Category: God’s Beauty

Posted on

Saint John Paul II’s Gratitude Toward Women

June 29 was the 28th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s “Letter to Women.” ( A MUST READ)

Some reflections on the uplifting importance of that letter….

Reflection 1

John Paul II’s first, and arguably, most profound point, is his expression of gratitude. Whether you’re a mother, wife, daughter, sister, employed in the workforce, consecrated virgin, or an educator (in whatever capacity), he thanks YOU. He doesn’t only thank you for the work you do, but for your very existence as a woman.

Reflection 2

As St. John Paul II continues in his reflection, he rightly brings awareness to the marginalization and lack of progress women have experienced. While it’s easy to see drastic progress in something like Title IX, we are simultaneously experiencing a “relapse” of this progress, spearheaded by lawmakers, organizations, and activists rushing to dismantle a law that has protected so many women. This is not the only deterioration we are seeing.

We live in a culture that no longer understands what it means to be a woman. We live in a culture that changes words like “breastfeeding” to “chestfeeding” or “women” to “wimmin” in the name of affirmation and inclusivity. We live in a culture where biological men compete in women’s sports. And we live in a culture that tells little girls they are boys because they enjoy wearing cargo shorts over dresses and prefer trucks over dolls. The list continues. So, what happened?

We not only forgot to thank women, but we also forgot to address that women are inherently different and unique, made in the Image and Likeness of God, with a specific vocation that only women can fulfill, to help. I’m not claiming the world became corrupt for this reason alone, but how are we expected to flourish in a culture that doesn’t respect or appreciate God’s given design for our bodies, let alone His plan for our lives?

Further reflections found here. But I’ll finish with this one.

“Let us remind our daughters, “tomboys” or not, that they are loved as a child of the Lord and are no less of a woman because they choose dirt over dolls, or dolls over dirt. Let us remind our friends that they can still be “mothers” by guiding their students, peers, or nieces/nephews toward the truth, single or not.”

Saint John PAul II’s “Letter to Women”

+++

Posted on

Taking The Scenic Route Through Life

I suppose it all starts with the name. Because you see, the New River, which courses its way across the spectacular landscapes of North Carolina and Virginia, is, rather amusingly, not very new at all. In fact, it’s widely considered to be among the oldest rivers in the world, tracing its lineage back some hundreds of millions of years, give or take an eon or two.

The New River, Virginia

The irony in the name arises from the fact that when the European settlers arrived, they called it the ‘New River’ simply because it was the new river they discovered. An example of human simplicity if you will.

According to the scientists, those lovable lab-coat clad individuals who speak in terms only slightly more decipherable than an intoxicated groundhog, the New River is a venerable old geezer. It’s believed to have gracefully resisted the tectonic uplift that formed the Appalachian Mountains. The waterway’s course is a flowing testament to geologic rebellion, running south to north, in open defiance of its many eastern seaboard brethren.

Stretching for a respectable 360 miles, it meanders through gorges, valleys, and placid farmland, as if the river, not quite ready to concede to the ravages of time, is taking the scenic route through life. And what a life it must’ve been, witnessing the wax and wane of epochs, the dance of dinosaurs, the rise and fall of civilizations, all while carrying on with the soothing, persistent murmur of flowing water.

It’s a delightful spectacle of nature, whether you’re standing on the edge gazing into its depths, or better yet, paddling along its course. The section near the New River State Park in North Carolina provides a heavenly kayaking experience. With an easy gradient, it caters to a wide range of kayakers, from those with the overconfidence of beginners to the well-worn, sea-salt-in-the-veins sort of veterans. Not to mention, it’s also blessed with some of the most breathtaking scenery you could ask for, a nature’s art gallery curated by the hands of time.

As I paddled down this ancient waterway, taking in the limestone cliffs and evergreen forests lining its banks, the sun warming my skin, the water cooling my heels, I felt an immense sense of calmness. It’s easy to see why our pagan ancestors might have regarded rivers as gods. They are potent and gentle, dangerous and comforting, old and yet, forever new.

So there you have it – the New River. An old, winding trail of water with a youthful spirit, a place where time has meandered in strange loops and swirls, much like the river itself. A reminder of the past and an inspiration for the present, just waiting for us to dip in our paddles and join the flow. Because that’s the thing about rivers, they’re always on the go, much like life. And as the old saying goes, you can never step into the same river twice.

Several weeks ago, before the Canadian ‘Cannabis’ smoke came South, I shot this drone video of the New River and one of its many tributaries.

The New River “Scenic Route” w/ Chopin

Companion Post

Fox Hunters Paradise

+++

Celebrating God’s God Creation

Posted on

The Body’s Emergency Response System: Irreducibly Complex

The other day I was running late for an outdoor bluegrass concert. So I hurriedly packed up the items I would need: camp chair; back pack with additional clothing (gets cool when the sun goes down); and literally launched myself into the drivers seat of my truck. Unfortunately on the way to the seat my left knee met with some resistance; the unforgiving rotating light switch.

Ayyyeeee!

Well, the leg started to bleed. And since the abrasive cut was not low enough to avoid my knee-high shorts, I had to take the time to wipe and bandage this time-waster; or it would stain my clothing.

I knew I could carry on unconcerned if I wanted to. Why? Simply put; blood coagulation, part of the process known as the blood-clotting cascade. Eventually the flow would stop. I wouldn’t bleed out. “Soldiering on” would work okay. Blood stained shorts be damned. I was on a mission towards Bluegrass Heaven.

But since the shorts were new, and not yet ready for damnation, Bluegrass Heaven would have to wait. I took the time to bandage up.

Why am I telling you this bit of personal trivia? Because it gives us one more example of the Intelligent Design behind God’s Good Creation. “Huh?” Let me explain.

Blood clotting is the body’s emergency response system; a system I’m convinced was wonderfully designed.

There are some really bright scientists who agree.

Imagine a man having a stroke. He’s rushed to the hospital, where a team of medical professionals springs into action. This is much like what happens when you cut yourself. Your body has its own emergency response system – the blood clotting process.

When you get a cut, your body sends out a distress signal, like a 9-1-1 call. This summons tiny particles in your blood, called platelets, to the site of the injury. These platelets transform and start to form a plug, slowing down the bleeding. Then something called coagulation takes place. But now things get a little technical here. So let me bring in the expert.

Biochemist Michael Behe explains it better than I could in the latest Secrets of the Cell episode; an explanation that includes his irreducible complexity argument for Intelligent Design.

Behe concludes the blood clotting process is too complex and interdependent to have developed through Darwinian evolution. It’s like a finely tuned machine, where every part is necessary for it to function properly. (That’s the irreducible complexity of it.) This suggests that the system was designed with a purpose, rather than being the result of incremental & random evolutionary processes.

That’s what I think too. See what you think.

Video created by Discovery Science

Companion Posts

God’s Design: The Cell
Who’s Dead, God or Charles Darwin?

+++

God’s Good Creation