A discussion shared yesterday with a friend went straight to the heart of why so many of the social norms we carry into adulthood have been tarnished by childhood. The discussion point centered around Catholicism. As the child of Irish catholics, lent always brought welcome relief from the drunken family tirades so often experienced under the veil of Divine intervention while sporting patent leather shoes.
My life today is unfortunately void of the family trama-dramas that forged most of my personality. The unfortunate part you ask? Where did you think the old adage "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" came from...dis functional families perhaps but why take the "fun" out of dis functional? Parish the thought.
I still seek a shared vision of community, just not sure how to re create the vision.. Remember those delicious mushrooms we dabbled with in the early 80's? Certainly liked THAT vision but alas the only people to embrace that particular culture had the whole drug culture monkey on it's back. Not a great community to ingratiate oneself into.. The Episcopalians seem to be on the right track-open to individualism, embracing women and gays. Hey! What a concept, makes me wanna be a part of something so tolerant.
Dante's Inferno spoke to me the first read thru when I was 14 years old. A recent re read made me even more confidant that he was on to something really bold. I like bold.
So with Lent approaching, I will light a candle for Buddha, say a hail Mary or two, and toss down a few martini's to celebrate all thoughts and deeds Dante. Covering ones spiritual bases can't hurt right? See me sporting a forehead smudge this Wednesday? Never.
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6 comments:
Don't get me started with my own stories of evil nuns. A life time of therapy has not erased the damage. Nice to now that I am in good company. Thanks for the funny post. I like the fun in disfunctional.
What doesn't kill you DOES make you stronger. Worked for me too. Don't forget misery loves company, care to share the martini's?
I LOVE Dante's Inferno. How do we keep our drinks chilled would be my greatest concern. At least all my friends will be there. Worth drinking to don'tcha think?
No one willing to discuss the evil priests with wandering hands? That's the real problem.
Why so harsh? Can't you see the good in the church if others find comfort?
There's nothing tolerant in the aganst of your rant.
I think we pick and choose what to take from our childhood. My father's parents were unhappy, argumentative, annoyed by young children, and anti-Catholic WASPs. My mom's parents and living grandparents were Catholic and loving, supportive to their children and grandchildren, and happy people. Guess what I find in the Catholic church? Much that runs through from my childhood: tolerance for questioning and thought, belief in evolution, a call for social justice, a familiar set of rituals and beliefs that bind me to living and late family members who showed me great love. I also find the same spectrum of people I do in all of society: hypocrits, posers, sinners in many ways. I don't condemn the whole church and my core beliefs for some all-too-human failings. Do things need to continue to evolve and embrace societal change? Of course. I just feel that's more likely to come from the inside than the outside. For me Lent is a wonderful time of reflection and a focus on three main areas: prayer, good works, and sacrifice. Hard to feel that can't benefit most of us.
Also interesting that your condemnation of memories of Irish Catholic drinking requires a turned back on Catholicism, but welcomes the martini! We all need to follow our own paths, but realize that many of us choose different paths for very valid reasons. How great!
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