Time to get back to our Catholic roots

(Ironically, my ad column changed before I posted this...)

How many protestants have ever read the Book of Common Prayer? Let's see those hands. Anyone ever used a rosary? I thought not.

I was thinking about this last night after getting myself into a twit over the loss of my precious time. (Ooh, and C.S. Lewis' writings convicted me again...From Screwtape Letters on peevishness and our possessiveness about OUR time being wasted.) The prayer that came to mind was from the Book of Common Prayer (the Anglican service book). You can read that text here.

By blowing off Catholicism as unbiblical, don't we lose out on many things that would be beneficial? Granted, I cannot believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin, nor that she was sinless. I think it's pretty obvious that Jesus did have half brothers and sisters. And I don't believe church authorities are infallible.

But.

Read through the Book of Common Prayer sometime. The only thing that seemed even questionable to me was the idea of praying for the dead...And if you substitute a "with" (used elsewhere in the liturgy) instead of "for" it's passable. Beyond the Liturgy, there are prayers for personal use as well. For every situation. For special occasions. Days of the week, morning and evening. Have trouble remembering what all to pray? The Prayers of the People cover governments, world leaders, the poor, the sick, the homeless, and anyone in trouble. Our friends and family, our enemies, our neighbors. It's a great place to start if you're at a loss. And that brings me to:

The Rosary. I don't have a "real" one, though Pam does. I made my own because I liked the idea. (Playing a mystic nun sold me on it) Mine has three kinds of beads with a cross at the bottom. I have alternating ornate silver beads and oval rose stone beads, with five seed beads between. I used the silver beads for "Our Father's," the pink ones to pray for individuals, and the seed beads for thanks for blessings, prayer requests, and anything that falls in the "other" category. I try to use them mostly for praise and thanks. There are around 75 seed beads on my rosary. It's amazing what you can find to be thankful for around number thirty-five. "And for....Shoes. Thank you also for......Kitchen appliances that don't burst spontaneously into flames..." And, if I'm confessing here...I have one little round pink stone bead to pray for the welfare of my husband. If he's out there. My ONE concession to girlish fantasies. Otherwise I don't spend much time pining.

Confession. There's a concept. Not to a priest, but mutual confession keeps you humble. My friend Wendy often tells me where she's failed in her day, and vice versa. Person to person, it keeps you from needing to maintain the "perfect Christian" image all the time. Since they know you aren't, anyway...

And there's more, but my rant is long enough. Hymns. Solitude....

Anyone have anything to add?

The Word Detective. Endless amusement for the trivia buffs.

(At 9:36 this morning)

"What time does the sing-a-long start this evening?"

"9 o'clock."

"At night?"

*blank stare*

It's amazing that no matter where I go, it all links back to the Thinklings. They're everywhere!

Some thoughts by Randy about modern Christian Worship and it's physiological and psychological effects.

"These people all have "bubbly" personalities and are all wearing Christian paraphernalia. Suddenly, the light goes down, except for the stage light, and a band of mostly good-looking people walk across the stage to their instruments. They ask everyone to stand up. They begin with a prayer that is accompanied by some small musical notes played on a guitar or piano. This sufficiently calms everyone down and puts them in the "right mood" to worship. The band then begins to play songs that are highly emotionally charged."

A disclaimer. I grew up in a praise and worship service style. I then spent four years in a very liturgical Episcopal church. I think there is a place for both styles of music in the appropriate setting. You can't beat hymns for content and beauty. And sometimes one needs to sit down at the piano and sing "Heart of Worship."

For those of you who haven't already read these to death, check out the Lord of the Rings Parody scripts by Molly. Complete with viewer/reader commentary during the movie.

I'm taking World Vision online off my blogroll. I wanted to do a comparison between them and Compassion, but I find that their website is too slow, and often doesn't load at all. Maybe I'll try them again at some future point.

Today I had the morning off. Whew. 5 more days of this no reading thing. Whew. In theory I've read more of my Bible this Lent. In practice I've worked so much I get about three verses in before my eyes roll back in my head. I did the same with "Emma" last Sunday, so I don't think it's lack of interest.

Tonight I was training the new girl, Angie. It was a much better night for training. Things were slower, better paced. Yesterday she was given a tray and told, "um...Go there." I'm surprised she came back today.

Another paycheck coming tomorrow. Student loan #1 will be paid off. Another victory!

I'm house-sitting through Saturday. Then I can go down and buy my bridesmaid's dress for Drea's wedding. I can't believe she'll be 21 in a month. I can't believe she'll be married in less than 4. I can't believe I'm two years older and haven't had a long term boyfriend since highschool. Well, I've been in Opera, I remind myself. Hurrah for dating! Enjoying it very much.

I got out my sketchbook and drew two trees, a gazebo, and an outdoor tented reading nook. I think I'll color it tomorrow. I have a vision of someday owning a little cottage on some land. An acre or two. I want a picket fence with roses. A weeping birch. A Victorian cottage garden. Full of snapdragons and carnations. Begonias. Violets. Pansies. Irish moss everywhere shady. Honeysuckle and star jasmine on every wall, post, and surface. Wisteria on the porch. Some little "Secret Garden" with a swing. Rooms full of Victorian furniture, vintage linens, and bookcases. Not country at all, just mellowed victoriana. Reading nooks in every window and ingle. Warm colored walls, and fireplaces. Fruit trees and a little garden out back. Apples, Cherries. Neat little herb garden, colonial style. Some cheerful rows of vegetables. (Mother is laughing already. She knows I've never been a gardener) Maybe a little pond with some ducks. A couple of cats curled up around, and one big low-key dog. Maybe a basset hound, or something older and mellow. Friends coming in and out at all times of the day. Dare I hope, a husband? Someday. Windowboxes full of snap dragons. A porch with wicker furniture and butterfly geraniums. Fuschia, not red. And that's my someday dream. After I get done traveling, and singing, and being on the go all the time.

I have nothing of interest to report. LA Opera costume department sent me a lovely "we'll call you if something becomes available" note. I haven't heard back from anyone who was "so excited" about telling people about me. The touring cast of Count of Monte Christo fell through. What am I supposed to do with my life, people? Maybe they still need bartenders in that ski resort in the French Alps.

I hate waking up as tired as I went to bed. 7 more days. On the plus side, this paycheck I paid off Baylor and my credit card, which I'm closing as soon as I can type up a letter. Then I close out the other one that some credit card company opened for me during college, which has never been used. But showed up on my credit report regardless. Yay to being Financially confident....it sucks but it's worth it!