Saint Crispin’s Day Speech

Neat Things I Didn't Author
The Book of Man

Another entry from “The Book of Man,” Saint Crispin’s Day Speech, by William Shakespeare.

This poem gives an “interpretation of what manhood looks like in war.” In the midst of battle with France, in the face of daunting odds, English King Henry V gives a rousing speech to his men.

He reminds them that there are things worth fighting for, and that a man’s honor is worth more than any material possession, any wealth, that one may accumulate. He places a greater value on a small group of determined men rather than a large army of half-hearted men. There is pride in seeking honor and a brotherhood forged in combat which cannot be broken. The proof of a true man is he who fights for what is truly important.

Isn’t this still so true? Some of the best, most character-forming, richest experiences I have had have come from a small group of people working against significant challenges for the greater good. I have experienced this in the Navy, and also, on a less grand scale, in the workplace. There is a bond made between people who have fought side-by-side that is not easily forgotten. It could be years before you hear again from these men, these fellow brothers, but there is not a day in which they are not carried within your heart.

It is your brothers, your comrades, who carry you on when you contemplate giving up. You spur each other on to greatness. And when it is all over, win or lose, you know that you are better off for the experience. And ever after, you know that you are not alone in the world. There is a level of loneliness which you cannot sink to, because you brothers exist somewhere in the world. You are connected, united.

There are few better feelings in the world than knowing that an honorable, courageous man has got your back. And there are few things of greater worth than to give your life and your self for the sake of one of your brothers.

South Haven 2012

Day Trip, Photography, Travel, Vacation, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday was the family reunion, and from the time that I heard it was going to be so close to Lake Michigan and South Haven, I wanted to take some time and head over there. I love being by the water and 15-20 miles is NOTHING to me! 🙂 The only question was if Mom would go for it.

We spent the night in Paw Paw. In the morning, I dragged her to St. Mary’s Catholic Church for Sunday Mass. It was a cute little church right by the court building that we had looked at yesterday. All around the church, the sidestreet parking was clogged. We managed to find the last parking spot in the tiny parking lot, but people were already creating a middle line of cars where it wasn’t legal to park — just to be able to get in to Mass! A good sign, right? 🙂

We were a little bit late, and so we took a seat in one of the back pews, like any good Catholic would do. After Mass, I snapped a couple pictures to prove I was there and grabbed my Mass ticket (parish bulletin). I was surprised to find that it was only 4 pages long! At both my parishes, it’s usually more like 12!

DSCN0152DSCN0154

Next, we headed out of town. I didn’t have a lot of charge on my phone, so instead of using the GPS, I just found my way to M-43 and headed west. I wasn’t going to stop until I hit water! We had heard that there was a Blueberry Festival in South Haven this weekend and thought it would be good to check that out. We pulled into town and ended up on Phoenix Street. Just past the downtown area, right before the road dipped down to go towards the lighthouse, there were barricades for the festival. Luckily, there was also on-stree parking RIGHT THERE! We couldn’t have asked for a better spot!

We were on the southwest corner of the intersection, and on the northwest corner was this sign:
DSCN0155

I liked looking at all of the boats in the marina. If I could, I would love to live on the water and have a boat (or two or four) of my own!
DSCN0157

As we were walking down to the pier, we saw this big, pink flower. It was huge! Probably 7-8 inches in diameter! Even though it doesn’t really look that big in the photo.
DSCN0160

And, finally, THE BEACH!
DSCN0165

DSCN0168

And the lighthouse:
DSCN0170

DSCN0183

With sailboats on the water!
DSCN0174

We read all of the graffiti on the lighthouse. I saw one that said “Hannah was here” and wondered if it belonged to Hannah Ekblad…
Hannah Was Here

I even got Mom to take a picture…. And she was happy that I didn’t push her in the water! 🙂
DSCN0185

I tried taking a self-portrait, although it turned out a little funny because I kept squinting in the bright light.
DSCN0188

We didn’t take the time to actually swim on the beach, but I did sit down on the edge of the pier and dangled my feet over the side!
DSCN0196

More pictures of kids playing in the sand:
DSCN0197

Seagull footprints:
DSCN0199

Even though I had my good running shoes on, I still walked across the sand to take pictures of the waves. These are tiny compared to the waves of the ocean, but I will take what I can get! 🙂
DSCN0206

All of the water and boats actually looked like this:
DSCN0208
I added contrast to most of the other shots, but it was kind of cool as they were normally, with almost nothing to tell you where the sky ended and the sea began….

Like me, you might be wondering why my mom was looking at her feet so intently. Well, it appears that where she was standing, when she took a step, the sand would shift and “crackle out” about 12 inches away from her foot.
DSCN0211

The Ubiquitous Seagull Shot:
DSCN0215

Another look of the beach, pier and lighthouse:
DSCN0216

I took pictures of some treats for Erwin:
DSCN0219

And for Lindsay:
DSCN0220DSCN0221

Amy had suggested that we eat at the Phoenix Street Cafe while we were in town. So, after browsing through a couple of neat little shops, we did just that! I’m not sure if my brother or my dad would have enjoyed it as much as we did.

Here is Mom’s Asparagus Sandwich:
DSCN0222

And my Spinach Burger (no meat was harmed in the making of this burger!):
DSCN0223

Right next door to the Phoenix Street Cafe was The Blueberry Shoppe. I got 5 pounds of blueberries to take home, some mix to make Blueberry White Chocolate cookies, blueberry jerky, blueberry truffle, and we each tried a blueberry drink.

Mom got the Blueberry Lemonade (which was the better-tasting of the two):
DSCN0226

And, although I would have preferred the Blueberry Lemonade, I opted to try something different and got the Blueberry Jelly Belly soda.
DSCN0228

Our quick vacation to South Haven was now complete, and we headed back home. Plus, our 3 hour time limit for parking was about over…. 🙂

The Papal Encyclicals

Neat Things I Didn't Author
The Papal Encyclicals

This is another selection from the reference section of the parish library which caught my eye: The Papal Encyclicals.

It’s probably another way-too-ambitious undertaking, but I would *like* to read through them all. 🙂 Vol.1 covers years from 1740 to 1878.

I’m hoping, like “The Book of Man,” that I will be able to make this a regular blog posting event. I’m liking the idea of posting more frequently and having certain topics that I can follow through on long-term.

Let me know what you think and also if you have any suggestions for future discussion! 🙂

Donovan Campbell

Neat Things I Didn't Author, Of Vice and Virtue
The Book of Man

I came into the parish library today after work and found a book stuck in the Reference section that didn’t quite look like it belonged there. It was called, “The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood,” by William J. Bennett. It’s a collection of writings meant to instruct today’s man in what it means to be a man, as well as providing some examples – mainly positive ones – to inspire our men and show them how to live out an authentic masculinity.

I think I’ve fallen in love with the concept of the book already. There’s not much that I love and crave more than a man living as a man ought. Males and females are radically different, yet complementary, so the feminine part of me craves true masculinity.

I’m not sure if I will buy this book (probably eventually), but I’m thinking that it might be more enjoyable to savor it. To read one section in it every time I come to church and write about what I learned from it, about what attracted me as a woman, and my hopes and dreams based on it for the men in my life.

Profile: Donovan Campbell

While leading Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he learned that he didn’t gain the respect of his men from great feats or amazing acts of heroism, but consistency in his actions – an internal integrity which spanned from the largest decisions to the routine actions of everyday life. He also showed how both he and his men often had to show restraint, even when that choice could result in their own death. They would make decisions that put them in greater harm, so as not to harm civilians; and they would rush to the aid of others, even if that meant making themselves a target. He also shows how men, especially when fighting together, form bonds and back each other up. Real men are supportive and reliable – you can count on them to be there and to do what is right. The end of the passage is summed up with the Marine Corps motto: Semper Fi. Always faithful. Which is an excellent quality in a man.

Science and Religion

Humor of the Day

I don’t think that there needs be any dichotomy between science and religion. That said, sometimes there is an excellent opportunity for humor! The following was posted to my cousin’s husband’s Facebook page, and I just had to reply…. 🙂

Chicken

“Dear Science, Thank God you landed okay! I’ve been praying for you and your mission! BTW, this chicken is delicious! How are those freeze-dried meals? Love, Religion”

What To Do When You Are Having a Bad Day

Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts, Prayer/Prayer Requests
Jen cry couch

1. Think of three things that you are truly grateful for about *today*. Get specific.
2. Think of three things which frustrated you today. Be specific. What was most bothersome, worrisome or annoying?
3. Think of three intentions. Three things which really need prayer. Again, be very specific.
4. Offer each of your frustrations for one of your intentions. Pray that God somehow uses the troubles of your day to bring grace and blessings to these intentions.
5. Give thanks to God for your blessings of today and also for the opportunity to undergo struggle, so that in Him even your frustrations can be efficacious and so you will never forget that you need Him and that He is always there for you.

Amen and God bless!

Some Quick Thoughts About July

Uncategorized

Last month, a friend showed me how to create these photo collage headers.  I made one, but I wondered how I could create one for each month with lots of pictures when the month has just begun.  So, I decided tonight that I will try not to be so picky about it and make each new month’s header with highlight pictures from the previous month.

Putting August’s header together, I got to review a lot of the things that happened in July.  It was a month both of very good times and very trying days.  I spent the 4th with friends and watched the fireworks in Clawson.  I had quite a few fun times outside of the office with my awesome coworkers — at the MCIT picnic, Brian’s birthday, and Grillin’ with Cadence.  I was able to pray alongside James and Shauna as their home was blessed.

And perhaps my favorite event of the summer, Dunk-a-Priest!  That was also the day where both of my parishes had a picnic on the same day.  It was a very hot day, and — sadly — Fr. John said that he was going to horde all the water for himself (when I asked him to splash extra big when he was dunked).

Unfortunately, it was also a difficult month, health-wise.  I have been, overall, quite a bit more exhausted than usual.  Some days, I haven’t made it off the couch.  I have noticed an increase in symptoms and a significant decrease in stamina.  I don’t usually have headaches, but have had many this past month, as well as dizziness and nausea.  I missed Mass on Sunday.  I’ve never missed a Sunday Mass before.

I pray for the grace to make Mary’s Fiat my own and I am thankful for all the blessings that I have.  I love my life and I can’t wait to see what August has in store for me!  🙂

Mid-Week Day Off!

Exciting Adventures of the Everyday, Guests & Visitors, Meeting New People

Since I have to work on Saturday this week, I took today off. It always feels odd, to have a day off work like this in the middle of the week, but I like it! 🙂

(Of course, this means that my plans for Saturday… will have to be canceled. I forgot about that part….)

I took the opportunity to plan a day with my friend, Amy, whom I met on Facebook. We had met briefly in person at the first HHS rally, but this was to be our first chance to actually get together. I make friends with people so quickly, I had to keep reminding myself that I was still pretty much a stranger. LOL! 🙂 It was such a lovely afternoon! And passed by all too quickly!

Can you believe that I spent an entire day off and didn’t take a single picture?! I even brought both cameras with me!

And, I never did find out what jobs she had waiting for me…. 🙂 Perhaps next time….

I wake up throughout the night, usually. Since today was a day off, I got to sleep in until about 7 am. I had originally intended to go to the 9:30 am Mass here in Troy, but knew that I had some things to do before I left the house and that it probably wouldn’t be practical for me to get them done and fit Mass in also. Plus, I wanted to make sure that I felt well enough to visit this afternoon. So, I ended up laying around in bed reading a book until 9 am or so. It was a really good book, which added to my lounging. 🙂

Finally, I dragged myself out of bed and went to tackle the laundry situation. See, I only have one pair of shorts. And I had worn them to the picnic last week where there was the possibility of them (and me) having come in contact with some poison ivy.

I hate poison ivy with a vile, vile passion.

So, they had remained in a little heap by the laundry room, waiting for me to “decontaminate” them. Which I had put off. Until today.

But I couldn’t just do this pile of clothes. That would be too easy. I had let laundry pile up. I hadn’t laundered those clothes because I had a load of towels in the washer, needing to be dried. And I hadn’t put the wet towels in the dryer because there was a dry load in there waiting to be removed, folded and put away. And I hadn’t done *that* because every time I thought of it, I was exhausted and couldn’t possibly bring myself to take them out of the dryer, carry them to the bedroom and put them away.

Because taking clothes out of the dryer and carrying them to my bedroom makes me short of breath. And I’d have to make at least two trips to get all of the clothes out.

This disease really makes my life complicated sometimes.

So in order to get ready for this afternoon, I had to empty the dryer, run the load of towels again (since they were starting to get that mildew smell and had to be washed again with some detergent and vinegar — remind me to sing the praises of vinegar for you one day…), toss *those* into the dryer, run the load of picnic clothes, dry *them* and then get dressed.

I don’t have the world’s fastest dryer. I asked for “cheapest” when I went to buy it. It has three dry cycles. I use two of them. “Automatic high” for everything, and “Timer” for warming up clothes in the winter or getting the wrinkles out of dirty laundry that I’m going to wear again (yep, I’m a bachelor). It has three cycles because apparently they don’t make a dryer that only has one. Truly, I only need “on” and “off”. The salesman looked at me oddly when I asked if there were such a thing.

Needless to say, I was running late. 🙂 I stopped at a Biggby coffee to get drinks for Amy, me and the kids. For the kids, I ordered 100 oz. of frozen hot chocolate. 🙂 For Amy and I, I picked up some iced drinks and for once ordered them *with ice* like a normal person. However, I managed to slop part of one of the iced drinks on me when trying to get into the car. Luckily, I had a towel inside and could wipe off. And, thankfully, I had a dark shirt on, so could arrive without a glaringly obvious coffee stain. 🙂

It was a lovely visit, and not only did I get to spend time with Amy and her family, but I also got to meet her friend, Lydia! 🙂 And, I had some of Amy’s pot pie for dinner! Yum!

Too soon, it was time to head home. I listed to another episode of Catholic Answers Live (which I had heard previously) on the way back, because I am *certain*, or at least 87% certain, that I heard one of the guests say on the program that Pope John Paul II wrote something where he made a distinction between human life and human personhood. I had asked Fr. John what this writing might be, as I wanted to read it, and he said that this didn’t sound right — that JPII wouldn’t have said something like that. So here I am, listening to all the episodes from the past week, trying to find it….

I got home and was surprised at how tired I am. Just hanging out here on the couch, playing online a bit. Today’s a fasting day, but I can’t fast from food, so I decided today to fast from TV, since I’d been creating a habit of vegging out and watching DVR’ed episodes of House Hunters until late in the evenings. Amazing how that can get to be a routine, even though I’d gone without watching any TV for about 8 months or so until recently.

For the rest of the night, I think I’ll be online for a little bit, read for a little bit and spend some real quality time in prayer. 🙂

Have a good night!

Sometimes I Feel Like a Second-Class Citizen at My Own Parish

Jennspeak, Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts
Cranky Babies Get Tossed Away!

My sentiments come from two sources.

First, I am a little unsettled, I suppose, over something that happened yesterday at church. I was reading in the library, when a man came in. He looked a little surprised that I was there, then let me know that they were having a meeting for the Evangelization team at 7 pm. He said not to worry and to take my time, since we had over 20 minutes until the meeting was to begin. He said he was going to go to the chapel to pray and left. He was very warm and friendly.

Then. A woman came in and set her things on the table. She looked over at me and demanded, “Who are *you*? You aren’t attending this meeting are you? I didn’t think there was going to be any newcomers at this meeting.” Clearly, I was unwelcome in the library. I was a little surprised at her behavior, but didn’t really say anything. The meeting was still more than 20 minutes away. I started packing up my things and I guess she realized what she had sounded like, because she apologized for being rude, offered me some of the cookies she had brought and left the room. I didn’t really feel like having any of her cookies at that point and finished putting stuff in my bag. She and the first man came in as I was leaving and she apologized again. There was still 15 minutes until the meeting and in the meantime, another woman had wandered in to look at the library books.

I was a little hurt by her rudeness, but more amused at the irony of being made to feel unwelcome in my parish by a member of the parish’s *Evangelization* committee. What if I *hadn’t* been Catholic? What if I were considering becoming Catholic? I’m not sure that I would feel comfortable joining that community. And it might just push me away enough that I don’t continue to look for the truth that is found in the Catholic Church.

The second reason why I sometime feel like a second-class citizen is a sore spot with me. I’m sure I’m probably just sensitive to it, but it pushes my buttons:

I’m single. And apparently this isn’t okay.

Let me explain. The Catholic Church thinks this is just fine. In fact, the Church recognizes the single life as a valid vocation. God can *call* people to the single life. Singles generally have more time to do his work (over people who have obligations to raising a family) and live in the world where there is usually greater access to people for the purposes of evangelization, apologetics, and witnessing to the faith (over consecrated religious).

However, people who *attend* the church often act in a way that gives the impression that singles are not as important as consecrated men and women or married people. Worse, they treat us as if we are in some sort of “holding pattern” and that one day, if we are lucky, God might remember us and call us to the married state or the consecrated/religious life.

As if we were God’s forgotten, neglected step-children or something.

No, I don’t have a husband to love me, support me, or help out when I am tired, stressed, or just can’t handle projects on my own. No, I don’t have cute children.

This doesn’t mean that I’m not a valuable member of society. And it certainly doesn’t mean that I couldn’t have anything to contribute to a discussion on kids and family life. I can’t tell you how many times friends, even good friends, have left me out of wedding planning or pregnancy talks or advice about kids because I am single. They just don’t think of me.

Even in the parish, there is a lack of attention paid to the needs of singles. Don’t get me wrong. I really, truly understand that the value of a stable, faith-based family life is under attack. And I know how important solid marriages are for society in general. I know that it’s important to nurture and protect these marriages and families. And I pray for them.

But have you noticed that if there is any events directed towards singles in the parish, they are usually “social gatherings” which seem to be mostly directed towards “meeting people” and dating? What? So that us poor single people can *finally* meet someone and then be able to get on with our lives as married folk?

A couple years ago, the parish put out a special bulletin, highlighting the various vocations. It had articles written by a nun, a deacon, a married couple and a priest. There was nothing, zero, by a single person. I complained about this, and … was invited to write an article which they would run in the next bulletin to remedy the oversight. 🙂 Which I did.

I am a happy person. I usually don’t dwell upon things like this. I suppose feeling this way helps me to learn humility. It’s NOT all about me. It’s about others. I should be willing to pour out my life for those around me. But sometimes I pout, and jump up and down and yell, “I’M LOVED BY GOD, TOO!”

Good thing for me that Confession is tomorrow. I certainly need it! 🙂

Oh No He Didn’t!

Humor of the Day, Tales of My Amazing Priests
Fr. JJ

I was innocently sitting in the back pew after Mass on Sunday, when Fr. JJ came in, headed straight for me, thwapped me upside the head with his Day Planner, and then ran away saying, “God told me to do it!”

I tried to swat him back with my bulletin, but it didn’t do very much.

Priests! I tells ya! 🙂