Thursday, September 18, 2008

Okay, so I get up this morning needing to do a load of wash and when the washer is filled, the water is yellow. A quick peek at the water softener confirms my suspicions. There is no salt in it. Putting it in now won't help because it has to regenerate. I have a dishwasher full of dishes that have a film all over them. I am not a happy camper. And I actually woke up in a good mood. I love Thursdays because I have no morning meetings, no evening meetings, I can come home from work and do things I like to do. Oh well, enough that. If my only problem in life is an occasional day of hard water, I am pretty blessed.
************************************************
If my wicks get here, I will be making candles tonight. These are special grungy fall candles. I scrounge around the fruit room in the basement for grungy old canning jars. I bring them upstairs - give them a good scrub, put them in the dishwasher and then take them back downstairs and coat them with grunge solution so they will look just like they did when I brought them upstairs. Except that now they smell great. Then I fill them with wax scented with my own special blend of fragrances which we have named Harvest Home. There's nothing like making a batch of candles or soap to lift one's spirits.
****************************************************
Our online ad is now out at Country Sampler and it looks really nice. http://www.countrysampler.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CN08G009%2D01
I hope we do well with it. I am getting more and more disillusioned with Ebay. Their new rules and regulations putting all the power in the hands of the buyers and no protections for the seller are driving sellers away.
****************************************************************
I have 3 batches of fudge made for the craft shows and 3 more to do this week. We have our first outdoor show coming up. There was a craft show in St. John's last weekend and it rained buckets. I feel bad for the crafters. Our show is October 4 and it's clear in our contract that there will be no rain dates.
**************************************************
I'm headed for the walk/jog path on another gorgeous pre-fall day! Updates later.

My stats for today:
Type: Walk/jog
Route: Deadend/back/loop/back
Time: 31 mine
Average heart rate: 118
Maximum heart rate: 134
Calories burned: 200
Down 1.6 from last Thursday

There's nothing like a brisk walk/jog to improve anyone's frame of mind. Today's was wonderful. On my route, the left side of the path is a wall of corn. In another few weeks it will be gone. Hunting season approaches. My route will change a little bit then. I will either head west down our road or north on Old 27. Even with my orange fleece jacket, I don't want to take any chances.

************************************************************************
Word of the day:
Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel
Lk 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Not much to say about this one this morning, except that I am supremely grateful for forgiveness and mercy.



God bless our troops!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

So did you see the season premier of The Biggest Loser? I love this show . . . but . . . there is a meanness creeping in that disturbs me. The meanness looks scripted. It looks like it's added for dramatic interest. It looks - well - it looks mean. The scene where Jillian is beating the girl with boxing gloves hit me like a blow. I understand that obesity is a killer and these people need help, however, it is a fine line between tough love and abuse. This borders on abuse. The screaming and the yelling left me cringing. Many overweight people trace their food addiction to abuse in childhood. A large part of the Biggest Loser audience is overweight people. Overweight people may need tough love, in some cases, but this just looked disturbing.

Another thing that bothers me is the huge losses. Unless these people keep up the grueling pace that they keep now, they will gain this weight back. I would rather see a more moderate, real life approach - one that the average person could do - not a turtle's pace, but a happy medium here.
But that's just my opinion.
******************************************
I had a good day yesterday. Even though I started out behind, I ended up getting a lot done. I am off for a walk. Later . . .

My stats for today:
Type: Walk/jog
Route: Deadend and back
Time: 26 minutes
Average heart rate: 122
Maximum heart rate:
Calories burned: 345
Down 2.6 from last Wednesday

Oh, today's walk was wonderful! When I hit the road I could smell the orange tang of burning leaves mixed with the scent of ripening corn awaiting the harvest. In a couple of weeks we will cut some corn shocks to decorate our front porch. Perched in front will be a scarecrow surrounded by pumpkins. The house will be filled with the scent of AppleJack 'n Peel and Harvest Homebrew from the candles and wax tarts we've made for fall craft shows. I love fall - can you tell?

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel
Lk 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Dancing the Unfamiliar - from "The Tarantella Dancers"

"We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep."

The second movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B Minor begins with a waltz . . . or at least it sounds like a waltz. It has all the lyricism and lilt of a waltz, a truly beautiful piece of music. However, don't try to dance to it if you come with preconceived ideas of what a waltz should be.

A waltz, according to Funk & Wagnall's Standard Desk Dictionary, is defined as, " a dance, or any similar music in triple time." The key word here is "triple" time, meaning three beats to the bar or 3/4 time. The rhythm of a waltz is "ONE, two three, ONE, two three," with the emphasis on the first beat of each bar. Tchaikovsky’s waltz is written with five beats to the bar or 5/4 time.

Tchaikovsky's "Sixth Symphony," nicknamed "Pathetique" by his brother, is considered by many to be his greatest work. I share that view for in this symphony we see into the very soul of Tchaikovsky. The second movement in particular gives us an important clue as to how Tchaikovsky viewed himself in relation to the world in which he lived. When I listen to the movement I can see a very clear picture of what he may have been feeling when he wrote it.

In my mind’s eye I see a great ballroom with hundreds of dancers. Tchaikovsky, host of the ball and composer of the dance music, has invited these dancers to his great celebration. The dance begins, but the host dances alone. Tchaikovsky’s 5/4 rhythm is clearly not in keeping with the 3/4 time world in which he lives, and the dancers he has invited prefer instead to dance to their own rhythm. Host and guest never become on in the dance.

It is perhaps ironic that Tchaikovky died nine days after the premier of this final symphony, reportedly of cholera. There is some question about the exact nature of Tchaikovsky’s death which is reflected in the unofficial nickname “Suicide Symphony.” When I listen to this second movement, I am not always clear as to whose “suicide” is implied - the host’s or the guests’.

I think there are some analogies here that can be applied to our relationship with Jesus. The Lord of the Dance, its author and choreographer, invites us to dance with him. He has provided all that is needed. He had decorated the ballroom, written the music, and orchestrated the steps. He has set himself in the midst of his guests and has patiently demonstrated the choreography. All we need do is join in the dance. Simple? It would seem so. Easy? I don’t know about that. To join in the dance we need to let go of our 3/4 time mentality and seek to discover the rhythm of the dance to which we are invited. We need to keep our eyes focused on the Lord of the Dance. In dancing the unfamiliar, we risk stepping on toes, and we risk getting our toes stepped on. It can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful. With each missed step the temptation is there to abandon the dance to which we are invited in favor of the dance with which we are familiar.

Jesus has invited us to waltz with him . . or at least it sounds like a waltz. It has all the lyricism and lilt of a waltz, a truly beautiful piece of music. However, don't try to dance to it if you come with preconceived ideas of what a waltz should be. The dance will go on with or without the guests. The invitation has been made. The choice is ours.

copyright 2000, The Tarantella Dancers, Mary A. Moeggenborg


God bless our troops!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Dontcha hate it when you oversleep? Or better yet, when you wake up on time, but then decide to catch a few more winks? I have weird dreams when I do that - and they're never good. They're the kind of dreams that stay with you for the day with that nagging feeling that all is not well. Even though you know it's a dream, you wonder where it came from and if there is something in your life that you are overlooking.

Anyway, my schedule for the day is off a little. My blog update will be a little late, but fear not - I will get my workout in. I will not get the dishes done before work. No fear, they'll be here when I get home.

There are some things in my morning routine that are non-negotiable; blogging is one and a scheduled workout is the other. Blogging keeps me grounded. It was my habit when running to pray the rosary on my warm-up. I still do that, although not all the time. Starting the morning with the reading of the gospel of the day has grounded me and has made a huge difference in my life. Praying the rosary is one of my favorite ways to pray, but of late I have found my mind wandering. When I blog, I have to pay attention to what I am doing.
*********************************************************
Last night I made the first batch of fudge of the season - plain chocolate. Harold is allowed to lick the beaters and the pan, but he has to give the fudge a rating. He gave it a 9. It would have been a 10 but I didn't leave enough in the pan for him to "properly" test it. A few years ago he tested a batch by sticking his fingers in it. Then he blamed it on the cat. (We have no cats.) Amazingly, the man survives. Tonight I will be making peanut butter fudge which I will hide because Harold (the cat) really likes that kind. I may leave a bit more in the pan for him, though, since he was a good boy and stayed out of last night's batch. But then again, there is the matter of that "9" rating. Hmmmmm, we will see.

Tonight is the season opener of Biggest Loser. The VCR is set! Ironically, I will be making fudge while it is on.

Well, I'm off to walk on this gorgeous September morning. Some things are definitely non-negotiable. Updates later.
******************************************************
My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill
Route: Custom 2
Time: 18
Average heart rate: 113
Maximum heart rate: 129
Calories burned: 130
Down 2.2 from last Tuesday

Well, I ended up on the treadmill because of the time crunch. It wasn't as long a workout as I would have liked, but I did it. More and more, I am finding that consistency is the more important factor in this whole thing. In the past I would have abandoned the workout in favor of something less important; and all because it would not be a perfect workout. Duh - any workout is better than no workout. It's all about momentum. Leslie Sansone (Walk Away the Pounds) says on one of her tapes, "the more you sit, the more you want to sit; the more you move, the more you want to move."

Oh, and I got my dishes done, too!
*********************************************************
Word of the day:
Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr
Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
Gospel
Lk 7:11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst,”
and “God has visited his people.”
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.

Word of the day:
Today's reading recounts one of many intances of resuscitation that occur in the Scriptures, both Old Testament and New. The widow’s son raised by Elisha in 2 Kings 4:32-35, Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8, Lazarus in John 11 are also accounts of resuscitation. This does not mean that these people were not dead, they clearly were; Lazarus had been in the tomb 3 days. There occurs, however, only one resurrection and that is the resurrection of Jesus. Those who were resuscitated would die again. Man may resuscitate, but only God resurrects. Jesus lives and through him, even though we die, we will live again. Thanks be to God!


God bless the troops!

Monday, September 15, 2008

Today is starting out great. The rain has stopped - for now anyway. I got a batch of laundry soap made. I probably should have made it yesterday since today is laundry day and it needs a day to gel. I have enough to get me through 2 loads, anyway.

I am loving the Google calendar. I have discovered all kinds of neat things about it. (Thanks, Kristi).

I am headed for the treadmill because I think the deadend will be fairly mushy after the rains.
It will be 22 years tomorrow since the big flood we had in Michigan. That was a rough year for us financially because all of our dry beans were in the field when the rains came. It was amazing, though. We drove up to Alma and people were paddling canoes down Superior Avenue. We blame Melisa for the flood. She didn't want to eat the school lunch and had told us the night before that she was not eating that lunch - she would starve to death. LOL!

Enough, I am heading for the treadmill. Updates later.
*********************************************************************

My stats for today:
Type: Walk/Jog
Route: Deadend/back
Time: 27 minutes
Average heart rate: 119
Maximum heart rate: 135
Calories burned: 150
Same as last Monday

I ended up going outside this morning after all. It was a wonderful walk, a perfect crisp fall day. The rain cleared the slate on the path and hundreds of hoof prints decorated the trail. Geese were flying overhead - a little higher than of late meaning winter is looming on the horizon. The ground wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There were a few puddles and mushy spots, but all-in-all it was great to be out.

Tonight I have to go to Mt. Pleasant to drop off stuff to Good Will, and then to get supplies for our fall craft shows. Oh, and of course to get more of Harold's cupcakes for his lunch - Mrs. Freshley's Chocolate Creme cupcakes and Honey Nut Cheerios - his nod to healthy eating.

Oh, and by the way, do you love Biggest Loser? You can watch full episodes here:
http://fancast.com

Word of the day:
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Gospel
Jn 19:25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Non-Catholics often wonder about the devotion that Roman Catholics have for the Blessed Mother. This passage provides a glimpse into the source of that devotion. In giving Mary over to the care of the beloved disciple (who, by the way could not have been Mary Magdalen - she was no one's son) he was giving her to us. She is not divine - we do not worship her. We honor her, as Jesus honored her, and we ask her to pray for us as we ask others to pray for us. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the epitome of discipleship. In saying yes to Jesus as her son, Mary was also saying yes to his mission . . . to his going forth from her . . . to his dying on the cross.
Yesterday's video was hard to watch in and of itself. Watch it again and imagine that this is your son. An alternate reading for today is the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple. A sword indeed pierced Mary's heart. We worship God. We honor Mary - because Jesus honored her.





God bless our troops!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

'Tis a rainy one today. 'Twas a rainy one yesterday. Today's workout is on the treadmill.
I'm headed there now.

My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill
Route: Custom program 2
Time: 30 minutes
Average heart rate: 117
Maximum heart rate: 131
Calories burned: 200
Down 1 from last Sunday

Word of the day:
Gospel
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Jn 3:13-17
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Today in Catholic churches, the priest will be robed in red.
In the Church lectionary, this reading is always paired with the passage from Numbers which Jesus references here. I have been told that my brain works a little differently and that I often overthink things. That may be, it's how I'm wired. I find it ironic that it is through a serpent that man falls and God instructs Moses to mount one on a pole. Through Jesus, man lives and Man sends him to the cross. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we find this passage, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." For a brief instant, Jesus became sin in order to vanquish it.
Serpents and poles, Jesus and the Cross. Coincidence? Irony? I don't know, I'm just sittin' here in my cornfield mulling it all out.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., on the House floor, "Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus...Pontias Pilate was a governor."






Did you find that hard to watch? Imagine how hard it was to live. Seems to me that Jesus was a tad bit more than a community organizer, don't you think?





God bless the troops!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

My focus has weakened in the last week and I am really going to have to get it back to meet my Covey goal by the 26th. I am not disciplined with my time so I need to set some goals in regard to that. On tap today, getting this house in shape. A pile of stuff here, a pile of stuff there - it adds up and today it gets taken care of.

My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill
Route: Custom program 2
Time: 30 minutes
Average heart rate: 120
Maximum heart rate: 143
Calories burned: 200
Down 2.4 from last Saturday

I was reading the "7 Habits" book this morning while on the treadmill. Ironically, today's topic was time management and prioritization. I think this will be a great chapter for me because that is a huge challenge for me. I tend to side track easily and can fritter a whole day away on trivial stuff that, while fun, really doesn't get me where I need to go. The Google calendar has been a tremendous help because I can see at a glance what I need to get done for the day.


Word of the day:
Gospel
Lk 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
One of the things that riled Jesus most was hypocrisy. We had a guest speaker from the diocese a while back, Ed Haugen who is in charge of the deaconate formation. He spoke on authenticity and our need to live authentically. We can't just talk the talk, we have to walk the walk. But what does it mean to walk the walk? My walk is unique - no one else walk exactly the same path that I do, but if we are living authentically we eventually end up at the same destination. The words that jump out at me from this passage are "from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks." What is in our hearts? We would do well to guard the things we allow to enter our hearts because eventually, no matter how we try to spin it, the truth comes out of our mouths. In another passage Jesus says "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." What do we treasure - things that last or things that perish?" It is worth thinking - no it is worth praying about.







God bless our troops!

Friday, September 12, 2008

No workout today due to Friday morning Mass.


Word of the Day
Gospel
Lk 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

Thoughts from the Cornfield:
Wouldn't it be an interesting presidential race if both parties lived by this Gospel?
Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we all lived by this Gospel?



Convicted?


God bless our troops!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

My stats for today:
Type: walk/jog
Route: Deadend/back
Time: 25 minutes
Average heart rate: 114
Maximum heart rate: 129
Calories burned: 156
Same as last Thursday

Thursday, September 11, 2008 - We Remember

There are in our lives certain events that stand out with perfect clarity - every detail etched into our minds. The first one I can remember is when I was 8 years old. My brothers and I had been anticipating a day of fun with family at my uncle's cottage in Caseville. We piled into our old green Pontiac and headed out.

My next memory is waking up with grit in my mouth and hearing my brother groaning next to me. I remember being led to a gas station across the street while kind people tried to keep me from looking back at our crumpled car and seeing my mother on the grass while emergency workers attended her. I remember being on a hospital bed and hearing my father telling my brother everything would be okay. (I was later told that my father was unconscious for hours after the accident.) I remember sharing a hospital room with another little girl who was recovering from a tonsillectomy. I remember how her parents brought her ice cream and brought some for me too. I remember the anguish my father suffered for years afterwards because the three people in the other car had been killed instantly.

But with time some memories fade. The wounds stop bleeding - the scars remain. We go on with our lives but they are changed forever.

Yes, we all have our own personal memories. And then there are the collective memories of every generation. For my generation it was Viet Nam, the assassination of President Kennedy, the day the Beatles hit the scene, the end of the war, the day Nixon resigned, the day Elvis died.

Seven years ago today I was pulling into the church parking lot for a staff meeting. Art Lewis was on the radio talking about the World Trade towers. I was running late and didn't catch all that he said, but I remember thinking that he was talking about the first World Trade Center attack back in the 90s, that it must be the anniversary of that event. As I came in the door, Marilyn, our DRE was coming out of her office and said that the towers had been hit. Our pastor insisted on having the staff meeting. I would venture to guess that he is the only one who remembers what was discussed that day. Later, in a Sunday morning homily, he made a reference to the 911 attacks occuring in response to something we did in this country. (Like living our lives, maybe?) I quit listening to anything he had to say after that. He was later removed in the wake of the priesthood scandal. He never quite got that either.

It wasn't until I arrived at work at the school later that morning that I heard the full story of what had happened. I work in the media center at a high school. The TVs were all on. Everyone was in a state of shock. I remember the principal coming on the PA and calling for 2 minutes of silent prayer - yes prayer - in a public school no less.

We held a prayer service at church that night. The pews were filled for weeks afterwards. This was true all over the country. We were hurting with the realization, on a Tuesday morning in September, that the most powerful country in the world was vulnerable and had been gut-punched. Our patriotism came out in full force. We were united. Stories of grit and courage emerged from the rubble of the twin towers. Incredible stories of faith and hope. We were bloody but unbowed.

It is now seven years later. Church attendance is again down. Some again voice their criticism and hatred of this country - a country where one is free to do that because of the blood that has been shed by generations of brave men and women.

For today, we are spared the rhetoric and politics of the current race for President. We will take a moment and remember those who died in this terrible tragedy. For today we will be united in our memories. But tomorrow, it will be business as usual.

Because with time some memories fade. The wounds stop bleeding - the scars remain. We go on with our lives but they are changed forever. If we are wise we will take a moment to thank God for our blessings and to remember where true power lies.




Word of the day
Gospel
Lk 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
This was the Gospel I wrote about last week when I hit the wrong date on my lectionary. Somehow it was easier to write about it then than now.

God bless our troops!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Well, yesterday was a long one but I got a lot accomplished. Did everything on my list and then some. I am still behind. That never changes.

Tonight I meet with the choir to talk about songs that will be on John Fetzner's memorial CD. He left quite a legacy for one so young.

Our handsome son just stopped in. They are pouring the cement for his paint booth today. We had a brief discussion about the upcoming presidential election. Sam is kind of dipping his toes in local politics. He was asked to be on the planning commission for the village of Shepherd. This is the same commission that he sat before to get the variances for his expansion plans for his auto body shop. They treated him very well - not just because they approved his variance, but their whole demeanor. Sometimes our kids turn out well in spite of us. All of ours have done us proud - they teach me new lessons daily. I am greatly blessed that the are all in Michigan - the furthest one away is in Ionia. (Hi Nina!)

I am off to fill cantor folders and then go for a walk on this gorgeous day!

My stats for today:
Type: walk/jog
Route: Deadend/loop/back
Time: 35 minutes
Average heart rate: 121
Maximum heart rate: 138
Calories burned: 231
Same as last Wednesday

Word of the day
Gospel
Lk 6:20-26
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Just a reminder that we are IN the world, not OF the world.
The Beatitudes are definitely words to live by.


God bless the troops!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Didn't get a workout in today due to having to be at work early. Thank goodness, this isn't the norm. Not much to report except that last night I made a batch of peppermint soap. The last one I did was pretty, but the color wasn't what I wanted, so Mom will get some soap. She loves peppermint. Last night's batch turned out the way I wanted it to and I can't wait to get home tonight to cut it and put it out on the curing rack.

Today is one of those days that is jam packed. I'm here until 5:00 and then I have a lot of odds and ends - laundry etc to finish up. I have some candles to make to fill an order that has to go out tomorrow. I have an RCIA meeting tonight and then it's home again to make more stockings.

Word of the day:
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest
Gospel
Lk 6:12-19
Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
No thoughts today since I didn't have time to ruminate on the reading. One thing stands out though. Jesus spent an entire night in prayer. What would our lives be like if we spent even 5 minutes praying about a decision? What would our lives be like if our gut reaction to stresses in our lives was prayer rather than other means of coping? How powerful would we be as evangelists for Jesus?

God bless the troops!

Monday, September 8, 2008

My stats for today:
Type: Outside
Route: Deadend/loop/back
Time: 35 minutes
Average heart rate: 121
Maximum heart rate: 141
Calories burned: 231
Down 3.4 from last Monday
The geese were heading south this morning. They were flying low and slow which I have always heard, signifies a mild winter. But who knows? I saw lots of deer hoof prints but no deer. That's always the icing on the cake, seeing a deer.

I found some really cool molds for wax melts. I had to fill an order from the website so I made some in "Country Bumpkin." I did some more organizing in the dungeon and generally puttered around doing happy things. I used to look at people my age and think that they were pretty much done having fun in life. LOL! I am so glad that I was wrong.

We now have over 150 stockings ready and waiting to receive personalized cuffs and be sent out to their owners. I stopped at Walmart yesterday to get another cabinet for the work room. The price has jumped 5 bucks. Sheesh! I'm glad I have been buying them through the summer and don't have many more to buy. I do need to order some fragrance oils. Then maybe I can close the checkbook for a while until after some of the craft shows.

I am getting ready to get the fudge pot going. The students have been haunting my office in hopes of cashing in on some test batches.

Word of the day:
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel
Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23

The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
When I read the above lineage of Jesus, it amazes me that such information survived in those primitive times. It puts into perspective the place that Mary and Joseph had in God's plan of salvation. What seems eons to us is but a spark to God. Amazing. Simply amazing.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Important Update: I received the following email. I checked it out and this is very scary.

Hi Mary,

My name is John Alfred.

I stopped by your "Musings From the Sugar Bush" blog where you recently posted "Saturday, September 6, 2008 (09/06/2008)". Since I can see that you are actively blogging and knowing that most bloggers are well connected, I would like to request a quick, small favor.

Cutting to the chase here... all I'm asking is for you to sign a petition and pass it on to your friends. It will just take 2 minutes of your time and will help raise awareness of a security threat that affects an estimated 95% of homes in the USA.

The threat that has us concerned is called a "bump key" (think of it as a universal house key) and bump keys are currently being sold on the Internet for $3 to anyone who wants one. The sale of these keys should be regulated just like lock pick sets and other locksmith tools but the laws in most states have not caught up. So far, only Delaware and California have updated their laws (in July, 2008) to address bump keys.

By voicing our support using an online petition we wish to show legislatures in each state that this is important to us and encourage them to follow the lead of Delaware and California to quickly update their laws. At the same time we are promoting awareness of this issue so people who choose to do so can take steps to protect themselves.

A friend of mine, Rob Yaggie, is spearheading the effort using a site he launched at www.BanBumpKeys.com . It informs people of the problem, asks them to sign the petition and discusses free and low cost personal safety solutions. IMPORTANT NOTE: The purpose of this site is to create awareness and organize support ... it is not a sales site and does not sell anything.

Please take a minute to learn more, sign the petition yourself and help spread the word by telling your friends.
http://BanBumpKeys.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I woke up this morning feeling a bit melancholy. Did you know that you could be happy and melancholy at the same time? I couldn't pin down the cause because there really isn't anything going on to cause it. But, I think perhaps it is the change of season. Seasons remind us of our mortality. They remind us that life is constantly in a state of flux. Change makes me nervous because I don't do well with transitions. Part of that could be due to the nebulous beginnings and endings. I am mourning the passing of one season and joyfully anticipating the advent of a new one. But the beginnings and endings of seasons are not cut and dried. They do not conform to dates in a planner. That makes me nervous. I have no control. Ah, there it is. I am reminded that I am not in control.

And yet with the changing of the seasons there is a bigger picture. There IS a constancy and an unchanging reality if we take our focus off the day-to-day and look at the whole. The seasons come and go in the fullness of time, according to God's plan. It is then that I am supremely glad that I am not the one who is in control.

On the lowcarb front:
I didn't get a workout in this morning, and I may not get to it later, but I have found that my need to blog in the morning is rooted in the fact that starting my day with the reading of the Gospel keeps me grounded. Workouts are important, especially at my "use it or lose it" stage of life, but they are not the most important. I am learning that my best - if it is indeed my best, is good enough, and while perfection is an ideal to keep in mind when setting goals, it can also lead to an "all or nothing" mentality. God doesn't ask for perfection, he has that. What he wants is us - warts and all. That being said, I will try to remember to at least lift some weights later today.

Word of the day:
Gospel
Mt 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
I attended an RCIA conference a few years ago and one of the speakers made an illustration with regard to the formation of catechumens and candidates. He said, "discernment outside the presence of the subject is gossip." In last night's homily Father said something that would make an excellent addition to that statement. He said there are 3 conditions to approaching a perceived wrongdoer.

1. It must be true
2. It must be necessary
3. It must be done out of love.

Let those who have ears hear!

God bless the troops!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

On the lowcarb front:

My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill
Route: manual settings
Time: 20
Average heart rate: 118
Maximum heart rate: 138
Calories burned: 128
Down 2.4 from last Saturday
I had planned to walk outside today, but ended up on the treadmill instead. I expect next week to be a much better, less hectic week. My goal focus wavered a bit over the last couple of days, but I am good to go today.

We have a family get together this evening. Always a lot of food (this family has some fantastic cooks), so that will be a challenge, but we have a lot of out-of town family who will be there so it shouldn't be too hard to focus on people instead of whatever is on the buffet. Harold's family is very big (he is one of 12 kids) so when we get together it is always major party mode. We have fun. The older I get, the more I appreciate the blessings I've been given.

Word of the day:
Gospel
Lk 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said,
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
One can only wonder what the Pharisees would have done if they had known to whom they were speaking. For learned and educated people, these guys sure didn't get it. I find it interesting that for such holy men, who had to keep track of laws and all (from which they often exempted themselves) they sure seemed to have an awful lot of time on their hands. One wonders what they were even doing near that field of grain on the sabbath. Surely that was in violation of one of their laundry list of rules and regulations. And I would think that just committing that list to memory - not to mention putting their own spin on it - would take up a good chunk of their lives.

Here are some laws that are on the books today in the US:

Alabama

• It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
• Dominoes may not be played on Sunday.
• It is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

California

• Sunshine is guaranteed to the masses.
• Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.
  
• Bathhouses are against the law.
  
• It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.
• Women may not drive in a house coat.

Florida

• Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.
• A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing.
• If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.
• It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
• Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.
• Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal.
• It is illegal to skateboard without a license.

Kansas

• Prohibits shooting rabbits from a motorboat.

Louisiana

• It is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.

Indiana

• It is illegal for a liquor store to sell cold soft drinks.
• Liquor stores may not sell milk.

Michigan

• You may not swear in front of women and children in the state of Michigan. (Actually, I like this law. I get really tired of hearing the F bomb used in casual conversation. )
  

Nebraska

• It is illegal for bar owners to sell beer unless they are simultaneously brewing a kettle of soup.

New York

• A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This old law specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking "at a woman in that way." A second conviction for a crime of this magnitude calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll.
• It is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.
• A license must be purchased before hanging clothes on a clothesline.
• The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

North Dakota

• Beer and pretzels can't be served at the same time in any bar or restaurant.
• It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.

Ohio

• It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday.
• It is illegal to get a fish drunk.

Pennsylvania

• A person is not eligible to become Governor if he/she has participated in a duel.

Texas

• It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
• It is illegal to drive without windshield wipers. You don't need a windshield, but you must have the wipers.
• It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
• It is illegal to milk another person's cow.
• A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
• The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

Wisconsin

• You must manually flush all urinals in a building.
• Butter substitutes are not allowed to be served in state prisons.

You can find more of these gems at:
dumblaws.com where you can find hundreds of additional "dumb laws".

Context, folks, it's all about context.


God bless the troops!

Friday, September 5, 2008

I never got back here to update today. I need mornings to blog and I just didn't have them this week. I managed to post most of the week but by today time had really gotten away from me. Ah, retirement looms on the horizon. I've been advised that I will be busier than ever. It isn't being busy that bothers me - it's that I don't get to choose what I am busy with.

Also, yesterday's word of the day was a week off. Sheesh!

Word of the day:
Gospel
Lk 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink.”
Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.”
And he also told them a parable.
“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

I never had time to do my cornfield thoughts, but here is an excellent homily on today's readings.

http://www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtml (Click on today's date)

God bless the troops!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

On the lowcarb front:

My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill
Route: manual settings
Time: 20
Average heart rate: 110
Maximum heart rate: 123
Calories burned: 120
Down 3.6 from last Thursday

Well, I headed out for the road and discovered that it was raining so I moved the workout to the treadmill. I feel incredibly good today. I even enjoyed our monthly staff meeting. :)
The scale is moving downward - thankfully. My Covey goal is coming along nicely and I have met the first minor goal of 2.5 pounds.

I got 4 stockings done yesterday, but not much else. Today is Thursday so I will be doing a batch of candles and working on packaging products. I am burning a "Crisp Green Apple" candle in my office today. (We're not supposed to, but no one says anything.) It smells really good!!! That may be my flavor of the evening, so to speak. The new wicks seem to be working out nicely and have cut the soot down to almost nothing.

Last night I stayed up to watch Sarah Palin's speech. All I can say is WOW! No victim of women's discrimination here. Just a feisty "git 'er done" kind of gal. Even Harold was impressed and this is a man who avoids like the plague anything that smacks of politics. I really don't know how you couldn't like this lady! Talk about feminism, she wears it well. That's all I'm going to say about that.




Gospel
Lk 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Today's passage - easier said than done, but most rewarding in the long run because it takes a lot of energy to harbor hate and judgement. I guess you have to figure out what it means to "love" your enemies. I really don't think Jesus meant that you had to invite them for tea - just be willing to die for them - not because you agree with their ideology or politics or views on life, but because we all fall short (there's the judgement connection) and because we are all children of God.


God bless the troops!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

On the lowcarb front:

My stats for today:
Type: Walk/Jog
Route: Deadend/Back
Time: 25
Average heart rate: 117
Maximum heart rate: 137
Calories burned: 163
I’m down 2.8 pounds from last Wednesday

The blog gets short shrift this morning so that I can get on the treadmill. Textbooks need to be distributed and that is definitely a 2 person job so I'm going in early this morning. Tomorrow I have a staff meeting and Friday morning is Mass. I jealously guard my morning time because I need it, but this week it can't be helped - it's just the way things fell. The frustrating part is that I also have meetings every night. I managed to get 4 stockings made yesterday. We have about a month before our craft shows start, and our ad hits the stands about then too. Well, gotta hit the treadmill if I'm going to get a workout in this morning.

Update_____________________________________________
It was so hot in the house that I ended up going outside this morning. It was just getting light and it was a wonderful walk/jog. I also hit my first milestone on my Covey 10 pound goal. I set another goal yesterday to get my credit card paid off by December 31. I want all of that taken care of before I go down to 1 income.

Gospel
Lk 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases
brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Ah, a woman's work is never done. :) I always wondered about that line: "She got up immediately and waited on them." But I think it's there to illustrate how completely Peter's mother-in-law was healed. No recovery time - she's healed and it's business as usual. I think this is what made the whole scene more remarkable.

Again, te demons know exactly with whom they are dealing. And the crowds came. No wonder Jesus ordered silence. Word was spreading. And always, he needed that deserted place to renew and refresh his spirit.



God bless the troops!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

On the lowcarb front:

My stats for today:
Type: Walk/Jog
Route: Deadend and back
Time: 25
Average heart rate: 122
Maximum heart rate: 135
Calories burned: 164
I’m down 1.4 pounds from last Monday
Well, summer is officially over for me. I'm about to head out for the road - early because of "first day of school" Mass. The summer went way too fast.

Word of the day:
Lk 4:31-37
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Isn't it amazing that Jesus' strongest PR entities were non Jews and demons. Even the demons knew who Jesus was and still we stumble. These people who are praising him in today's readings, are the very same ones who wanted to throw him over the cliff for daring to say that God loves all of his Creation.

God bless the troops!

Monday, Sept 1, 2008

On the lowcarb front:

My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill and weights
Route: Workout room
Time: 30
Average heart rate: Don't know, I pushed the wrong button and zeroed out
Maximum heart rate: see above
Calories burned: 221
I’m up 1 pounds from last Monday
Happy Labor Day everyone! I never got that walk in yesterday, but I did get a bit of a workout. I spent the afternoon cleaning out my soap/candle workroom. It is really shaping up! Anna came over and helped me break down boxes and bring the trash up to the garage. Now I need to rearrange where I will be working. I have to measure out oils so I have moved all of the soaping stuff to the side table. I didn't like where it was because it is always messy and you can see it the minute you come in the back door. We have been investing in rolling carts for craft shows and they double as storage. We just load the carts and they fit nicely under the tables.

Evening update:
Oy, my back and my legs are killing me. My workroom is looking so good that I decided to get my hard oils measured out. On a day like today, it's much easier to handle them - particularly the cocoa butter. Well, I got 15 batches of the hard oils measured out and then just decided to finish off the batches with the liquid oils. So I spent 3 hours measuring out 9 different oils into 15 buckets. That should last me a few months as I have cut my soaping schedule back to 1 batch a week. I have quite a bit of soap cured for the coming shows so I don't really need to do 2 batches per week. That will leave me more time for stockings which I hope I'm going to need. We are counting on our stocking sales to subsidize our primitives business for the rest of the year.

I still have a couple of stockings to make, laundry to finish, bills to pay, and retirement papers to complete. And tomorrow is the first day of school.

Gospel
Lk 4:16-30
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,
he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said,
“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Thoughts from the cornfield:
This pasaage has always fascinated me. I listened this morning to a reflection on this reading that told how the people listening to Jesus are awestruck and fascinated with his words until he points out that God sent prophets and healing to people who were not Jews - who were, in fact, pagans. The priest went on to say that it is hard to hear that God loves people who are not like us - Muslims, Pentecostals, Mormons. It's easy enough for us to say that we are all God's children, but when it plays out in real life, that's a different story.

I am thinking of a homily we heard at Mass just before the Presidential primaries. It was couched in terms of the priest relating a story where a friend asked him if Mormons were Christians. Father said that his answer was to speak of baptism and what we believe about baptism. This was, of course, to lead us to the conclusion that Mormons are not Christians. Oh, and by the way, the unspoken elephant in the room was the fact that Mitt Romney was a contender for the presidential nomination. The underlying (and thinly veiled) political motive for this homily was not lost on most of us. The subliminal message was "don't vote for a Mormon." But the Bible very clearly states that those who are not against us are with us. So you see, religious elitism did not exist solely in Jesus' time, it is alive and well in the Church today. Let those who have ears, hear.



God bless the troops!