Lent Day 6: On Nicknames, Rap Names, and Pope Names

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

Hope all of my American readers enjoyed the long weekend, and that your first week(ish) of Lent was a blessed one.

I want to talk for a moment about names. First, we can see from the Scriptures that naming and being named is a very important thing, a sacred act in which God allows humans to participate. After creating Adam, God gives him charge of all of the creatures of the land, and entrusts to him the task of naming the animals. And then we see the numerous stories of God giving people a new name and references to each of us having a new name that we will be called by in heaven, a name known to God alone. We also see people receiving new names in modern times on several occasions -- confirmation, marriage, priestly ordination, and profession of religious vows.

But besides all of this, the other time people more frequently get a new name is a little less formal (and less divine) than all of this -- our first 'new names' are usually nicknames given to us by others.

And there's something that, in my almost 35 years of life, I have come to realize:

There is no good nickname for the name "Leslie."

Look, I know you're trying right now to come up with a good nickname for me. Please don't! So many have tried, and have fallen short, that I don't want you to misdirect your time in this way. Instead, why don't you join me in the silly (but enjoyable) task of picking out a couple names for yourself, just in case you ever need them.

First, a rap name. I have found that adding a dash and/or a dollar sign are helpful in establishing your rap name, should you need one. (I have personally chosen L-Dawg, although Le$lie was a close runner-up.)

Second, a Pope name. (I recommend either choosing from names of previous popes, or from other recognized saints of the Church. The possibilities are endless! But know that my Pope name, Salsa Guadalupe, is taken.)

But if you want to really know a bit about how the new Pope will be selected, who chooses his name, and a host of other interesting facts, check out this awesome illustrated play-by-play from Vatican Insider on "How a Pope is Elected." Click the link, and an arrow click will guide you through the process. It's really fun and informative!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

P.S. I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still open to answering people's Catholic questions, and especially since I've committed to writing each day of Lent, send those questions in while the iron is hot (or something like that)! E-mail me at  coffeetalkwithleslie@gmail.com.

Lent Day 5: Little Girls!

Hello again, Coffee Talkers!

Today has been a day of celebration! My younger daughter turned FIVE today! I know everyone says it, but I truly cannot believe how the time has flown.

Anyway, enough sentimentality for now -- I am blogging because there is a quiet moment in the midst of little girl sleepover mania. Following the family cake extravaganza, my girls invited a friend to sleepover. So now my just-turned-five-year-old, along with her big sis and their friend, are quietly watching "The Wizard of Oz." A blessed quietness, although their many screams, squeals, and peals of laughter were delightful as well.

It's almost time for lights out, and it's great to remember what is what like to be a little girl, so full of wonder and joy, drama and delight. Such fun!

In addition to chronicling a few of the evening's events, I am also writing this as a small apology to my friends who entrusted their daughter into my care this evening. She says that this is one of the best sleepovers ever...but she's also a little bit pink. Her skin. And both of my girls, too. They're all a little bit piggy-looking.You see, big sis picked out a play make-up kit, allegedly washable. We washed it, but in their efforts to see who could look the most terrifying (a valiant effort, I must say!), they really caked some of that nasty stuff on. Just know that they'll wash again in the morning. And that they're having the time of their little girl lives!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

Lent Day 4: Spiritual Warfare, Grace, and the 3-fold Practices of Lent

Hello again, Coffee Talkers!

Well, the 4th day of Lent reminded me of the reality that one the reasons that the Lenten season can be a time of grace and renewal is that it is a season when we, like Jesus during his 40 days in the desert, are called to engage in spiritual warfare. And the primary ways to guard ourselves against the powers of evil, the Church has given to all of us in its threefold practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

As the morning prayer antiphon from the Feast of St. Cecilia so beautifully and powerfully reminds us:

At daybreak, Cecilia cried out: “Come soldiers of Christ, cast off the works of darkness, 

and clothe yourselves in the armor of light.”

In an excellent blogpost on "The Sacred Page," former Protestant pastor, current Scripture scholar and professor, and my friend  Dr. John Bergsma explains the readings for the first Sunday of Lent, and shows how our practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving aid us in overcoming the 3-fold temptation to sin:

At the beginning of Lent, the Church reads to us the account of Jesus doing spiritual combat with the devil in the wilderness, reminding us that Lent is a time of warfare.  Through our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we do battle with the power of the devil in our lives, and with God’s grace, defeat him decisively.

The whole post is fantastic spiritual reading for this season, so I think you'll find it worthwhile to click here and check out the whole thing.

So stay strong on the journey, my friends; we are in this together!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

P.S. Speaking of warfare, I've sadly had to make the commenting function on my blog stricter. Someone recently posted a comment that, while somewhat senseless, was so vile that I felt the need to remove it and to require comment moderation (for a time, at least) and no more completely anonymous posting. I'm not one to always be attributing things to the forces of evil, but this comment was just that, so in addition to stepping up the fortress of comment moderation, I'm also stepping it up with the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We will get through Lent victorious, and the light will always win. Easter is coming!!

Lent Day 3: The Pope's Parents, and Catholic Pick-up Lines

Hello again, Coffee Talkers!

There is so much that I want to say about our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of his resignation from his Petrine Ministry, but tonight I want to talk a bit about his parents.

Do you know how Pope Benedict XVI's parents met? Any guesses?

I was so touched when I heard the sweet story:

"Middle ranking civil servant, single, Catholic, 43-years-old, immaculate past, from the countryside, is seeking a good Catholic pure girl, who can cook well, and who can do all housework, who is also capable of sewing and a good homemaker in order to marry at the soonest opportunity," it reads. 

"Personal fortune would be desirable but is not however a precondition. Offers, if possible with picture, to box number 734." The ad was placed in the 7 March 1920 edition of the Aotoettinger Liebfrauen Messenger newspaper, a Catholic publication seeking to bring together lonelyhearts of the same religion.

It brought policeman Joseph Ratzinger no results so on July 11 the same year, after he had been promoted a rank, he advertised again and drew a reply from Maria Peintner, born in 1884, and they met at a coffee house in Regensburg - birthplace of the pope - and became engaged days later. 

They married on November 9 that year in a parish church near the city and had three children - Georg, now 82 and a Catholic priest in Regensburg, Joseph, 79, the pope, and a daughter named Maria who died in 1991.

So in honor of yesterday (not the feast of  Cyril and Methodius -- sorry! -- but St. Valentine's Day), and the parents of our reigning pontiff, I've linked here to a list of awesome Catholic pick-up lines. And here's a great song on the same theme, too! 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Lent, Day 2: I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again!

My dear Coffee Talkers,

How kind of you to join me on this Lenten journey of daily blogging! When I made my final decision to blog for all 40-plus days of Lent yesterday, I decided to first re-post an entry on the Biblical theology of ashes in honor of Ash Wednesday. I had planned to post something new at night, after putting my kids to sleep. Only, as it turns out, I also put myself to sleep. And did not wake up until morning! Heh. My Lenten resolution was off to a strong start! Two Scripture verses came to mind upon my waking:

"When [Jesus] returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, 'So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?'" (Matthew 26:40)

But then, more consolingly, "It is vain for you to rise early and put off your rest at night, To eat bread earned by hard toil—all this God gives to his beloved in sleep." (Psalm 127:2)

Then this evening, upon our return home, we realized that the "planned power outage to avoid future unplanned power outages" on our block had turned into the unplanned power outage they were trying to avoid. So needless to say, all things related to blogging were not accessible.

But I decided not to let the forces of darkness bring me down (and it was really dark!), and found a place where once again I could see the light. And now that I am in that place, a place where I can once again sing, "I've got the power!" and really mean it, I realize that these small setbacks and unforeseen snags in my resolutions are part of the meaning of Lent.

In Lent, we who take on a voluntary sacrifice and make a willful resolution soon realize that all of our plans cannot come to fruition unless divine providence allows for them. We also take on these sacrifices and practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to prepare ourselves spiritually for trials that we do not choose ourselves, and to train ourselves in a generosity and selfless spirit that can endure even through the hills and valleys of life. In Lent, we get knocked down, but we get up again! Just as Jesus was tempted as he fasted and prayed in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, we too face various temptations and adversities, and at each trial from within or without, we have a chance to respond in humility, self-honesty, and reliance on God, and always a chance to begin anew.

How is your Lenten journey going so far? Have you encountered any difficulties or enjoyed any triumphs or spiritual insights? If you have not begun, perhaps now is the time to consider joining millions of people around the world who are joining together in a spirit of prayer, fasting, and giving generously to those in need.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers!

Peace and all good,
Leslie

The Biblical Theology of Ashes

A re-post from 2011...but I will be blogging every day this Lent! Thanks for tuning in! :)

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

A blessed Ash Wednesday to you! Today, I'd like to share an entry from one of my very favorite books, Father Xavier Leon Dufour's Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

Really, I cannot recommend this book enough. And I just saw that there are many inexpensive copies available online, so use a little of that money you saved in giving up your Big Mac habit to get one for yourself and enhance your Lenten spiritual reading!

Anyway, here's the entry on ashes. I think it gives some great food for thought (and speaking of food, it makes me quite grateful that we don't have to eat the ashes!).

The original meaning of ashes is a much debated question, in spite of their widespread use in most ancient religions. They are often associated with dust (the Septuagint translates “dust” by “ashes” on more than one occasion) and symbolize both the sin and weakness of man.

1.       In the first place the heart of the sinner is compared with dust: Isaiah calls the idolator “a man who hankers after ashes” (Is 44,20), and the Wise Man says of him, “Ashes his heart, meaner than dirt his hope” (Ws 15,10). This is why the wages of sin can only be ashes: the proud will see themselves reduced to “ashes on the ground (Ez 28,18), and the wicked will be trodden under foot by the just like ashes” (Ml 3,21). Moreover, the sinner, who does not become hardened in his pride (Si 10,9) and who realizes his fault, confesses precisely that he is only “dust and ashes” (Gn 18,27; Si 17,32). And to prove to himself and others that he is convinced of this, he sits amid ashes (Jb 42,6; Jn 3,6; Mt 11,21 p) and covers his head with them (Jdt 4,11-15; 9,1; Ez 27,30).

2.       But this same symbol of repentance is also used to express the sadness of man crushed by misfortune, no doubt because of a connection between misfortune and sin is taken for granted. When she is scorned Tamar covers herself with ashes (2 S 13,19); and so do the Jews when threatened by death (Es 4,1-4; cf 1 M 3,47; 4,39). In this way man wants to show the state to which he has been reduced (Jb 30,19) and even goes so far as to eat ashes (Ps 102, 10; Lm 3,16). But it is especially on the occasion of a bereavement that he feels nothingness and then he expresses it by covering himself with dust and ashes: “Wrap yourself in sackcloth, daughter of my people, roll in ashes; mourn…” (Jr 6,26).

Thus to cover oneself with ashes is to act in mime a sort of public confession (cf the liturgy of Ash Wednesday). Using the language of this lifeless matter that returns to dust, man admits himself sinful and weak, and in this way forestalls God’s judgment and attracts his mercy. To anyone admitting his nothingness like this is addressed the promise of the Messiah, as he comes to triumph over sin and death, “to comfort all who mourn, and to give them for ashes a garland” (Is 61,3).

 A blessed Lenten journey to you all!
Leslie

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

Hello, Coffee Talkers!

It has been brought to my attention that there are some problems posting comments on Coffee Talk. From my end, it appears that comments are enabled. However, apparently comments are disappearing and not posting. Would you take a moment to try to comment on here right now? If it doesn't work, will you shoot me an e-mail or comment on my Facebook post?

I promise that this is not an effort to boost my ego by getting more comments, but to resolve an issue with my very small and not very widely read blog!

Happy Sunday!
~ Leslie

Obama & Mother Teresa: A Shocking Similarity

As a Catholic-Christian, I more often find myself turning to spiritual leaders for advice and consolation than to politicians. Still, in the aftermath of the recent horrific tragedy of Newtown, Connecticut I found myself deeply moved by the words of President Barack Obama. The truth of his statements rang deep in my heart, and even on levels far different than the President himself had intended. Let me explain.

When reflecting on the unthinkable horror of the Newtown shooting and the emotional response of the nation, I had to ask myself what made this particular tragedy so unbearable to so many. The answer, it seems, lies primarily in the innocence of those who lost their lives, and in particular the children. Sadly, people get killed every day by violent means somewhere in the world (and often in places very close to home), but the thought of children and teachers having their lives brutally taken in what is thought to be a safe haven, a place of refuge, is especially hard for the human heart to comprehend. How can we respond in faith in the face of such unthinkable evil to a situation in which we feel so powerless?

This is where the President's words began to speak to me: "This is our first task, caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged."

This profound admission by our President stopped me in my tracks. Because as I heard his words, these haunting words of Mother Teresa came to mind: "Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion."

Later, I read both speeches again: first, President Obama’s remarks at the December 16, 2012 prayer vigil for the Newtown victims, then Mother Teresa’s remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C, on February 5, 1994. I considered how alarming and ill-received Mother Teresa’s words might have been to the audience to which she spoke them, and found myself perhaps similarly shocked at how they seemed to respond to certain points of the President’s address.   

President Obama: "We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society, but that can’t be an excuse for inaction.”

Mother Teresa: "But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?"

President Obama: "Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?"

Mother Teresa: "There is so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice, are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do."

President Obama: "As a community, you’ve inspired us, Newtown. In the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you’ve looked out for each other. You’ve cared for one another. And you’ve loved one another. This is how Newtown will be remembered, and with time and God’s grace, that love will see you through."

Mother Teresa: "If we remember that God loves us, and that we can love others as He loves us, then America can become a sign of peace for the world. From here, a sign of care for the weakest of the weak — the unborn child — must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for."

While the issue of abortion can be polarizing, the President and Mother Teresa agreed that we need to do better in caring for and protecting our nation’s innocent children, and I believe we can all do the same. As we mark the 40^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let us consider their words and do what we can together to care for the weakest among us.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,

Leslie

Writing in The New Year!

Hello, my long lost Coffee Talkers!

I'm back! To the people who asked when I was going to write again, thank you. To the few people who sent question but I have not yet answered, sorry for the delay. And to the 163 Russians who viewed Coffee Talk with Leslie during the month of December, despite the fact that I have not written anything on here since August... Why?!?

But all Russians aside, I'm so happy to be here Coffee Talking with you all once again, as the US West Coast New Year fast approaches!

Some (well, about 3) of you have asked why I stopped writing for a while, and ya know what? I have been blessedly busy with other non-Coffee Talk commitments, many of them involving PAID,
PUBLISHED writing! I don't really know how it all happened, friends, but to anyone who threw out a little prayer for me, thanks!

Could you keep praying? I'm hoping to wrap up a big writing project by the end of January in which I've been helping to turn a religion text book series into a parish series, and I'm responsible for the 1st - 8th grade   parish teacher manuals. It is taking me longer than anything I've ever done. I need focus and determination. I need caffeine. I need YOUR PRAYERS! In advance, accept my gratitude.

I got to do another feature article on some pro-life saints for a Catholic magazine -- that was fun! And then I got an offer to submit religion commentary pieces for publication in our local newspaper, The Daily Press. Neat-o mosquito!

Also, in the midst of all of that, and while  teaching for the Diocese and taking a college class for the first time in approximately 900 years, I got a new job. A full-time job. In the high desert. Using my degrees in music and Catholic theology! Who said that miracles do not occur these days?

Naturally, as I count the numerous blessings for me and my family this year, I also count the losses to so many and hold those people close in my heart.

I think of the moving words spoken by our beloved and Blessed John Paul II at World Youth Day in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2002. The words still ring true today:

A blessed and peaceful New Year to all!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie

50 Shades of Chick-Fil-A and True Love

Coffee Talkers!

How kind of you to join me again after another respite from blogging. Thus far, I have remained completely silent in the internet world as to the recent happenings surrounding Chick-Fil-A and the controversy surrounding the company president's statements regarding marriage. (I'm sure you could Google it if you don't know what's up.) Let me tell you up front that I am not here to endorse or boycott Chick-Fil-A or anything else (sorry to disappoint). Anyway, I read an interesting post in regard to this business -- it had some good points, but then I felt disturbed by the philosophical underpinnings of others -- and I decided to hold my little Facebook tongue in regard to any of it. But now I've seen quite a lot of people posting that same article (I'm not going to link to it, because that's really not the point I'm wanting to make here) and I finally am fed up with the whole drama enough to do the one hopefully more constructive thing on the internet than spouting off strangely isolated, vitriolic, or polarizing comments -- and that's to blog!

The thing I really liked about the article that I see all y'all posting is that the author mentioned something really important -- that people are being unfairly categorized and judged as to where they stand on the issue of Chick-Fil-A (and in turn, of same-sex marriage) as if there was no other issue, or quality of the person, that mattered. The author reminds readers that it is quite possible for a person to be for same-sex marriage but still to be a 'homophobe' (although I question what was meant by that particular term), or for a person to be 'gay' but to stand in opposition to same-sex marriage. I truly applaud the author for making this point, because I think it leads to what is essentially missing from, and to what is fueling such extreme polarization, in this debate. I see a lot of people posting things that point to a really black-and-white Chick-Fil-A mentality here: If you do not boycott Chick-Fil-A, you are a homophobic hater who wants all gay people to be jailed, and possibly killed; If you are boycotting Chick-Fil-A, you are supporting a subversive subculture that is calling down judgment upon our nation. (Nota bene: I DO NOT hold either of these views -- hopefully obvious?!)

The thing I really did not like about the article was that it went on to suggest that, while people do not have to agree with gay people on everything, all people should repudiate Chick-Fil-A (including 'unliking' them on Facebook) and that, if you cannot do that, that you should consider whether or not any person is really your friend. Because, the author insists (among other things, of course), "If things were reversed, I'd stand up for you."

Alright. A few things. (Oh, who am I kidding? A half dozen things!)

1. When I made a personal choice to no longer support a certain girls' organization because of their open partnership with a certain abortion provider, despite the fact that it was at the pain of loss in regard to a certain kind of rather delicious cookies, people jumped all over me like white on rice and insisted that I was attacking the girls themselves. I can assure you that quite the opposite is true, but it seems that a rather large number of people engaged in the current boycott have taken to verbally harassing and bullying those who participated in the day of support, yelling things at the customers about eating 'hate sandwiches' and 'bigot chicken.' Sound a leetle bit like hate speech or bullying to anyone? Can we all agree that this is wrong?

2. If things were reversed, you would not stand up for me. You know that little thing called the HHS Mandate, which really affects my ability to get health care as a mother of two young children who works for the Catholic Church? Not only that, but it may put me, as a practicing Catholic and church employee, at the risk of fines, imprisonment, and possibly death (hey, it seems as likely as what this author suggested when he said that Dan Cathy wants him to be killed) for civil disobedience against the mandate. Sorry, but I actually didn't see a single LGBT rights organization standing up for me or the Catholic Church, and I have enough LGBT friends that I think I would have heard the news. Strangely, the main non-Catholic groups I saw supporting us were fundamentalist Evangelical Christians, who generally consider us Catholics hell-bound but I guess decided to back us up this one time. Hey, help is hard to find these days, so I'll take it in whatever form it comes. Still, I question the 'If things were reversed, I'd stand up for you' line.

3. The author does not want to be judged on one particular aspect of his life, but he vows to judge others on whether or not they have 'liked' Chick-Fil-A on Facebook. I have seen many other people making similar promises to 'unfriend' on the same basis. Interesting.

4. The term 'homophobe,' to me, points to a fundamental misunderstanding prevalent in our American culture -- that if you do not agree with some aspect of a person's life, that you are either afraid of them, or that you hate them. This is simply not true. I am not denying that there are people who are fearful of those with same-sex attractions, but I think this term is often applied (these days, especially) to anyone who does not stand in full legal support of same-sex marriage throughout the United States. I'm sure that many of you reading may disagree with some aspect of my life as a Catholic, or perhaps with what you mistakenly believe about Catholicism. I do not equate that with you fearing or hating me. Similarly, many of us have a family member or friend who we have serious concerns about certain life choices they have made, but we don't feel afraid or hateful. You get the picture.

5. Our society is obsessed with sex, and people are much more than their sexual attractions or orientations. Seriously, can we all get over our American hang up with sex? When I meet a person and develop a friendship with them, I am not primarily interested in their sexual orientation, and if you are, I'm more than a little concerned. Really. Every person is a unique and complicated individual who deserves to be treated with respect regardless of their sexual attractions or whether they live a celibate life. From gay dance clubs to the convent, I have had friends from all backgrounds and belief systems, and I think it's worthy of mention that some of  the people who seemed to lead the happiest and most fulfilling lives are the ones who have chosen to live out their 'sexual identity' in voluntary celibacy. (I think I hear Sigmund Freud rolling in his grave now, just under the sound of your gasp.)

6. This whole debate is lacking in love, and love involves personal interactions between people who respect one another. I heard someone say the other day that they learned at church that the opposite of love is fear, and so everyone should stop being so afraid of gay people and start boycotting Chick-Fil-A. (Alright, I just threw in that last part, but it was clearly in regard to the Chick-Fil-A debate that they said this.) The Scriptures do say that perfect love casts out all fear, but the opposite of loving a person is not actually fearing them or hating them. Do you know what the opposite of loving a person is? Using. Utilitarianism is the opponent of the personalistic norm, or for us simple folks: stop using people and start respecting them and loving them for who they are and not for how useful they might be to you. So if a person is nothing more to you than a 'like' or 'unlike' click of the Facebook page for Chick-Fil-A, I think that might call us to examine our level of personal care and respect for that person. Sure, the virtual world allows us to 'keep in touch' with others all over the world, but at what risk? I think the best way to engage in dialogue about Chick-Fil-A, or any other matter, is to actually talk with another living person. If you can't meet with them face-to-face, why not give that person a call? And don't let it be just to debate them or to win them over to your way of thinking -- to me, that's slipping into using, and what we need here is loving, that on which true mutual respect and friendship must be built and earned.

If you got this far, perhaps you are a friend of mine, and in any case I thank you for stopping by. As always, be assured of my prayers.

Peace and all good,
Leslie