Rage

Do you ever get angry? 

Not merely annoyed, but angry, rage, sparks flying? 

I get that. Not because the wind blew the neighbour's bin over and all the rubbish is on my drive, which is annoying. Not because someone is taking the parking spot I have been waiting for, that is frustration.

 

I can get angry, or is the correct term "disappointed", especially when I look at how the Catholic Church is organised, or how society deals with inequality. The injustice of gender bias, race, religion etc. Reading historical literature, I come to the conclusion that some things have improved. Still, other aspects of human society and equality have a long way to go. 

 

When I was a teenager, my mother subscribed to a Feminist magazine. I wasn't particularly bothered then; schools were inclusive, and when looking for career opportunities, we were encouraged to look outside the square. Gender issues hadn't surfaced in my 'straight' world, although I am the first to admit that there might have been classmates who were gay, it didn't seem a big issue at the time.

 

Recently, in our monthly study group, we looked at some of the bookmarks from Caritas. Those bookmarks are a good starting point for a lively discussion. 

We were all given three different bookmarks and were invited to choose one we had to speak to. I received the 'Subsidiarity', 'Human Dignity' and 'Participation'. Choices - choices! I could speak to all of them!

 

Subsidiarity is about decision-making at the right level. And when you make a decision, you need to be aware of all those affected and make sure the decision made is in the best interest of all. The 'Participation' bookmark highlighted the need for each and every member of a community to play its role. 

 

It was the 'Human Dignity' bookmark that received the most energy, it made me angry and disappointed. The lack of inclusive language, the assumption that men know best. That makes the sparks fly! Or as a friend would say, 'It smokes my tyres'. 

 

Probably unintentional, or simply because the people who put it together do not think about these things. But the lack of female images or pronouns for God, the assumption that the Church knows best…. It is the arrogance of the male-dominated attitude that grinds me, time after time.

 

Recently I heard that a female, Catholic Theologian, really struggles that in their religious (female) community, (consisting of intelligent women), have to get a male in to Celebrate Mass. Nuns, sisters of religion, are increasingly vocal about the arrogance of the male-dominated church.

 

I wonder if the priests are aware that without the Blessed Virgin, (clearly a female), there would not have been a Jesus born. 

It is surprising that the Priest claim to take Jesus place at the altar, should it not be a female? To represent Mary? Should it not be a female, like Mary Magdalene, who was the first disciple teaching us about faith and following Christ? Where are the women in the Church??

Am I a Feminist? Only if that means that we work intentionally for equality in both society and Church. I am not saying a gentleman can't open the door for me, or can't gift me flowers. I do believe in equality in church and state matters.

 

I find it astonishing that in all world religions and faith traditions, the women have become second-degree citizens. Even in today's society women are not paid equal, have no equal rights and are still victims of sexual violence. Males continue to decide what is right or wrong for a woman. Just as an aside. How often do the trouser length for male trousers change? Who decides on the length of the skirts, dresses, depth of décolleté Etc. Etc.?

 

At what stage will the Catholic Church accept women for their worth, not just for cleaning the brass, or taking care of the flowers, and continue to fill the church. 

 

Over the weekend, my husband and I explored one of the lovely walkways in our city. A pleasant meander along the river, birdsong and blossom galore. It was Divine! I have lived in this city for more than 20 years, and never felt that walk was a sensible thing to do; how terribly SAD. My husband acknowledged he has never had to think about whether a particular walk is safe or not. He doesn't think twice going for an evening stroll.

 

Here we are, I make no apology for my rant. I do hope that as a society, we will make serious efforts to reach a point of equality, in every area of our lives. Where male and female are treated equal, no matter what their sexuality or race might be.

 

What change can you make in your life towards gender equality, towards a minimizing of male arrogance?

 

 

 

 Seek Peace and find it within.

 

Praying Beads

I have this image of people walking or shuffling along, murmuring prayers as they finger their prayer beads. In the Middle East, especially during the Ramadan, you would see people in the souq, under a tree or sitting at their doorstep, praying the ‘Mishbaha’ (Muslim prayer beads). It was one of my earlier encounters with praying beads. When visiting Thailand, begging monks with their bowls and ‘Malas’ (string of prayer beads) were a common sight in the cities.

Prayer beads are an essential part of the spiritual practice for a wide variety of people. Many faith traditions have a rich history of using them. Buddhists, Hindus and the Abrahamic traditions, all utilise this form of prayer. The religious traditions have their specific reason for the number of beads and the prayers they use for the beads. There is no magic in the beads, it is merely an aid to counting prayers, or loosing oneself in the prayer.

Ten years ago, travelling through Italy and France, I would see monks or nuns, fingering their Rosary, murmuring the prayers under their breath as they sat in Church or wandered around parks and streets.

I was intrigued! And envious. It was my desire to learn to pray like that. To be focused; to be at so at ease in my faith that devotions in public would not make me self-conscious. The beauty of sitting in silence in a church, allowing the beads to slip through my fingers as I prayed, or in the park under a tree, devoted to my practice. I was a long way off!

Praying the Rosary or using the Mala beads while saying a mantra is helpful as you concentrate on something outside yourself. This meditation practice has both physical and spiritual benefits. Physically it helps to lower blood pressure, slowing down in general and decreasing anxiety and stress levels. The spiritual advantage lies in getting closer to God, the God within and God without and being present in the moment. It is an aid to a deepening spiritual devotion and awareness.

Although most people are familiar with the Rosary of the Catholic Church; the Eastern Orthodox Church uses knotted ropes or beads for their prayers. The knots are used for counting the ‘Jesus prayer’ or the ‘Kyrie Elision’. The Catholic Church promoted the idea that praying the Rosary may benefit you or others. I don’t believe that at all. There is nothing we need to do. God loves us and does not demand any works of us. Praying the Rosary is for personal benefit, to grow closer to God as you spend more time in prayer.

The Protestants seem reluctant to use prayer beads, because Jesus didn’t use them, nor is there any reference in the Bible that promotes the use of beads. Some Anglicans will use Anglican prayer beads which are set out in a si
milar way to the Rosary but have fewer beads.

Over the last few years of praying the Rosary, reflecting on Scripture and praying have deepened my faith. When I go for my walks, I often say the Rosary as it helps me to let go of stuff in my head.

Do you use a mantra, pray the Rosary to stay focused on the Divine?

Open my heart to your Love.

 

Challenges

Completed paintings, if there is such a thing, rarely show the challenge and frustration the painter goes through before the end result is acceptable. To be able to re-create what is in font of you or in the mind’s eye requires skill and patience.

My latest painting consists of a branch of an apple tree. Apples are one thing to paint, the lush, fat fruit with a crunch to it, is hard to put on a canvas. However leaves, with the shades of green, or with a hint of red, a brow speck or the illusion of white in it, are a challenge. Do you ever stop and examine a leaf? Those of us who see colour can get overwhelmed with the plethora of hues and shades.

My teacher keeps asking the same question to each individual; “What you see?”  We see shapes, negative shapes and colour. If you are like me and are too sparse with paint, you have to keep mixing the same colour over and over again; a little variation might make a huge difference. Sometimes this is great. It creates depth and form, sometimes it is a disaster, and the newly acquired tint may ruin hours of dedicated painting.

Painting is a challenge, a rewarding challenge when it turns out the way I saw it in my mind’s eye, whether it is copied from a picture or freehand. Imitation, can be a great tool to aid in learning a new skill.

In our spiritual journey, we are encouraged to imitate Christ. This simple statement, however, can create some anxiety. Who are we to follow? The historical Jesus or the Cosmic Christ. Or are we encouraged to be the best person we can be? To grow into ourselves, as God intended us to be. I am not sure about you, but I do ‘me’ quite well, I couldn’t be my best friend or my husband. I have to be me. Whole and complete as God intended me to be.

St Francis calls us to be Christ-like, living the gospel life. Letting go of our earthly desires, spending time ‘in the gaze of God’ and looking after those in need. We are called to share the Good News, the love of God and to build a more fraternal world. 

Like painting, this takes practice, an open mind and commitment.

Seek Peace and find it within.