Difficult Times

Pope Benedict XVI decreed that the Catholic Church would observe the Year Of Faith from October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013. With all that is going on in our world today, I think that this is so very appropriate.

It is difficult for some to keep the faith in the face of all the recent tragedies our nation has faced. The bombings at the Boston Marathon, and then the terrible explosion in West Texas being the most recent. Many are wondering how this could have happened, where was God in all this. We speak of "free will", but that does not mean much to a family that has lost a husband, wife, son, daughter, father or mother. They wonder where the free will was of their loved ones. Faith can be a tenuous thing even in the best of times for some folks. When tragedy strikes, their faith is just as likely to go right out the window.

Others have their faith tested when those in authority, particularly in the Church, let them down by showing all to human failings. But, at least in these instances, I have to ask, is your faith in these people or in God? For if it is based in the teachings of Jesus, then you can not, and must not allow humans to test your faith or destroy it.

Of course, when things like the bombings of the Boston Marathon happen, that is different. As I said, though it be true, telling someone it was allowed to happen because of free will gives them little comfort. It gives me little comfort. How can such a thing happen? I go back to my first sentence with this. Lack of faith. No, not lack of faith of those injured, lack of faith on the part of the perpetrators. Yes, I know they are/were Muslims. I am not saying it was their Muslim faith and lack of Christian faith that led to this. Most Muslims are as shocked and outraged as any one else when such terrible things happen.  They condemn these acts of terror as well. No, I think it is a general lack of faith in anything. These people tell us they were doing it because of their faith, and because we do not think and act and pray as they do. But I think they have lost hope in everything, including themselves, though I'm sure they would never admit it. How can anyone claim to have hope in the world, and then kill innocent children and others? No, these men lost faith a long time ago. Faith in themselves, in the world, in humanity's ability to rise above its own pettiness and become more than it is.

Then, we have the explosion in Texas. As much as some would like to put a meaning behind it, to say it happened because we as a country are not doing, saying, praying etc., etc., etc., "right", I honestly believe this:  It Just Happened. As a very famous book once said, sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, bad things just happen. They have from the beginning of time. Mistakes happen. Sometimes there is simply no one to blame, it is just life. Life is hard and it is not fair. We as a people don't always act fairly, why should life? It just is.

Now, do we let all this damage our faith? Or do we realize that, no matter what happens to us in this life, Jesus is with us, and will meet us in the next. We see as through a glass darkly. We don't have all the answers, but we do have the most important one: Jesus. If we hang on to that, keep faith in Him, though we have pain and sadness and terrible things in this life, we can get through it. We just have to keep faith of the next life, knowing that one day nothing that happened in this life will matter.

I wish you all, great faith, and many blessings.

What, exactly, IS a "Southern Fried Catholic"?

     So, what is a Southern fried Catholic? Well, I hope I can explain it here to your satisfaction!

First, why I chose the "Southern fried" part: I live in Kentucky. Some would say I live in the extreme eastern part of central Kentucky, some would say I live in the extreme western part of eastern Kentucky. I just say I live in the "Gateway to the Bluegrass", as this area is called.

Also, there would seem to be some argument as to whether Kentucky is Southern or Northern. We rest next to that famous Mason/Dixon line for sure. Some who live further south than Kentucky say it is a northern state (given that distinction during the War Between the States), but many from Ohio and on up call us southern. So, it depends on who you talk to. I call us southern because we eat southern. And if you doubt it, here is what I mean.  We eat fried anything! You fry it, and my extended family and many of my friends will eat it! Fried chicken, fried pork chops, fried steak (sacrilege! I know), fried burgers, fried potatoes (in several different incarnations!), fried eggs, and the list goes on. Also, we like our milk gravy! Use those wonderful drippings from what ever you just fried, add flour and let it brown, then pour in the milk and stir until thick! Yum! Also, we eat grits. Now, some have asked the difference between grits and polenta.  Someone once told me that the difference was that "up North" polenta costs $6.95 a serving, and "down South" grits cost $2.50!  All I know is I've eaten a lot of grits, cheesed, with sausage, or with sugar, or plain, and liked them. The one time I had polenta, at a $35.00 a plate fancy "do" it was a congealed mess that might have once been smoother than grits, but was not tasty at all. Perhaps someday I'll get to try some better. Anyway, you get the gist of our eating habits!

     Also Southern can be our way of just "being". To some, we live a slower life, although if you talk to my family and friends, I'm sure they would laugh at that. Bless them, they always seem so busy! I also feel like we often live a more genteel life here, but some might argue that as well.  But I have rarely failed to wave at someone I don't even know, and had them not wave back! Here comes in the "Southern Catholic" part. As Catholics in this area, we are a decided minority. Some of us have experienced bigotry due to our faith. Some have experienced opposition to it (as did I when I converted). But, we love it, and defend it. 

     All Catholics have blessings and prayers . As southerners we have a few more. (I say with tongue in cheek) For instance, we often bless each other's hearts! Around here folks can pretty much say what they want about someone else, as long as they say "Bless their heart" at the end. My grandmother used to use that one a lot! When you are really upset with them, you might use "bless their little heart". My grandmother often let you know what she thought of others, but in a Christian way. Now, she wasn't Catholic, but I've known many "country" Catholics just like her. 

     We have a lot of Pot Lucks as well, with everyone bringing their best dishes. I'm sure other "northern" churches do as well, but we can guarantee we will have certain foods at them all. And those foods will have come down for generations, and are like a special kind of "communion" for us all, and will be decidedly "southern in their make up.  Are you catching a theme here? We like our "vittles"!

     I think, living where we do, we as southern Catholics tend to respond to overt bigotry a bit differently. When a local minister (now deceased) came up to me in my wheelchair and informed me that, "if I had the faith I should, I could get up out of that chair. I needed to 'get right' with God", I was shocked to say the least. But, told him how I, as a Catholic, saw it. He told me he would pray for me. I thanked him and told him I would do the same for him. He didn't much care for that, but what can you do? Some of us find it hard to evangelize those who think negatively of our faith, but we try anyway. We do what we can, trying to respond with love and not in kind to their bigotry. Many of us are converts who grew up hearing negative things about Catholics. As such, we have a unique opportunity to evangelize to our non-Catholic families. Some understand, some don't. We just bless their little hearts and go on about our business.

     Well, hopefully I've explained a little bit of what a Southern Fried Catholic is. As time goes on and I add more posts, I'll try to flesh this out a bit more. In the mean time, may you all experience the love of God, and be blessed!

I first became interested in blogging when I was invited to be one of the bloggers for CatholicDigest.com. After several years, that program was ended in the summer of 2012.  My son has set this site up for me, and will be adding posts with me from time to time, since I've found I enjoy putting thoughts into words and seeing what folks think of them.

Just a bit about myself for the first post then. I am a Catholic, though not a "cradle" one, having come into the Church December 12, 1981.  For the Saint savvy among you, you will realize that is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A rather fitting day, as my ancestry is of the Native American Tribes of the Lakota and Cherokee. I "put paid" to the idea that I was officially Catholic in my family's eyes when I married a Catholic in 1983, and later had a nice Catholic baby in 1987. I have a college degree in Recreation, though I no longer work in that field.

I am an artist, using the mediums of oils, water colors, and acrylics. I like to do wood carving, and sculpting in clay. I also make jewelry and rosaries, as well as dream catchers and other Native art. I play a Native Flute and sing a bit as well.

I am disabled, having been in a wheelchair full time since 1998. Although this does not define me, it is a part of me, and so should be included.
This blog is mostly going to be about what it is to be a Catholic in the Bible Belt, and a convert at that. I live in Kentucky, the extreme eastern edge of the central part of the state, the area known as the Gateway to the Bluegrass. It will include thoughts and ideas about what it is to be Catholic, as well as musings on the Bible, faith, spirituality, etc.
I look forward to sharing with you. I'm not a professional writer, but I do enjoy writing. I hope to get discussions started, and minds working. I hope to make you think, question, laugh, cry, and just become "friends" in Christ with as many as possible of you. I invite your thoughts and ideas, and look forward to hearing from you.  Come along for the journey!   Blessings.