got to catch up with some of our friends I hadn't seen in a while. One of these friends has been a great donor to my workplace, as we often need household items to furnish apartments for the homeless women with children we house and support. She brings us nice sheets and blankets, televisions, and kitchen wares. As can happen with a large group, multiple conversations were taking place concurrently. I'd like to share a slice of the dialogue.
Beckie: Erin, do you need some twin-sized flannel sheets? I'm hanging on to them but don't have a twin-sized bed anymore.
Erin: Sure! We really need some twin-sized sheets right now. We only have twin-sized beds because that discourages sleepovers and overnight visitors, if you know what I mean.
Emily: What do you mean?
Erin: Frankly, we don't think overnight guests are appropriate.
Emily: (After period of awkward silence accompanied by apologetic expression) I guess we can stay with the Morales family...
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Christmas in Texas
Praise the Lord! It's finally cool enough to open some windows!
We got our Christmas tree yesterday. We had to go to Home Depot because the closest farm is a kajillion miles away in Elgin, Texas. It is also difficult to know where to buy trees if you aren't native to the area. The lucky tree is a 6' Frasier Fir. I'm pretty confident that due to its 'C' shaped trunk, its initial occupation was that of Christmas wreath branch donor. It's ok though, they sold us some christmas tree rogaine so we can fill in those bald spots in no time! Also, its unique 'C' shape meant a hefty discount for us!
Weirdly enough, we are only the second people on our street to decorate the outside of our house for Christmas. Growing up, I was accustomed to living on a street visible from space during the holidays, although my family always created sedate displays with white lights and tasteful decor. By comparison to our Austin neighbors, though, we now look like we're operating Santa's workshop. Admittedly the competition isn't too stiff as our across-the-street neighbor is a self-proclaimed "born again pagan". (According to his bumper sticker.)
Tragically, I've seen no life size nativities yet. Jeremy and I were really hoping to get into the spirit of the season by capturing a few group snapshots with 8 lb 6 oz baby Jesus himself, but no such luck.
We got our Christmas tree yesterday. We had to go to Home Depot because the closest farm is a kajillion miles away in Elgin, Texas. It is also difficult to know where to buy trees if you aren't native to the area. The lucky tree is a 6' Frasier Fir. I'm pretty confident that due to its 'C' shaped trunk, its initial occupation was that of Christmas wreath branch donor. It's ok though, they sold us some christmas tree rogaine so we can fill in those bald spots in no time! Also, its unique 'C' shape meant a hefty discount for us!
Weirdly enough, we are only the second people on our street to decorate the outside of our house for Christmas. Growing up, I was accustomed to living on a street visible from space during the holidays, although my family always created sedate displays with white lights and tasteful decor. By comparison to our Austin neighbors, though, we now look like we're operating Santa's workshop. Admittedly the competition isn't too stiff as our across-the-street neighbor is a self-proclaimed "born again pagan". (According to his bumper sticker.)
Tragically, I've seen no life size nativities yet. Jeremy and I were really hoping to get into the spirit of the season by capturing a few group snapshots with 8 lb 6 oz baby Jesus himself, but no such luck.
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Seamless Garment
Jeremy and I are members of the RCIA team at our parish. We are really fortunate to be a part of the process. Today's speaker was absolutely outstanding and did a great job explaining how and why opposition to embryonic stem cell research, promoting access to a quality education and job opportunities, and supporting environmental efforts stem from a common origin - the dignity of the human person. I love how beautifully consistent Catholic Social Teaching is, and wanted to share its major themes.
Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
( Copyright 2005, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Washington, D.C. )
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our societyin economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
Care for God’s Creation
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
( Copyright 2005, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Washington, D.C. )
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our societyin economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
Care for God’s Creation
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
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