Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year Everyone!
Happy New Year! We look forward to a better one. Let's pray and hope it is. All we can do is do our part to make it so and hopefully that will be a good example for others to do so too. God bless you all, especially the grandchildren (all 25 of mine included).
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
What fond memories of Thanksgiving - how can one not be thankful for having the charmed lives we lead ?
I am with you all in spirit, and I wish I could break bread with you as well...
Interesting article in the Times today (titled "A French Connection", how can I resist...)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/opinion/26davis.html
Love to you all, say hello to Grandma for me.
Jeffrey
I am with you all in spirit, and I wish I could break bread with you as well...
Interesting article in the Times today (titled "A French Connection", how can I resist...)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/opinion/26davis.html
Love to you all, say hello to Grandma for me.
Jeffrey
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Overdue response to Jeff
Jeff,
Great picture- sounds like everyone had a good visit.
Monica already gave some answer to your questions, but I would like to add a bit of my own perspective.
The most thought-provoking to me was the question about pre-birth baptism, because it was something I had never considered before. Coming at it from a pure-reason standpoint, here's what I think: The purposes of Baptism are two-fold- the child is both born again into God's kingdom and welcomed as a contributing member of Christ's body on earth, the Church. Logistically, it is hard to be a contributing member when one hasn't been born yet! But, spiritually, I believe the child is already a member. In fact, I would say that an unborn child is closer to God than any of us are, having just been created, i.e, having just been with the Creator. This might start to sound a little hokey, but many believe that children are more aware of the presence of angels, whether from their comparitve innocence or from not having blocked such possibilities from their minds by worldly reason. (In Scripture, we are told that John leapt in Elizabeth's womb at the sound of Mary's voice.) In any case, a child floating in his mother's womb with nothing but her heartbeat and the recent memory of God's loving gift of life to keep him company knows nothing but life, and so knows God very well, indeed, without having been baptized.
I think Monica presented the case for the soul being born when life begins at conception, so I won't add to that. I do believe this, not only because I believe the logic to be sound, but also because in areas that it is hard to understand with the limitations of human perception I find it helpful to trust the words of those with better prayer lives than me. For the sake of argument, though, let me back-track slightly and say: even if you cannot 100% prove that life begins at conception, can you say with 100% certainty that it does not? I do not think anyone can claim to KNOW that it does not. Supposing that Christians are wrong and that human life begins at, say, the first breath of air, the price of our error will have been the emotional trauma, social ostracization, and yes, occasional death, that accompanies unwanted pregnancies. I do not take these things lightly. However, they pale in comparison to the price of the error of supporting abortions if life does, in fact, start at conception. 48 million lives is more than the estimated 47 million civilian deaths in WWII- and the number of abortions is still growing. From a "utilitarian" perspective, if you cannot say with 100% certainty either way, would it not be best to play it safe?
As for the Church's view on artificial insemination, my understanding is that fertility methods are not discouraged as long as they handle life responsibly. My lay understanding is that in many methods they intentionally overshoot the number of eggs they need to fertilize to increase the odds that one "takes". The extras are then left to die in test tubes or, once inside the mother, aborted. So, what may seem like a beautiful development at first glance can actually be quite dark upon further inspection- one life coming at the cost of ten. If the 48 million aborted were allowed to live, thus making adoption more available, infertility would not be as traumatic as it is now.
In the Church's eyes, the goal is not rampant promulgation of the species, believe it or not. With regards to life, the Church hopes to treat every life that God has created with respect and dignity. It is true that Christian families are often larger because of our understanding of sexuality, but with regards to abortion issues, it is not in our agenda to push this understanding of sexuality onto unbelievers. The "get your rosaries off my ovaries" slogan highlights the misunderstanding- I really could care less about her ovaries; it's the life that they have produced and she is threatening that forces me to act.
As for forced baptism, I don't think there is anyone in this family who would say that's a good idea. For one thing, it's hard to imagine this happening without it being militant. Although the past is pocked with shameful aberrations, at her purest the Church never promotes violence. Also, I see respect for the differing conclusions that non-believers reach as part of the respect for life. It is a Christian's duty to make the Word available to as many people as possible, but never to force the Word upon someone. Monica's reference to the catechism help explain how this does not exile people who earnestly seek God outside of the Church.
It is well past my bed-time, so I will stop there. A few of your questions are left unanswered, Jeff. It's a large can of worms you opened!
Great picture- sounds like everyone had a good visit.
Monica already gave some answer to your questions, but I would like to add a bit of my own perspective.
The most thought-provoking to me was the question about pre-birth baptism, because it was something I had never considered before. Coming at it from a pure-reason standpoint, here's what I think: The purposes of Baptism are two-fold- the child is both born again into God's kingdom and welcomed as a contributing member of Christ's body on earth, the Church. Logistically, it is hard to be a contributing member when one hasn't been born yet! But, spiritually, I believe the child is already a member. In fact, I would say that an unborn child is closer to God than any of us are, having just been created, i.e, having just been with the Creator. This might start to sound a little hokey, but many believe that children are more aware of the presence of angels, whether from their comparitve innocence or from not having blocked such possibilities from their minds by worldly reason. (In Scripture, we are told that John leapt in Elizabeth's womb at the sound of Mary's voice.) In any case, a child floating in his mother's womb with nothing but her heartbeat and the recent memory of God's loving gift of life to keep him company knows nothing but life, and so knows God very well, indeed, without having been baptized.
I think Monica presented the case for the soul being born when life begins at conception, so I won't add to that. I do believe this, not only because I believe the logic to be sound, but also because in areas that it is hard to understand with the limitations of human perception I find it helpful to trust the words of those with better prayer lives than me. For the sake of argument, though, let me back-track slightly and say: even if you cannot 100% prove that life begins at conception, can you say with 100% certainty that it does not? I do not think anyone can claim to KNOW that it does not. Supposing that Christians are wrong and that human life begins at, say, the first breath of air, the price of our error will have been the emotional trauma, social ostracization, and yes, occasional death, that accompanies unwanted pregnancies. I do not take these things lightly. However, they pale in comparison to the price of the error of supporting abortions if life does, in fact, start at conception. 48 million lives is more than the estimated 47 million civilian deaths in WWII- and the number of abortions is still growing. From a "utilitarian" perspective, if you cannot say with 100% certainty either way, would it not be best to play it safe?
As for the Church's view on artificial insemination, my understanding is that fertility methods are not discouraged as long as they handle life responsibly. My lay understanding is that in many methods they intentionally overshoot the number of eggs they need to fertilize to increase the odds that one "takes". The extras are then left to die in test tubes or, once inside the mother, aborted. So, what may seem like a beautiful development at first glance can actually be quite dark upon further inspection- one life coming at the cost of ten. If the 48 million aborted were allowed to live, thus making adoption more available, infertility would not be as traumatic as it is now.
In the Church's eyes, the goal is not rampant promulgation of the species, believe it or not. With regards to life, the Church hopes to treat every life that God has created with respect and dignity. It is true that Christian families are often larger because of our understanding of sexuality, but with regards to abortion issues, it is not in our agenda to push this understanding of sexuality onto unbelievers. The "get your rosaries off my ovaries" slogan highlights the misunderstanding- I really could care less about her ovaries; it's the life that they have produced and she is threatening that forces me to act.
As for forced baptism, I don't think there is anyone in this family who would say that's a good idea. For one thing, it's hard to imagine this happening without it being militant. Although the past is pocked with shameful aberrations, at her purest the Church never promotes violence. Also, I see respect for the differing conclusions that non-believers reach as part of the respect for life. It is a Christian's duty to make the Word available to as many people as possible, but never to force the Word upon someone. Monica's reference to the catechism help explain how this does not exile people who earnestly seek God outside of the Church.
It is well past my bed-time, so I will stop there. A few of your questions are left unanswered, Jeff. It's a large can of worms you opened!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Big Dog in town
My father arrived here today around 2pm. After a long flight (NY-Barcelona), and a long (3 hr, Barcelona-Marseillan) drive - I was expecting to see him in worse shape than he turned up in - he looks good and it's pure joy for me and my brood to have him here.
The kids were here when he got home - there was a teacher's strike today, and Constance's and Eleanore's teachers were on strike, so I didn't send Henri to school (partly an act of solidarity with the teachers who did strike, partly so he could spend an extra couple of hours with his Grandpa who is just on a short visit...
(to close out on the strike anecdote, the teachers are striking because of proposed budget cuts to the national education budget, notably budgets for children in difficulty)
Anyway, I was working from home and managing the three kids as best I could until Grandpa showed up to take care of them (the kids have the Wii, and other than fighting over which game to play, that occupies them pretty well so I can get my work done). "Uncle Doug" as most of you know him did take a little (well earned) nap towards the latter part of the afternoon, but then he took the kids into town (Constance needed a book from the book shop that was ordered by her French teacher). On top of getting the book, they came back with rillettes (kind of a porc paté, but I've never really had anything like it in the states), brie, a nice cantal - I think it was a cantal, it could be a tomme - (those are cheeses) and a couple of baguettes. We popped open a bottle of and ejoyed the start of our evening, until I started cooking that typically French meal - Moussaka. :-)
Either way, I'll try to post some pictures all that tomorrow.
The kids were here when he got home - there was a teacher's strike today, and Constance's and Eleanore's teachers were on strike, so I didn't send Henri to school (partly an act of solidarity with the teachers who did strike, partly so he could spend an extra couple of hours with his Grandpa who is just on a short visit...
(to close out on the strike anecdote, the teachers are striking because of proposed budget cuts to the national education budget, notably budgets for children in difficulty)
Anyway, I was working from home and managing the three kids as best I could until Grandpa showed up to take care of them (the kids have the Wii, and other than fighting over which game to play, that occupies them pretty well so I can get my work done). "Uncle Doug" as most of you know him did take a little (well earned) nap towards the latter part of the afternoon, but then he took the kids into town (Constance needed a book from the book shop that was ordered by her French teacher). On top of getting the book, they came back with rillettes (kind of a porc paté, but I've never really had anything like it in the states), brie, a nice cantal - I think it was a cantal, it could be a tomme - (those are cheeses) and a couple of baguettes. We popped open a bottle of and ejoyed the start of our evening, until I started cooking that typically French meal - Moussaka. :-)
Either way, I'll try to post some pictures all that tomorrow.
edit - here's a picture...
Jeffrey
Trees Falling
Jeff,
There's still life on Earth. I enjoyed the pictures- and got a good laugh from "it's okay to be politically incorrect in France." I didn't realize they trick-or-treated in France. Or do they not, and people were merely handling over candy because they felt bad for the poor children being paraded around by the man in blackface? Just kidding.
I would post a picture of Elizabeth and I (we are currently living together in Boston), but I doubt anyone would find it quite as cute.
As for the blog traffic, I'm afraid a large number of people couldn't make the technological leap. But, I still think it is a good thing to write on it as opposed to emails. I feel like people will only come to the blog when they are in a stable mindset, whereas emails might catch you at your worst moment. I think making it a conscious decision to come to the blog and participate in the discussion has to help keep things from getting out of hand.
I also plan on responding to your questions (you know, just to get the traffic flowing again). I am currently in the middle of both trying to find a job in NYC at the worst moment in job history and studying for my first architectural board, thus the delay. Sounds like a good weekend activity, though.
Glad to hear Melanie is doing better. The little guy looks great!
There's still life on Earth. I enjoyed the pictures- and got a good laugh from "it's okay to be politically incorrect in France." I didn't realize they trick-or-treated in France. Or do they not, and people were merely handling over candy because they felt bad for the poor children being paraded around by the man in blackface? Just kidding.
I would post a picture of Elizabeth and I (we are currently living together in Boston), but I doubt anyone would find it quite as cute.
As for the blog traffic, I'm afraid a large number of people couldn't make the technological leap. But, I still think it is a good thing to write on it as opposed to emails. I feel like people will only come to the blog when they are in a stable mindset, whereas emails might catch you at your worst moment. I think making it a conscious decision to come to the blog and participate in the discussion has to help keep things from getting out of hand.
I also plan on responding to your questions (you know, just to get the traffic flowing again). I am currently in the middle of both trying to find a job in NYC at the worst moment in job history and studying for my first architectural board, thus the delay. Sounds like a good weekend activity, though.
Glad to hear Melanie is doing better. The little guy looks great!
Infotainment
I guess there's not much traffic to this blog, except when a prairie fire of good natured controversy is blowing through the family over controversial topics like healthcare, Roe v Wade, the election, or some other hot button topic. A real microcosm of the cable news shows - partisianship sells, shock and awe sells, a family picture album - nice, but doesn't fan the flames.
I'll still post here from time to time, but if a tree falls in a forest.... I'm used to talking in a vacuum anyway :)
I'll still post here from time to time, but if a tree falls in a forest.... I'm used to talking in a vacuum anyway :)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Just to keep content fresh here
I have a dinner tonight with a VP of technology and engineering from the parent company that acquired my company in May. Apparently he's from Alabama, and according to people who have met him, he's a gun-totin, born-again, Palin-lovin kind of guy. I'm going to have to do my best to stay away from any political commentary. But we'll see how it goes...
At least it's a free meal :-)
At least it's a free meal :-)
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