Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

 As we walk on (and on) towards Christ, let us pray for His mercy towards us:

Although it is more noble to pray for the salvation of our brothers & sisters than our own, and generally speaking we should be indifferent, if not hostile, to our own "well-being" (as the world would have it) if we truly mean to fulfill our promise to follow Him in bearing the Cross all the way to Golgotha, nevertheless we are all but certain to make mistakes along the way: tempted down some seeming shortcut to Heaven that bypasses the suffering implied by the Scourging; sidestepping those who have been making this journey since before we were born in a race to get the prize first, forgetting that in so doing we shall be last; shouting at Peter to arise in our impatience and kicking over the dreadful cup that we would have to drain to the dregs were we truly to emulate the Lord.

I can only speak from experience, as these are a few of my own sins, or rather my shameful attempt to avoid sin and not stand before the Father in fear & trembling, wretched and in need of Christ's redemption.

But so it is! As I attempt to make up for a lifetime of transgressions, ignorance and pride by taunting my fellow man to hurry up and be saved, and writing a blog that I only pray has reached someone in sincerity and that they do a better job of this work than I have been willing or able to, as I am already scheming of a myriad other plans as I type, to write poetry and listen to music and otherwise enjoy the incredible bounty of life and the gifts that God has given me.

That said, Christmas is over, I have done all I can for now to mend bridges with family and friends where they were in need of repair, and turned aside from roads to those whose hearts will remain closed. I have said many prayers over the past month, not praying the Rosary every single day but once or twice a week, usually well before sunrise, and it is getting hard to devote all that energy when I have so much to do. I know that's wrong: but it allows me to be weak and lean on Him, as I ask for God's forgiveness. 

I also know that it is what I have to do right now. I have been learning prayers I never even heard of before, and memorizing others I had known but never said aloud, and calling to mind that one prayer the Son taught His Apostles to pray by, whenever I rise in the morning or am sore vexed by the noise of the neighbors upstairs:

Our Father, who art in Heaven

Hallowed be Thy Name

Thy Kingdom come: Thy will be done

On Earth, as it is in Heaven

Grant us this day our daily bread    (I notice there's usually free food in the breakroom when I remember to say this prayer: bonus!)    & forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

AMEN

As we walk towards Christ, let us imagine that he is like the North Pole. There is only one northernmost point in all the earth; yet if we keep walking in the same direction long enough (assuming one could just 'walk' over water and tundra, from wherever one stands) eventually we would pass this point and no longer be going north, but south. Do not pass Him by in your zeal for heavenly things. Do not leave behind your brothers & sisters on this earth, who need your love, and kindness, and sense of humor, and forbearing patience, and joy, that are gifts He has given to us all, each in due portion, your enemy as well as your beloved. Turn not to the left or the right. Walk straight in thy ways. Trust to Providence that all good things will come with patience.

I am going to need the break, to come back ready when the Lenten fast begins. I am not encouraging anyone to behave recklessly during this Carnival. Avoid fornication, no matter what anyone says. Above all, be kind and love one another. Be true to yourself and keep the Faith that has been given to your ancestors. All roads lead to Christ. There are no shortcuts, but neither is it prudent to take the road less travelled merely to avoid the company of your fellow sinners. Eat, drink, and listen to good music: from the Renaissance on every genre has contained music that is inspired by the devil, as well as music that comes direct from God, whether it be opera, blues, jazz, rock n roll, heavy metal or hip-hop. Just don't listen to all that modern pop crap, if you can at all avoid it! 

God forgive us.

For Thine is the Kingdom

& the Power

& the Glory

Forever...