Why haven't we been doing this all along??

In the last week or so, I've stayed up past my arbitrary bedtime on several occasions. Why, you ask? Because I've been video chatting with various Echoites. Skype, iChat, G-Chat... I've used them all. Why haven't we been doing this more? I demand more inter-Echo video chatting!

(...because I miss all of your beautiful faces!!)

Charity!? : A response to Isaac

Thank you, Isaac, for your recent postings, especially on the Catholic blogosphere. Reflecting on the idea of "charity" made me think about other areas of our lives as well. Has our world forgotten about charity? No, I don't think it has forgotten, but it is easy to pass up.

Today the Young Adult Council of the Diocese of Fort Worth hosted a Flag Football tournament for charity. This is the fourth annual tournament and each year the winning team's name goes on the trophy. Maybe it is the fact that there is a trophy, or that people get really into football, or the simple nature of competition that lies within most of us, but parts of the day can be rough.

Of course we want to do our best and beat the other teams, but people easily forget that this is for fun. Emotions get high, the attitudes change and taunting words come out. Today I had to tell two people to "chill out, this is for fun." We forget that it is a day for fellowship and supporting the two places that would be receiving our money (the Sisters of Mary of Namur and the Loretto house, a place of those who are considering abortions and other critical life issues). Games are not fun when people get too rough, too competitive, and have unsportsmanship behavior - we all know this. It's sad to know that that can impact the day for someone. Praise God for the teams that do come out for fun and don't care if they win or lose.

As Apprentice Catechetical Leaders, what can we do to encourage charity in our world today?

Speaking of the Headless Clown...

You know you need to clean your room when...

... the Headless Clown has been "hidden" in there for almost a week in a not-so-discrete spot, but you fail to notice it until you're told it's there.

The Headless Clown: You're doing it right

The Catholic blogosphere is like any blogosphere: those who are most passionate speak their mind about subjects they care about.  But the Catholic blogosphere also has numerous charity fails, and when they are from self-proclaimed Catholics, it hurts all of us.

This article on the Catholic blogosphere goes into more detail (including quotes from Bishops/Cardinals who are the target of a uncharitable words), but I think that we're doing it right here on the Headless Clown.  So I say congrats to all of you.  *slow clap*

Kinda Miraculous

I happened across an article I wanted to share: Texas Planned Parenthood director has change of heart.

Another example that no one is beyond the mercy of God, beyond the possibility of continual conversion to love.  Praise be to God!

Do you? DO YOU?

Scene: 1st Reconciliation Prep meeting, run by my mentor, Kathie. In the Church.

Kathie: "Then, right before you go to Reconciliation, we'll ask you to renew your Baptismal promises all together. [Explanation.] Would someone like to come up here and read the first part out loud for everyone to hear?

Precocious 2nd grader: Raises hand.

Kathie: Come on up.

Precocious 2nd grader: Looks at the paper; the first line is "Do you reject Satan?" Begins to read, and very confidently asks, "Do you respect Santa?"

Curtain.

A Most Fortuitous Plane Delay(s)

So this weekend, I went to go visit the grand metropolis of Peoria. Why? Because I am applying for a job with Caterpillar. Actually because I wanted to see the lovely lady(ies) of P-Town.

My flight from Philadelphia was originally scheduled to leave at 2, but then I got an email saying that it was delayed until 3:40. When I got to the airport, it became 4:45. Then when I got to counter, it became 5:45. Things were not looking so good. The agent started looking for some other flights and there was a flight to Detroit where I could spend the night in Detroit and then leave in the morning. OR I could go to Memphis then Chicago and get a rental car.

The guy behind me in line said that he was going to Peoria too and that we should get the flight to Chicago where upon arriving his company would pay for a rental car. Obviously two thoughts flew into my mind. 1) I want to go see Anna ASAP and will do whatever it takes to get there. 2) I have no idea who you are and I don't want to end up dead in the backfields of Illinois. I chose the former.

We introduced ourselves and then he asked if I wanted to grab a beer. I couldn't turn that down and when he said I could use his money vouchers; I thought "this might not be so bad after all". We talked at the bar about sports, jobs, family, etc. when he asked me what I do. I told him a bit about Echo, which prompted the question, "So you're Catholic then?" I affirmed and he responded, "Well it looks like we're going to have a good conversation in the car then. I have a lot of questions for you". (cue ominous music)

So we get in the car and start driving when we begin our convo. It turns out that he didn't grow up Christian at all, but joined a non-denominational church for his one-year old son. I told him that he should be commended for the effort and desire. He thought Catholics were just a big club that no one could get into. I told him about how Catholics are universal despite race, age, background, country, etc and how you could go to a Mass anywhere in the world pretty much. We talked about Islam and salvation. He talked about not wanting to be baptized because he's afraid of failing. I quoted Merton and recommended C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. He never read the Bible. I told him to give it a shot by getting a beginner's version or a commentary. We talked life.

At the end, he said, "You know- I really think that God put us here to talk." I agreed. Had our flights never been canceled, we would have never gotten the chance to talk about our lives and faiths. He might have gone his whole life thinking that Catholics were just snobs and I would have never learned where I should take Anna to dinner, stand up for our faith, and get free chicken tenders at the bar in the Philadelphia airport. We exchanged emails and the belief that God is good.

I got in at the house at midnight...and well that's a story for another time.