Perfect...for God only, silly mortal

My kids know not to say the phrase, "No one is perfect".  It irks me.  To me it implies that some people might be pretty close to perfect.  I think saying that phrase is arrogant.  My belief is that actually, we are all "Deeply Flawed".  And that's OK.  I personally feel much better about forgiving people when I think about it that way.  And I feel more like I am OK, because we are all in the same boat.  God is perfect and is there to guide me. Man, I'm glad someone is perfect! I make lots of mistakes...but hey since I am deeply flawed, of course I do!  I am also a perfectionist.  Hmmm.  So, my goal is to only make these mistakes one or two times.  After that, I need to feel guilty.  *Wink*

Hate Speach?

I wonder if being exclusionary to others is considered “hate”.  As a convert to the Roman Catholic Church (It’s been almost 11 years now), I am acutely aware that I am not of the norm.  Most who are transitioning faiths are leaving the RC faith, not entering.  But for our family, it was absolutely right for us to convert. 

I am of the belief, however, that those who follow other paths are just as subject to salvation as I am.  The Catechism of my faith affirms this…which is one of the reasons I was able to identify with the Church.  But in recent months, I have become increasingly concerned about the fact that my more religious acquaintances and perhaps even my friends here locally, only associate with me because I am a practicing Catholic.  I have had a half dozen or more moms tell me that they wanted to spend their time only with others of their faith.   

On the surface this seems reasonable, I suppose.  I don’t want my kids unduly influenced by “bad” kids.  I homeschool, don’t I?  I must be avoiding these miscreants, right?  Yes, to some extent…but we essentially chose to homeschool because we felt the public school system had failed our kids academically.  Morality was a secondary reason, I am afraid to say.  Our kids are extremely involved with the “outside” world.  Most of my homeschool counterparts seem bewildered by our schedule.  I do agree, that at times, it has been too much.  We have scaled back, and I feel we have a balance now.  The kids know that should they adopt the “snarky” attitude that their public school peers have, they will be removed from their activities.  For the most part, this threat has worked, although puberty has shown itself to be somewhat of a barrier in this regard.  Things are still OK, as of yet.

Here is the punch line to all of this, however. The moms talking to me of being with others in their faith, are more often segregating themselves from other Christians...not "Public-Schoolers".  And I hear lots of anti-Catholic sentiments regularly as well. Really? Has anyone checked out how much we are all alike lately?  I also have a network of "inclusive" homeschool friends as well.  This label is most often code for "Pagan".  And I have public school friends.  But every one of these people, whom I allow in my life are loving people who truly care about their kids....and the world around them.  

And they are all deeply flawed.

The smiling idiot

I grew up in the Midwest.  Living in upstate NY has been a culture shock to say the least.  I felt numb and dumbfounded for a good year, before I was able to really find my place here.  In the middle of the country, people smile.  A lot.  At everybody.  It would be rude not to.  Making small-talk is simply what you do with anyone you come across.  Cashiers, waitresses, bank tellers, your neighbors, children, senior citizens...everybody.  Eye contact is important as well, along with the smile.

I still walk around smiling at any person I come across.  And 99% of the time, as long as they don't know me, I get a blank stare back.  Sometimes cashiers don't even bother to look up, let alone say anything other than my total.

It took me a while, but eventually I realized that there are many nice people here.  People just need to know you a bit, before they warm up to you.  Usually people look surprised when I am near them, in an elevator or waiting room, and start talking to them.  I do my smile thing, push down my anxiety, and often they warm up soon after. 

It's sort of my mission these days.  Let people I encounter know I care (or at least wonder if I do) about them.  Which I do care, actually.  I do sometimes wonder, however, if people think of me as the smiling idiot.

Who is the most hateful? Christian, Catholic, or Pagan?

I love my faith.  I converted to Roman Catholicism in 2000, shortly before my first daughter was born.  I had had two miscarriages previously before my first child was born, a son.  I needed something to get me through the pain.  The RC church provided that.  But, I have never stopped loving those in my life who are Protestant.  Or those who have become a part of my life who are Pagan, Agnostic, or Atheist.  The mind's thoughts and the concept of Love are not exclusive to any Church. When Catholics talk about "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church"...we mean all Christians are meant to be together in one church...not that non-Catholics are some how black-sheep.