Legal Plunder and the Church

I just happened to find this funny/really sad. I see so many people forgetting all the pheomenal things that have been accomplished through the love and charity of people. The great "social programs" of the church--hospitals, feeding the poor, caring for the orphans--are great because they come from the heartfelt response of its people. However, when we try to do great things by taking money away from people, the heart goes out of it. That's why I think that the best laid plans of politicians and lobbyists are all ROT: they are based on a policy of legal plunder that deadens the heart of citizens to the needs of the poor and needy.

You surely can build anything you like with other people's money, provided you have a big enough army and a realistic enough threat of jail time to get them to give it to you. But, what the State does with our taxes is not nearly as impressive OR effective as what has been done, or could have been done, through our charity. But that's not the worst of it. The State's social programs are based on the secular notion that if no one makes citizens take care of one another, they won't do it. Lex credendi, lex viviendi. As we believe so we live. If we believe that people will not be charitible without the government enforcing it, then people will live that way--and they do.

The Church leaders would be wise to think harder before cooperating with HUD and accepting various grants from government social services. If we can't get the work of God done with heart money, perhaps it isn't God's work after all. Just because citizens hand over their money each year, under penalty of law, to the government, who in turn offers it in the form of a grant--does this make it free money to the Church? No. It is money that couldn't be gained through love and was taken by force. In this light, the State is NOT a benefactor, but a thief and a money launderer.

We need to take on the responsibility to the poor that our faith requires of us, but not through legal plunder. We should lower taxes and get money for the Church and the poor the right way. The HEART way.

Paying Attention

Any parent of small children knows the longing for the day when our children really start paying attention at church. So you can understand my joy when our 6 year old, (now 7), was raptly attentive when a visiting priest was giving his homily a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, ignorance can be less than bliss when you start paying attention, because she couldn't help asking: "what does that mean?" at every turn. Everytime his vocabulary got a little beyond her 1st grade level, she'd whisper her request for clarification. Imagine her delight when he got to a part she did understand:

"It doesn't matter who we are. We all have suffering. Whether it is from illness, or financial difficulties, the suffering is there. Sometimes we struggle with relationships, or even family problems..."

"MOM!" She whispered excitedly (for the few rows behind us to hear), "WE have family problems!!" To which she added in a concerned voice: "Mom, you're not supposed to laugh at church."

Free Time

So I just took a moment to stand still today, thinking, as I sometimes do. I noticed that although I was standing still, my house was still working. I realized that:

• The dryer was drying clothes
• The washer was washing bedding
• The dishwasher was cleaning up the dishes
• The stove was cooling from heating my supper
• The fridge was cooling the sauce I pre-made for supper
• The lights were on (more than need be!)
• The bathtub was draining
• The air conditioner was blowing (at least the fan was on)
• My cell phone was ringing
• AND My kids were eating ice cream that I grabbed out of the deep freeze

And I realized: I don't keep house! I run a factory of machines, a bastion of efficiency. So here I sit at my computer to wonder at the life we lead that would be totally incomprehensible to those who lived and died just 80 years ago. My great-great grandmother could have spent her WHOLE day just doing laundry and preparing meals. My great-great grandfather could have spent half of his day just getting to the field and back.

So amidst all of this humming of machinery I must ask myself: what was the meaning of life BEFORE free time and productivity? I mean, if in most of human history, people were about 1/20th as efficient as I am in 21st century America, leisure is really a modern invention, along with multi-tasking! It seems to me that many of us live for the free time, the hobbies, Facebook, favorite movies and books. We thrive on emailing, internet shopping, talking on the phone, and driving all at the same time. But what did my great, great grandparents live for? You know back when the pace was slower and more measured? I doubt the answer is laundry. What did they thrive on? Were they happy? Were they happier?

Solemn Vowel

I found the girls in the tub after watching Ballet Shoes. The soundtrack went something like this:

"We vowel... to be the sisters.... of the world."

"Vowel." "Vowel." "Vowel."

Looking forward to Aunt Kaela and Mitch, Aunt Dani & Jesse, and Cousin Heidi & Jesse making their solemn vowels soon!