Here's To 2010...

In the ranking of my years spent kicking around the planet, I'm going to have to put 2009 right near the bottom as we wrap up things tonight, and I do just a little reflecting. I'm not going to justify it here in this post. It just was.

Don't misunderstand. I am blessed in many, many ways, and I really do make every effort to remember that. So in the big picture of things, I know that what I consider to be my worst years are likely better than 3/4 of the population's best year. That's some humbling stuff. So why even judge it? I don't know. I guess we all do it. Call it grading on a curve. No matter what we have, or what occurs, we all want to do better, right? Most times, we hope for a New Year at least as good as the last, don't we?

All I'm saying, is that compared to 2009, there's definitely some room for improvement for me. The important thing for me to remember...for us all to remember, is that much of that is up to us, as long as we allow God's help.

So here's to all of us making this next year better, for ourselves and for our neighbors. Throw another year (and a decade) on the fire tonight, and in the warmth and light of those memories, let us ask God to strengthen and guide us to making next year one for the top of our lists!

Happy New Year.

Christmas 2009

The Christmas message from The Dominican Sisters of Mary:

God has always been with us, but the Incarnation radically changed His manner of being “with us.” The most sacred item for the people of the Old Testament was the Ark of the Covenant, which contained several holy objects: the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, God’s word inscribed by God Himself; a jar of the manna with which God fed them in the desert; and Aaron’s rod, the symbol of his priesthood (Heb. 9:4). From the moment of the Incarnation, when the Holy Spirit overshadowed the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is called the Ark of the New Covenant, she held within her womb the Word of God in the flesh, who is the true manna in the Most Holy Eucharist, and who is the Eternal High Priest. Emmanuel, “God with us,” loves us with an intensity that is beyond our human comprehension, but we can begin to grasp it when we approach Him in the Blessed Sacrament, and receive Him into ourselves. Wherever the sanctuary light burns, He is there with us, but He is even closer to us when we receive Him, so that He can begin to transform us in Himself. He is not a God who remains distant, but one who enters into our lives, and into our very beings, bringing His infinite mercy and forgiveness. We long to be loved, and He longs for our love. As we approach the great mystery of Christmas, may He grant us the grace of deep, unwavering devotion to His presence in the Eucharist. O come, o come Emmanuel!

May the Peace of the Christ-child be God’s gift to us this Christmas time, and His blessings be upon us always!

More Chicago Thuggery

In a desperate move to save face, Obama is "inviting" all democratic senators to the White House today to brow beat and threaten them that something must be done on health care before the end of the year. One gets the distinct impression that it doesn't matter what it contains, as long as Obama can protect his image.

Make no mistake; this is Chicago-style politics at it's worst. If it had been an invitation, Republicans would have received one. No, he's calling in the people that he knows he can intimidate.

So what we have here is a president with 44% approval rating, directing a senate with a 28% approval rating, to pass a bill that only 34% of Americans want. Now that's representation. That's the Chicago way.

Think About It

"Treasury pay czar limits pay at automakers, banks."

This simple AP headline says a lot. An awful lot. Have you thought about it?

How sweeping these powers are for an official, who:

• was not elected by the people
• in a position unconfirmed by the other two branches of government
• in an action unauthorized by the Constitution
• controlling funds as if they were his own
• to manage a couple dozen companies funded and even partially owned by the government
• determining the pay grade for individuals of which he has no direct assessment of
• under a title that is defined as, "...an autocrat; an absolute ruler..."

File this under more "Hope and Change", but stop and think about it first. After all, this is happening right under your nose in what is supposed to be a Republic.