I haven't been writing much lately, because to be blunt, I've been overwhelmed. The sheer volume and magnitude of events on both the Church Front and the Political Front have left me flabbergasted (I love that word!) and confused. There's a lot going on in the world, to be sure.
Enter Divine Providence. I haven't taken a trip--a real trip--in over a decade. I think it shows--I need to not be thinking about so many things, or worrying about them--what ever is the closest match to the reality. I need to take a break from current events, from personal dramas that get foisted on me, from worrying about the mundane details of life, etc. So out of the blue, and old friend provides me with a round trip ticket to Portland Oregon! This is really cool--I haven't been on a aircraft in well over 20 years, and I'm going to fly!.
It is my intention to to spend absolutely no effort or attention on anything except fun and relaxation for ten days. Period. I need to do this. (When I do my news reading, I can usually bookmark 10-15 stories that I think are significant, and they are usually gloomy--my fault, I know, but there it is. I guess I'm bleak minded. Then again, we live in a bleak society, in bleak times, with a bleak future.) So perhaps when I get back I'll be back in stride, with good ideas and a fresher outlook. I hope so, anyway.
Yet even in the middle of my bleak-mindedness (is that even a possible English structure?) I am a bit hopeful. I am aware that this is, in the old Tridentine description, Christs fortress Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it! Yeah, I can type jeremiads about the three parishes that marched in the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade, but I am still aware that the Gay Marriage issue is stimulating more and more bishops, even those on the progressive side, to speak out. Our bishops are finding their spines. I can point out what a bunch of gormless, effeminate and elitist priests I see, but I can also go over to Father Z's blog, and read the note he's got up about ten things about the new priests, that fill me with not just hope but happiness. I can whine about the betrayal of the truth by tht drug addled dude in Montana, but that would mean that I'm not paying attention to the groundswell of support for orthodoxy and genuine discipline shown by the conservative faithful who would be his natural constituency--except they can tell the difference between faithfulness and bombast. I could wring my handsabout the article in The Tablet that is setting up the Church for complaints of psychological abuse, but then I would be overlooking that it's number of paid subscribers is down to about 3000, and it's living on the capital in it's endowment. Things aren't as bad as I sometimes feel them to be!
And on the Liturgical Front--not only are we getting a New Translation of the Holy Mass, there is a new Translation of, and new particular law in, the GIRM, that mark an official move--approved by the USCCB--towards a higher standard of Ars Celebrendi. You can check this out yourself over at "Chant Cafe" ( www.chantcafe.com ) If you think that the Liturgy as experienced in parishes needs reformed, there are tools and ammunition there for you to use in fighting the good fight!
And politics? Well politics stinks, no matter what--but the Federal government is no longer having it's way uncontested, and neither is the Democratic Party. Polls are showing that the people are starting to care about their constitutional rights as much as their wallets.
So there you have it--proof that I'm burned out on current events, need a change of scenery, and some more civilized weather, and maybe some good, craft brewed beer. I'm going to go,to have fun, to link up with old friends in a place I've never been to before. This is going to be very, very good for me. Besides, I may even meet a pretty girl, who will smile at me and bring me my beer and not be dressed like a perverted school girl, as is the current fad in servers in Louisville (No Kidding! I's kind of--not distracting...depressing!) So say a prayer for me to have a nice trip, and for me to get recharged for more writting and a brighter look at the world.
I'll be back about the 25th of July.
