Tropical Fruit

Everyday when we head out for a walk there are bound to be a few mangoes on the ground. Today, on our way to 6:30am Mass at Sacred Heart, I felt like a gatherer, looking for mangoes and gathering. I now have a bowl-full of five. Mmm. I can't wait until they ripen and soon we will have some mango fruit to add to our smoothies. Coming back home I was looking around and just marveling at the fact that there are so many mango trees, noni fruits, and papaya trees around. Where in the world will we live again where we will see so many fruits side-by-side?

Minority Groups and Pride

Our Life and Current Affairs Commentary

The following thoughts bounce back and forth between our life and current affairs. A bit of hybrid reflection today. Memorial Day weekend has become a type of gay weekend. As a family we had a busy weekend. We spent much of our time in the city of Honolulu. While Honolulu isn't a particularly large city, it's still a city. It has a gay community and attracts tourists of every stripe. I had read a few articles online how the Memorial Day weekend was turning into a gay pride and get-together weekend. Sure enough, we witnessed many couples over the long weekend. I am curious why homosexuals chose to associate themselves with Memorial Day weekend. I don't know the answer but suspect it's just a great time to get away for a vacation and perhaps there is some push for the military to accept the gays.

Most of my life I have been in the majority. I am white male. Catholic. Blondish hair, green-blue eyes. Tall. Nothing special. I have blended very well in the US and in Italy. I stuck out a little bit while living in Mexico and quite a bit while living in China. So, to say the least, I have had very little experience being a minority. I can understand how minorities enjoy being with others like themselves. Expatriates typically enjoy hanging out with other expatriates. They can relate. They have a lot in common: language, nostalgia for the motherland, experiences, antipathy and discrimination, etc. Such behavior is evident among most minorities throughout the world. Many governments take it upon themselves to do away with such undesired segregation. This self-imposed segregation is universal and natural. People enjoy being with others who are similar to themselves. We can't help it! That's why in many old cities, there is the Italian section, the German section, the Jewish section, the gay section, the black section, etc. Minority groups, and just groups in general, tend to come together. I opine that demanding society to mix is abhorrent to nature. Combating discrimination is one thing; forcing society to live in fixed ratios, in the private and public sphere, is a waste of time and, ultimately, counterproductive.

Since the homosexual community is a minority group, I can understand their desire of togetherness. I still don't understand homosexuals' use of pride and celebration. Pride is defined as "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority." Celebration can be defined as "a joyful diversion" or as "the performance of rituals" or as "a display." I suppose one can celebrate their cultural heritage. Irish Pride (St. Patrick's Day) or German Pride (Oktoberfest) are ways to celebrate one's roots. Yet, in today's multicultural America, it's hard to celebrate anything because it appears to infringe upon and offend everyone else. In a world of cultural relativism (multiculturalism), where cultures coexist merely on the horizontal plane and not the vertical, it's a sin for any one culture to trump over another. (I don't espouse such multiculturalism. I am arguing here only as the devil's advocate.) So, there are definitely ethnic/national pride and celebrations. There is reason to display such a culture to appreciate history, provided one attaches importance to history. In a sense, then, cultural celebrations are historical celebrations. Such celebrations commemorate important historical moments: national independence, births and deaths of famous individuals, economic landmarks, war and peace. These are meaningful events to remember, events that shape society around us. Celebrations and commemorative days have become as superfluous as the rubber, multicolored awareness bracelets. There are too many to be aware of! When I stop to think about it I realize that it's possible to celebrate everything and anything. Where does one stop? Someone ought to draw the line and have good reasons for the decision. I don't believe that we should be celebrating the achievements of minority groups without presenting the opposite side of the coin, the majority group. It might seem blase, but I feel that the majority can very easily become the down-trodden segment of society. As it is, our legal system and political system champion minority groups and rarely grant standing to majority causes. As a male, I feel sidelined by radical feminist celebrations. As a Caucasian, I feel sidelined by other cultural and national celebrations. As a heterosexual, I feel sidelined by homosexual celebrations. Should I feel pride in being a male? Should I feel pride in being white? Should I feel pride in being heterosexual? I am proud of my achievements. I am proud of who I have become through my work. It's hard for me to feel pride in simply being something by default.

I hope that this post poses this just question: What should we celebrate? What should we be proud of? Criticize a majority and join the mainstream of self-righteous. Criticize a minority and get ready to appropriate a slew of labels to describe your pathos. Is that right?

We live in a hyper-sensitive world where anyone can be offended by anyone or anything. Your offense is validated, however, only if you are in the minority. A majority victim: what's that? I doubt you will find that concept in a dictionary or in the world around us. I suppose I will have to validate myself and hope that God does so, too.

Quick Thoughts on Today's Gospel
Readings Today -- [W]hoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.
Christ meant what he said and understood the difficulty of asking such service of us. This a tough proviso. Service equals greatness, humility is leadership. We don't hear this type of message much outside the Gospels. Part of me wants to say: Well, Lord, I don't really want greatness that much. I am not so ambitious as to desire a first spot among your followers. Yet, this is not a worldly, materialistic greatness. Christ is referring to a spiritual greatness to which we are all called. Christ calls everyone of us to a life of service, to the life of slave. The Lord's own example strengthens his mandate. He calls us to serve only once he has used his own life as a paradigm of service to others.

Surf's Up

Family time at Waikiki.

Happy Memorial Day

We're off to the beach for a swim in Waikiki. Start your engines...surfboards, that is!

Today we pray for those brave men and women serving our country and for the souls of the courageous soldiers who have left this earthly life:

Please God love our soldiers and guide them to do good. Protect them from all harm and be with them in weak moments. Love them so they are strong and follow Your will. Please watch over them and embrace them in your goodness. Eternal rest please grant unto those, O Lord, who have gone to meet you. Amen.

A Quote to Share

Before our wedding, my Mom gave us a beautiful picture, now hanging in our home, with this script: The more the Holy Spirit finds Mary, His dear and inseparable Spouse in any soul, the more active and mighty He becomes in producing Jesus Christ in that soul and that soul in Jesus Christ.~ St. Louis Maria de Montfort

Come, Holy Spirit

Pentecost

Holy Spirit! Lord of light! From your clear celestial height, your pure, beaming radiance give:

Come, You Father of the poor!
Come, with treasures which endure!
Come, You light of all that live!
You, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast,
[Do] refreshing peace bestow:
You in toil are comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal! light divine!
Visit You these hearts of your,
And our inmost being fill.
If You take your grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds -- our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend stubborn heart and will;
Melt frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
You on those who evermore
you confess and you adore,
In your sevenfold gifts descend.
Give them comfort when they die;
Give them life with you on high;
Give them joys which never end. Amen.

Whispering Sweet Somethings

Today we spent the later morning and afternoon at the Honolulu Zoo.It was such an incredibly beautiful day-sunny and breezy. Ahh, island-living is delightful. We walked there and back and just enjoyed our time together as a little family. Maddy seemed to like scoping out the animals and the passers-by, especially any rambunctious kids; she loves watching other kids act silly (happy that someone can be just as goofy as she can be maybe). What Maddy seemed to enjoy so much was being safe and secure in Caleb's arms and "on top of the world": atop her Dad's shoulders. She loves it. She loves being with Caleb and recently has begun making these, what Caleb describes as, chortles. Her mouth does not open, but she just keeps laughing and laughing. You hear it all, but see no lip action. Hilarious and sweet. When we got the front-pack out, she started up again.

An Afternoon Downtown

Our Life

Yesterday we had a fun-filled afternoon. We travelled to downtown Honolulu with a list of destinations in mind. Our first stop was the Cathedral of our Lady Queen of Peace, the hub of the diocese of Honolulu. The Catholic community in Hawaii is different. The bishop of the diocese reports to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The religious calendar follows that the of the Pacific Islands Diocese. A bit confusing. Anyhow, we visited the Cathedral and attended noon Mass. In the heart of the business district, the Cathedral attracts many professionals during their lunch breaks. After Mass, we went across the street to the Daughters of St. Paul bookshop. Holy cards are Maddy's new favorite toy. (Of course, we get the plastic-coded cards, and, only the good saints...just kidding.) We picked up a couple new holy cards for our little collector. There is a small chapel in most of the St. Paul bookstores, so we went in for a family visits. Maddy fell asleep. Mom and dad took their cue to pray a bit more and then catch a quiet picnic together. We passed the Iolani palace, where the Hawaii royalty resided. Finally, we visited the main Hawaii State library. In the historic section of the city, the building is gorgeous and the library had a host of good books. Hurrah.

Current Affairs Commentary
An interesting NYTimes article titled The Catholic Boom illustrates the changes occurring in mainstream American Catholics. I believe that David Brooks characterizes mainstream American Catholicism properly in calling its adherents quasi-religious. We live in a day and age where supermarket religions coexist. We subscribe to some tenets of the faith but reject others in the same breath. It makes one wonder what a Catholic needs to believe to still be a Catholic. That's a question for another day, however. Mr Brooks seems to enjoy this religious evolution among American Catholics. Their growth in tolerance and convergence with many Protestant ideals fits the bill of mainstream change in the US. From an outside perspective, these changes are wonderful. Coming from a Catholic perspective, it's unfortunate to see the religious slowly and within a single generation morphing into quasi-religious individuals.

The article claims that the best way to supercharge the nation, I believe economically at least, is to fill the country with people who attend church regularly and question everything they hear there. On the one hand I am glad to see that he draws a correlation between the practice of religion and economic excellence. Similarly, I am also glad that he recognizes that Catholicism encourages its adherents to think for themselves and use their critical analysis of the world around them and even their faith. Philosophers and theologians have always encouraged the cooperation of faith and reason among Catholic adherents. On the other hand, however, Mr Brooks believes that this critical analysis should lead individuals to have their own private set of beliefs. This is where I must disagree. A critical eye is a good thing in any faith--in fact, this is precisely where many religions fall short. Misinterpretation, corruption, abuse, and laziness will sprout in any human institution. The Church as the body of Christ is perfect. The Church insofar as it is composed of imperfect human beings makes mistakes. It's a paradox I, myself, don't totally understand. Yet, I do know that critical reason, guided by faith and a healthy desire for the truth, will lead all searchers to the Truth. There is some room for pluralism within the Catholic community. Many have confused their own personal agendas with the truth and their pride now disallows them from full participation in the Church and the Truth. Let's pray for Catholics in the US and around the world that they may regularly attend the sacraments and use their God-given reason and critical ability to arrive at the Truth in its fullness.

Quick Thoughts on Today's Gospel
Readings Today -- What concern is it of yours?
Peter typifies the average Joe. Christ is in the middle of telling him what his future will be like when Peter interrupts him to ask him about somebody else. Typical. I think that the attitude is present in all of us: we spend more time worrying and theorizing about others than we do about ourselves. Christ admonishes Peter to keep his nose out of other's business and mind his own beeswax. It's a good spiritual prescription for us too. The good shepherd and doctor wants us to introspect our own lives, to worry about our spiritual planks that are blocking our vision, to carry our own cross. It's so much easier to introspect the lives of our coworkers, to worry about our in-law's spec in the eye, and to carry the cross of our neighbor. It's more interesting, more poetic, more depersonalized. I don't mean to advocate myopic individualism, however, rather to illustrate Christ's point of worrying about ourselves first. Spiritual intervention should come as a result of personal introspection: it shouldn't replace it.

We've Got The Funnies

I just left our room after trying to get Maddy to sleep. Since I am here, you may have guessed that my efforts were not successful. (It is wonderful having a spouse and sharing parenting. What a super Dad Caleb is for being an awesome parent. He has some very cool Dad techniques with Maddy. I call them "The Odd Couple.") Well, she did do her sleepcrawling, and switched positions about ten times, but in the end, she was not asleep. I had to laugh, though, and blog about it, because of what Maddy did five minutes ago. Our house is full of laughter with this little lady living here. She keeps us on our toes and entertained simultaneously. Gosh, what a baby can do. It is amazing. It is wonderful. It is just funny. We laugh a lot, and from reading about what positive effect laughter has on one's health, our health must be tip-top. Back to the story and reason for this entry at bedtime. Just as I was lying there with Maddy next to my side, she suddenly began to get up: sleepcrawl, which Caleb described quite well in a previous post. This time, though, her crawl ended with contact, contact with my knee. She opened her little mouth, 1/4 filled with teeth, and bit me on the knee. Most moms reprimand their kids for bites; I had to laugh. I love her. She does the silliest things at the funniest times for the strangest reasons, and she is teaching us. She is teaching us to enjoy life, to love the simple, and laugh until it hurts.

Children's Books

Our Life
Children books. I enjoy children's books, for the most part. Many authors are ingenious in their use of color, rhyme, and story. I have marvelled at the simplicity of thought, vocabulary, and character development. I would estimate, however, that for as many books as I marvel and appreciate there are just as many that I detest. Some people have the goods. Other people don't. Any bloke can write a book for children. Look, Madonna, did it. It's not that these mediocre kids' books are horrible. Most of them have mediocre illustrations and some simple story. Yet, there is a talented corps of children's literature authors who are excellent at what they do. Why should parents and their tikes settle for anything less than the best? Classics and stupendous books abound. I wonder sometimes why we end up with the dregs? Sheesh. Mary and I try to go to the local library every week to check out some children's books. It's really an exercise of hit and miss. We usually grab a couple classics and a couple unfamiliar books. These unfamiliar books tend to be the pits. However, every now and then we come across a gem. With such a beautiful genre, I wonder why publishers humor the mediocre and bad. Hopefully, I will have better luck in my future book selections.

Current Affairs Commentary
Continuing thoughts on immigration. According to recent CBS/NY Times poll, roughly two-thirds of Americans approve of the present immigration bill. The present bill, which enjoys the blessing of the President and the US Senate, stipulates amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the US prior to January 1, 2007. By passing through some legal and financial hoops, illegal immigrants in the US have a venue to become legal.

Some of the positive elements of the bill:

1. it recognizes the presence of illegal immigrants;
2. it does something to rectify the situation;
   
3. illegal immigrants are getting the chance of a lifetime;
   
4. the US economy can continue as usual, employing illegal immigrant labor.
   

Some of the negative aspects of the bill:

1. it rewards individuals who have broken US domestic and international law
2. it sets a bad precedent on border protection and amnesty in the US and at large
3. in rewarding those guilty of breaking the law, it punishes those who entered the country legally

I believe that the US ought to pass a bill dealing with illegal immigrants in the US. Their plight is a reality that the US ought to address, with humanity, respect and civility. But, also with justice. I don't believe that amnesty is the correct and just decision in the present case. I recognize that there will be pros and cons for any solution: there will be supporters and dissidents for any serious proposal. I hope that amnesty is a decision based on lawmakers' sense of justice and not on their sense of convenience. For the reasons I list above, I don't think that amnesty is the way to go. A simple analogy. Imagine managing a large and prosperous estate. The estate's hundreds of acres provide homes and work for many people. New people are always applying to enter the estate. Based on their backgrounds and your needs, you accept some and reject others. Yet, some people trespassed on your estate and have been enjoying it without your permission. All the trespassers get together and ask you to do something for them: make them accepted residents. To me it seems absurd.

Quick Thoughts on Today's Gospel
Readings Today -- Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
Three times does Jesus Christ asks Peter if he loves him. Three times Peter responds in the affirmative. Three times does Christ respond by inspiring Peter to act upon his love. If you love, feed my lambs, feed my sheep. (I never really understood why Christ varied the lamb and sheep section of his mandate, but that's outside of what I want to reflect upon today. If you have any insights, please let me know.) Christ appears to be telling Peter that he can prove his love for God through acts of service to humanity at large, more particularly, the Christian community. In the Catholic tradition, holiness is found among both the contemplative-in-seclusion mystics and the out-there-in-the-world apostles. God calls each person to a different type of holiness. There may be a temptation for us, based on our personality, to slide to one end of the spectrum. Some extroverts may find it easy to be active in the faith amidst the community and yet find personal prayer difficult. Introverts may experience the opposite. A healthy balance may be the best way to go. Christ moves us to action in his mandate to Peter. To love Christ, we have to know him first. If we love him, we have to serve him. How do we serve him? By serving those around us.

The Best Days

The breezes have returned here to Honolulu, and what a blessing they are. I took advantage of them today by hanging laundry load #1 out. It was beautiful to look over to the East and see the Manoa Valley and mountains line the background of what looked like a living painting. While the wind blew the shirts, towels, and sheets, I took hold of the opportunity of the simple moment of hanging laundry to have extraordinary thoughts and enjoy the present. Next to the clotheslines, stood a little almost-three-feet girl who dropped toys off the side of her exersaucer and watched them plummet to the ground like water off the Niagra Falls. Maddy was loving her time outside with me in the sunshine, and I was happy to have her there just being her little ten moneth-old self.

While waiting for the laundry to dry and stiffen on the line, I went and grabbed a couple of noni fruits from one of our two trees. They still need to ripen, but I have two to extract juice from when they are ready. I was recently reading more about noni health benefits, whicn include: antioxidants, immune system health booster, and wonderful source of help for skin repair. From what I read, the noni fruit was found in the Polynesian Islands about two thousand years ago. There, the juice was regularly used to help cure such things as scorpian fish stings and abrasions to the skin. I was speaking to my Mom and was telling her more about the noni when she told me that she had seen the juice at Costco. It is such a big hit on the health market, and so many professional athletes are drinking it like water because of its awesome health benefits when consumed regularly and over a period of time. What is pretty amazing about the noni (what is pictured below) is that it yields fruit three hundred sixty-five days a year!









After hanging laundry and picking noni fruits, Maddy and I sorted laundry. It is no nice to have a sorter--laundry-tossing--playpal all in one little girl. Maddy and I also had a dance session is the livingroom, and she
absolutely loves being spun around and that of facing outwards so that she can flail her arms and legs. What fun times we have together, and when Dad comes home. When he arrives, we know that we will be leaving shortly for a family jog, and Maddy loves to hang out with Caleb while he stretches and works out a bit before we leave. She gets a big kick out of her Madge and Dad time.

Knowledge is Power

After reading a run-down of quotes on life issues, stated by presidential candidates, I wanted to post the link here for more background information about the presidential candidates.

To turn a blind-eye to fundamental issues would be going against our duty to inform ourselves in all aspects for which a candidate stands, because they are meant to be upholding what we stand for. I think it is quite amazing when people comment on life issues, particularly abortion, and are so in favor of a woman's right to choose (what about the woman inside? and the fact that there is a separate person living, breathing, growing within and has not yet been given the opportunity to speak for herself or himself?) but forget that the very reason that we are able to think, speak, and make choices is because we are alive. If we can think about this, we're lucky: we are alive and were never aborted.

Hawaii Weather / Catholicism and Immigration

Our Life
Weather in Hawaii. Mary and I have lived in Hawaii off and on now for almost two years. It has taken us some time to get used to the weather. For all those who don't live in Hawaii, here is the story. Hawaii has two major seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season is characterized by a lot of rain and lasts from approximately October to April. The dry season doesn't get as much rain and lasts from June to September. The rain tends to come from the windward side of the island, or the eastern side, and sweeps to the west. Since we live in Manoa Valley, a borough of Honolulu, the rain comes down the mountains behind our house and heads out to sea. Hawaii is the wettest place on earth. The island of Kauai receives the most rainfall in the world. We took a family vacation in Kauai in December of 2006. It's a beautiful island. (Fortunately, we had good weather while we were there.) Due to the rain intensity, it's not uncommon to see different rain patches throughout the valley. One can identify three different precipitation patterns occurring simultaneously in various sections of the valley. I remember taking a run from our house to Waikiki. In a relatively short distance, I passed through two wet and two dry regions. Flooding is a concern for the islands.

The trade winds present another interesting facet. Trade winds flow from the northeast and typically correspond with the wet period. The cool gusts of wind keep the islands a bit cooler during the winter period. Nothing too cold. Mainly 60s or 70s. Always pleasant. The strong wind has one major downside: it's hard to talk on cellphones outside. I enjoy talking to my family and friends when I am walking from one place to another. The gusts make it tough to be understood.

One last cool tidbit. Hawaii is known as the rainbow state. Rainbows emblazon the state's licence plates. With the frequent sun and rain, we have witnessed some spectacular rainbows in the valley. Sometimes, I have seen 2 or 3 rainbows arching over one another. It's a gorgeous sight that I doubt I will ever experience again in my lifetime. The University of Hawaii female athletes are called the Rainbows. Vicious, huh? Watch out. Supposedly the men went by the same name till they recently switched to the Warriors. I guess that's a bit more aggressive-sounding.

Current Affairs Commentary
The Catholic Church and Immigration in the United States. The recent immigration bill in the US, like any immigration policy, is very polarizing. While partisan politics expresses some unison in the illegal immigration debate, there seems to be little consensus within major political parties.

I think that the media does a fine job of skewing the Catholic Church's position on many issues, immigration being one of them. The Church has been so wise, in my opinion, to steer clear of endorsing specific political or economic systems, policies, and politicians. I don't say that because I believe the Church shouldn't involve itself in the public sphere. Rather, the Church shows its wisdom by adhering to sound principles that should underlie just systems, policies, and platforms. Systems, policies, and platforms naturally evolve over time. The short history of the US illustrates how our two parties have switched platforms a couple of times. Capitalism and socialism come in so many shades. Policies and laws depend on judicial interpretation and implementation to be successful. For that reason, the media takes it upon itself to apply the principles of the Church to specific situations. It is the role of the individual believer, with the help of the magisterium, to apply these principles. It is not the role of the media.

Anyhow, back to illegal immigration. What is the Church's stand? This is new field for me. I am familiar with basic Church teachings on the dignity of the human person, but I am not familiar with specific Church immigration documents. Quoting from a Migration Information article, "In Strangers No Longer, the church states that people have the right not to migrate; that is, they should be able to live freely in their countries of birth. However, when this is impossible, whether due to extreme poverty or persecution, the church says they have a right to migrate, and nations have a duty to receive them." As such, nations should receive immigrants from countries riddled with extreme poverty and persecution. However, the Catholic Church does NOT support open borders, illegal immigration, or an "amnesty" that would confer a legal status on illegal immigrants. Nevertheless, the Church believes that all humans, despite their country of origin, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles, CA, recently emphasized this point by instructing his diocese to still provide humanitarian and religious services for illegal immigrants in the United States. It is not the position of the Church to establish US legal immigration quota, just like it's not the position of the Church to request the legal status of the people it serves.

Quick Thoughts on Today's Gospel
Readings Today -- [T]hat they may be one, as we are one, I in them, and you in me.
"We believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church" (emphasis mine). God wants us to be one body, one Church in him. He wants us to be united to him, as branches to a vine. For, connected to Christ, we are connected to the trinity and the God head. The ecumenical movement strives to bring all believers into the one body of Christ. It's hard to understand and grasp. Hundreds of years of religious enmities and religious wars, coupled with violence even today, checkers interreligous dialogue and debate. Within the Christian religion alone, new denominations are springing up like mushrooms. It appears rather difficult to bring all believers into a single body. Yet, Christ is calling us to unity. Many Catholics and members of other faiths are skeptical of ecumenism. They have some reason to be since ecumenism is easily confused with religious relativism. Nevertheless, following the example of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, we should challenge ourselves to engage in ecumenism in our own small way. How many friends do we have of other faiths? How often have we reached out to them to understand them and dispel their misunderstandings of our faith? I doubt that we will achieve the ideals set out in ecumenism during our lifetime, but we can still do our part to continue Christ's mission on earth.

Sleepcrawling

Our Life
Last night as Mary and I were praying together and putting Maddy to sleep, I noticed that our little girl was sleepcrawling. Ah, yes: sleepcrawling. I have heard of people sleepwalking and have personally observed it on a couple of occasions. This was my first time to observe the unique phenomenon of sleepcrawling. Maddy is asleep between Mary and me. She stirs from time to time. Suddenly, unexpectedly, she sits up and begins rocking her head. Her eyes are closed. No symptoms of a conscious person. She then begins to crawl across the bed. Her eyes are still closed. Her mind is in another dimension. Mary and I are both quietly busting in laughter. After Maddy has crawled a couple of feet, I quietly laid her back down on the bed. She continues her journey off in la-la land. The things babies do while they are asleep! I still marvel at the fact that they can eat and sleep at the same time. I don't remember ever doing that, though I guess I must have done that as a baby.

Current Affairs Commentary
Education versus indoctrination: there's a very fine line dividing the two. Malcolm Forbes stated that "[e]ducation's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." Unfortunately, I believe that many educators and policymakers think that education's purpose is to replace emptiness with with certain facts. Education versus indoctrination. True education shouldn't merely replace the void with junk piles of information. True education should provide a framework, promoting critical thought and wonder, that can order and store information and opinions for the rest of one's life. Education provides an important tool: openness. All too frequently, education provides an official, one-sided version of reality. Indoctrination is nothing but that. Indoctrination creates close-minded individuals that are not open to discussion, dialogue or change. Indoctrinated individuals throw about accepted, prominent ideas without having questioned them or made them their own. Instead of debating content with an ideological opponent, they call the opponent names to discredit this close-minded and shallow individual. Ad hominem attacks are often easier than arguments to discover the truth. Education has such an important role in society and particularly among the youth. Any searcher for the truth must recognize the validity of multiple view-points and allow students the use of their reason and will to arrive at the truth in their own time. The imposition of beliefs is never appropriate, despite the purported common sense and absolute nature of the belief.

Quick Thoughts on Today's Gospel
Readings Today -- I have been glorified in [those you have given me].
It's a mystery that God is glorified through his creatures. Obviously God doesn't need us to give himself importance, love, service, or glory. He was and would be completely satisfied and complete without creation. Nevertheless, after creation, he has been glorified by all of creation living out its purpose. God is glorified in plants and animals as they fulfill their role. God is particularly glorified in those who can use their reason and will to freely and consciously choose to serve him. A bird glorifies God by being a bird. Yet, a bird has no reason or will to do otherwise. God has given humans the option to reject or love him. How much our choice to love him must glorify him. He is aware of the temptations we face on a daily basis. He knows the cost and difficulties associated with loving him. For those who choose to serve him and love him, the reward itself is known that he is glorified through their belief and actions. May God be glorified today through us, our thoughts, our words, our actions.