Chicago

It's been a month since I've returned home from Chicago. I was supposed to spend a week with my parents to celebrate my father's 95th birthday, but my flight was canceled twice. TWICE! Unbelievable. However, everything worked out even better than I expected. I had a chance to finish making a little gift for my father. I felt as if the Lord arranged all the details according to His plan for this entire trip. Max was flying in to visit some friends so he spent some time with my parents too. We'd made our plans completely independently. The last time my parents saw my kids was when we were moving to SC, twelve years ago. Max was twelve :) Btw, I find it quite delightful how much I look like Lena--my stepmother. We share many interests as well. My father is writing his memoirs and what a treasure they will be. It's odd how often I've gotten to know a person better after their death. But it is not yet my father's time to return to his Creator.  

What joy to have grown kids. I felt like a maharani being taken downtown to St. John Cantius for Sunday Mass! It was pouring buckts--a deluge--but I had to take this picture of the chalked angels on the stairs. They have a room full of relics of many saints, some are dear friends of mine! I was quite overwhelmed with all the treasures and beauty of the church--the side Altars, Stations, stained glass windows, the reverent liturgy, beautiful singing. 

Afterwards, we went out to eat at Tabu and it was lovely to dry off a bit, enjoy good food and company. They had some great art on their walls.  

The art museum had a special van Gogh+friends exhibit and it was perfect given that we wouldn't be walking in the deluge (the Nascar race had to be cancelled). We wandered through the various rooms, leaving the miniature rooms for last. What fun! I would've added little people and animals, a cat on every bed :) I wanted to disappear into several of them. Happy sigh! 

The portrait of a man with a laurel wreath is from 2nd century Egypt. I was so surprised to see that the face has roundedness. Most art from that period has a certain flatness to it. There was also a mummy circa 700 BC, which sparked discussion about time travel and waking up in Chicago. Lots of story ideas as we wandered about. However, it was time to head home. The roads were flooded--Max navigated the streets beautifully. As I said, it's a great blessing having adult kids who take care of you. 

I had a chance to visit with the family Max was staying with--they have 7 or 8 kids and had cousins and friends visiting as well, so a full house. Beautiful family. We had a good time fixing a traditional Indian meal; there were many sous chefs. Max made a chicken tikka masala and I made ratatouille. We had a garden salad, mangoes, rice and naan. But before we sat down to eat, a priest friend offered Mass in their private chapel--it was so wonderful, especially since it was on the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Apostle who came to India.

It just so happened that Lena had checked out Abraham Verghese's newest novel: The Covenant of Water, which is set in the St. Thomas Christian community in South India. I read as much as I could at night. Can't wait to have my own copy when it's in paperback. He's one of my favorite authors.

 

It was a lovely trip to Chicago, to spend time with my parents, and made better because I got to spend some time with Max and his friends too. I am so grateful Christ is the center of their lives. I leave you with the serene photos of the swans and their babies, this field of flowers.

Lowcountry Summer

I love summer and all the gifts of nature--from land and sea and sky. The back porch affords a lot of entertainment. Across the marsh, there's a hollow and we've been watching a mama raccoon and her two babies. It's very hard to see the babies--they peek out and she pushes them back in. Dagny showed me a trick to get pictures through the binoculars. Fun to have her visit. I love having adult children and dream of our future.

I love that Dagny can appreciate her father's beer and he can appreciate the spirits she makes. She routinely asks about gardening. Love that we get to eat so much fresh produce. I'm constantly snacking on the cherry tomatoes. And if Michael picks just one ladyfinger, I can't help but eat it right away. They are delicious raw, cooked, pickled. Soon we'll have many ready for picking all at once. The eggplant is from my sister's seeds I brought home from Texas last summer. So fun. 

While Michael works hard, the cats and I enjoy a leisurely life reading, writing, housekeeping, and praying. I still have to pinch myself every time I walk over to St. Clare for Mass or Adoration--how beautiful it is to have this life here right now. My heart knew I was home when we moved here twelve years ago. Here is what the children remember best; here is where their home is. Dagny is rooted here, and I know Max will eventually work his way down here too. 

I don't usually have my phone with me on my daily walks to the church or library, so am writing this to remember: eating fresh figs, a baby alligator in the pond looking very cute with his smiley mouth and stripes, a mother deer bounding away, her two fawns right behind her, and getting caught in a pop-up storm. How refreshing! I'm actually writing this in my wet clothes because it's so cooling. Reminds me of the monsoons in India. I've been asked several times by my neighbors why I walk in this heat; it's hard for them to understand how much I enjoy it and with a bottle of water, I remain hydrated. Of course, I sweat rivers but if I only stays indoors, I'd miss so much beauty.

With regular choir practice on hold during the summer, we've been going to the beach in the evenings. We miss our practices so have choir come over for an evening for supper and to sing our favorites--non nobis Domine (an oldie) and O Holy Jesus (A Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester). How's your summer going? What treasures will you share?

Sound of Freedom

I can't say enough good things about this movie: Sound of Freedom. It is so well-done. At first, I was nervous about watching a film about child-sex-trafficking because what if it were too graphic and I couldn't unsee those disturbing images, so Michael went to see it by himself while I was visiting my parents in Chicago. I love this about him--he does everything in his power to protect me. Yesterday evening we went together to watch it. What a story! I urge you all to go see it because it is such a powerful story of courage and sacrifice. When God calls you to do something, you have to do it. In the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary--Jesus presented at the Temple--we pray for the virtue of obedience no matter what the cost, but how many of us do? I am ashamed to say that deep down I'm a coward. Fear has always been my nemesis. It's something I strive to fight but it doesn't come easily. The only proper fear should be fear of the Lord.

The story focuses on two Honduran children--a little girl and her littler brother--who are offered a photo-shoot for modeling. It's just a ruse but the father brings them. He's told to pick them up at 7 pm. You just want to tell this father, "No, No, Don't. Leave. Them." You can imagine his horror at discovering that there are no more children when he comes to collect them. 

Enter Tim Ballard, who works for the Dept. of Homeland Security catching pedophiles but when a colleague asks him how many kids he has returned home, he finds a new direction. He's a father himself. Months away from being vested in his pension, with his wife's encouragement, he quits his job at DHS to save the children.

Of course, the movie is dramatic given that these children's lives are in peril and so also Tim's and his team's who are helping them become free. I really loved what Tim says to one of the guys he's trying to recruit. Forget about the 50. How about just one? It's what Mother Teresa often said--you don't have to save all the children. Just one child. And spoiler: I'm happy to tell you that they rescued over 50 children.

You can read more about the movie, what's real, what's made up here Sound of Freedom vs. the True Story of Tim Ballard (historyvshollywood.com) and be assured that there will be no horrifying scenes of child-sex abuse. But you will see beautiful performances by all, the suspense palpable. You want so much for Tim to be able to pull this off; you know there are no second chances. It's a good study for writing about difficult subjects too.

I can't remember all the statistics, but child-sex-business is over a $150 billion dollar industry and we in these United States are the largest consumer. We have to end this demand that sexualizes children. Preserve and protect their innocence. That's what real men do--they protect the weaker members of society. 

The ending shot is the same as the opening--a little girl slapping a drum and singing, and although we are relieved she's at home again, we know she's not the same. Nor her little brother. Their innocence was stolen.

After I wrote this I came across a message from our Lord Jesus to a seer: Jennifer - The World Has Entered the Time of Warning – Countdown to the Kingdom

My child, I come to you now with great urgency, for the world has entered into the time of warning. I do not speak of the time of My visitation, rather this is a time of warning that will usher in the period when all of humanity will be brought to its knees to see their souls as I see them. My child, those who fail to recognize this time — when evil is seeking to elevate itself, yet is being simultaneously pierced by the light of truth—will find themselves like the foolish virgins. I tell My children with great urgency that it is time to repent. It is time to recognize the hour you are living in.

I am a God of repetition. Mankind must turn away from evil and defend the truth. Those who turn away in ignorance will be as those who failed to heed the warnings of Noah. I say to My people: defend and protect my little ones. As I have warned before, the blood of the innocent is upon the world because too many have failed to defend and protect them. Woe to those who seek to harm My children in their sinful lust. Woe to those who seek to manipulate My Creation, My plan. It is time, my children, to come to the fountain of My mercy. Those who fail to seek the ocean of My mercy will come to the harbor of My justice. Turn away turn away from darkness and seek the light, for I am Jesus and My mercy and justice will prevail.

We are told to not despise the words of prophets, but to test everything; hold fast to what is good... (1 Thess 5:20-21). Truly, now is the acceptable time. Repent and believe in the Gospel (Mark 1:15).

Christmas in June

If you think I'm going to read my way into heaven, you're right :) All these are from Sophia Institute Press. I have another box coming from Tan Books! I'm such a glutton for books and I feel a mite guilty given that Michael and I just began Imitation of Christ as our morning read-aloud and the first meditation states: "Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God... Vanity of vanities and all is vanity."

I console myself by remembering that I'm helping spread the word on good Catholic books, that I will give many of these away after I've read them (and try not to scribble in them) but yeah, guilty as charged. It's all vanity. But God is so good! I get to sit out on my screened in back porch and read in the evenings and watch glorious sunsets. What an Artist! Deo gratias!

Strawberries and the Sacred Heart

June, the month of strawberries and rhubarb, is also the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I've written many times about it-- Vijaya Bodach: June is the Month of the Sacred Heart and Vijaya Bodach: Feast of Corpus Christi and Vijaya Bodach: Feast Days --because I'm still trying to fathom the depths of our Savior's love for us poor sinners. I think I'll never know because my own heart is so poor. And I'm about to exhibit my poverty. I'm finding it very difficult to love the sinner but hate the sin. In the past few years the culture is hell-bent on celebrating sin, especially the deadliest--pride. And the more you look at pride month, the more you see demon. Let us remember that it is pride that changed angels into demons. This server would not let me upload a picture showing it. Funny how that works. Not really. But here's something that's truly funny: Eccles is saved: It's WRATH Pride! (ecclesandbosco.blogspot.com) 

Speaking of demons, we saw Nefarious. Talk about truth bombs coming from a demon. Really well done; only two scenes were really difficult to watch but not at all gratuitous. It's really a conversation between the demon and the psychiatrist who's an atheist, more along the lines of My Dinner with Andre or Sunset Limited. What struck me was the progression of evil; the starting point is often parents not baptizing their children and well-meaning people inadvertently opening the door to the demonic by giving children toys like Ouija boards. Michael remembers getting one as a kid. They played only a few times but it didn't hold their interest. Thanks be to God. Still he was completely unprotected until his conversion, when he was baptized. I wish he would write his testimony. It would give parents much hope for their adult children who are far from the Lord, because truly, nothing is impossible for Him. Indeed, with God's grace, even middle-aged people can change, choose virtue over vice. Deo gratias! 

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi; we had a beautiful High Mass followed by a procession and benediction. Deacon Ludlam gave an outstanding homily on both marriage and the Eucharist. Marriage is the closest analogy for what is occurring in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Our Lord instituted the Eucharist because He loves us so much, He wanted to give us Himself--His most Holy Body and Blood--in a real, physical, tangible way.

It's only in the last year that I began praying this beautiful prayer regularly. I first saw it in a Padre Pio prayer book; it was his favorite way to pray for all the people who asked him to pray for them. This is a wonderful novena to begin tonight and end of the Feast of the Sacred Heart next Friday. 

BOUND is Heavily Discounted

I don't know what Amazon's doing but BOUND is heavily discounted ($6.22 is well below the cost of printing+shipping). So if you've always wanted to read a paperback of BOUND, now's your chance to get a copy or multiple copies--for a friend or perhaps even a book club? 

Over the last two months, I've bought two heavily discounted books and they're only a year old, so I don't know what's going on but I would appreciate it very much if you all could spread the word because I don't know how long this will last. 

Of all the books I've written, BOUND remains the one I'm the one most proud of. It is my best work. Thank you for keeping it in print!