7 Quick Takes, vol. 129

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What time zone do they use in Antarctica? I mean, think about it, every time zone in the world intersects there. Which one would you pick?

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Can anyone explain to me the logic behind a two year old who sees a hat on the floor and thinks he must go out of his way to step on it?

Yes, I am aware that two year olds are not strong on logic. But nobody, not even a two-year-old, does things without some sort of purpose. The brain directs them. Why does it default to “must crush anything I can put my little feet on”????

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I read a very interesting book recently. It’s called The Cloister Walk, by Kathleen Norris. It is a series of reflections on life as it relates to monastic life, written by a non-Catholic woman who was so drawn by liturgy that she became a Benedictine oblate. The real value in this book is that it is written by someone not steeped in all the Catholic terminology and world view, and thus reflects on it with a certain objectivity. It’s not a Catholic book, but it gave me a lot of spiritual food for thought.

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For instance: she quotes a Benedictine sister as saying: “So much of Catholic moral teaching has to do with knowledge, intention, and consent of the will.” It really struck me because that’s exactly right. The quote is in the context of a discussion of celibacy, and how it relates to sexual expression. She doesn’t pull back from observations that some who practice celibacy try to turn off their sexuality, pretend it isn’t there–always with disastrous results. But she doesn’t buy the idea that celibacy itself is the problem. Celibacy, she argues, for those who have integrated it properly into their self-image and sexuality, frees them to love everyone, to extend hospitality to all, to an extent that those of us who commit to a single person can’t reach, simply by virtue of our commitment.

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And of course, she won me over by calling sex an idol in modern life, and talking about how it makes women available all the time, turning them into objects instead of people. Right there I knew this woman had her head on straight. 🙂

Incidentally, the book was not all about matters of sexual expression. Not by a long shot. That was just the part that struck me so forcefully that I had to share it.

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Changing topics: Julianna is really pushing the edge of beginning to talk. She has quite a few proto-words now…they just don’t sound like normal kids’ proto-words. Her brain is more or less beyond the repeat-syllable stage. For her it’s all about trying to get those dratted muscles in her mouth and lips to work together. But she says–and means–blue, ball, moon, and several others. But for all who have been saying, “I can’t wait for you to talk so we know what you’re trying to tell us!” be warned: you’re still not going to know what she’s trying to tell you. Communication with Julianna will involve deep thought and interpretation for quite some time after she begins talking for real.

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Speaking of Julianna, her picture is up at a cash register at Wal Mart on a donate-a-dollar card for the Children’s Miracle Network. I had forgotten I had given permission for them to use her picture however they wanted. People have been calling and stopping us all week, saying, “I saw her picture and I HAD to give!” 🙂

Have a great weekend, everyone!