My multi-denominational family and I did a reading group on The Great Divorce this summer. I love how CS Lewis is claimed by every denomination because I'm always looking for ways to create unity and bridge the gaps in our theological differences. I think suffering is also one of those ways and it is too bad that more people don't see it for the gift that it can be. (Or maybe see that a theology of suffering is a way to get through it.) I was reading about the fentanyl crisis and how it was really about pain and how there is more reported pain in the world, except maybe in Mexico where Catholicism and it's theology of suffering (and this is a paraphrasing of the article) are so embedded in the culture that less pain is reported there. It was just a fascinating look. Now that I think about it, I didn't read it, it was reported on an NPR podcast. Anyway Happy belated.
PS I really think I'm the other person whose supposed to go on the Poland trip and I just haven't been able to make it work, so I am relinquishing my secret hold on that spot so that someone else can go ahead and take it.
If you haven’t, read “Til We Have Faces” by CS Lewis. It’s a retelling of Cupid and Psyche and so, so good. Probably my favorite of his books. Happy birthday!
Thank you!! A) I shouted a bunch of angry prayers and an angry rosary for the duration of my morning commute… so the timing of this was perfect.
B) The potential to be “pain-free” is a lie I’ve told myself for years. A constant, perfectionist voice lives in my head, telling me “if I just create the right process for this, I won’t get stuck in this type of situation.”
Thanks for the words of peace… and happy birthday!!
Just wanted to say thank you for this post. I'm a 55 year old long-time, long-embittered agnostic (trying to be better), who happened to read this post after wandering around Substack for a while in search of writing about Catholicism. I was baptized Catholic but never became part of the faith. A few hours after reading this essay, I learned that a friend from my youth, who is dying very slowly of cancer, is going into the emergency room. I have no idea if he'll come out. All of this happened at a time in my life when I'm questioning everything about what kind of universe we live in and what our lives mean. Thank you for writing this, I look forward to more...
This is my new favorite essay by you- so honest and true!
After a year where The Bad Things came, and boy did they come hard, I could sometimes think, “Dang, God, I try to be good, do I really deserve all this?” Maybe, maybe not. That’s not the point. Cause realistically, with the paint I’ve also had a few tremendous, wonderful blessings this year, and I sure didn’t deserve those either. (I think of this as my Tale of Two Cities year... “it was the best times, it was the worst of times.” And it can all be at once lol.)
Yes! Also, you are going to suffer and be in pain even if you are no longer a Christian! You might temporarily be relieved of some stress but the pain and suffering will follow you. I feel bad for some of the "deconstructed" Christians live blogging their deconstruction and have unfollowed them. I think they'd be better served, in general, by reflecting and living their life out with their people rather than sharing every dropped belief publicly. I think it puts them in greater danger, since many of their "revelations" will turn out to be hollow. They are gleeful to be "free" but don't seem to understand yet that we all worship something - either the True God or something else. My heart breaks for them, since many of them are victims of false teachings and much of what they reject is not actually orthodox teaching. I pray that this is a way for them to let go of the false teachings and that they will one day see the Truth. But I wish that this were done in private, since when they make it sound like "now" they have figured it all out, they only make it more clear that they haven't. And doing this in public distorts their own learning from the messiness of their lives. Life is hard, for everyone, and leaving the church doesn't really make it easier in a fundamental way. That said, there is still a lot of hatred out there for those who are exploring identities suggested to them by the culture, when we need to offer compassion as well as truth. I in general love Abigail Favale's framing (especially the excerpt in this month's Plough - if you don't read Plough, Claire, I highly suggest it).
This is beautiful. Happy birthday, Claire!
My multi-denominational family and I did a reading group on The Great Divorce this summer. I love how CS Lewis is claimed by every denomination because I'm always looking for ways to create unity and bridge the gaps in our theological differences. I think suffering is also one of those ways and it is too bad that more people don't see it for the gift that it can be. (Or maybe see that a theology of suffering is a way to get through it.) I was reading about the fentanyl crisis and how it was really about pain and how there is more reported pain in the world, except maybe in Mexico where Catholicism and it's theology of suffering (and this is a paraphrasing of the article) are so embedded in the culture that less pain is reported there. It was just a fascinating look. Now that I think about it, I didn't read it, it was reported on an NPR podcast. Anyway Happy belated.
PS I really think I'm the other person whose supposed to go on the Poland trip and I just haven't been able to make it work, so I am relinquishing my secret hold on that spot so that someone else can go ahead and take it.
If you haven’t, read “Til We Have Faces” by CS Lewis. It’s a retelling of Cupid and Psyche and so, so good. Probably my favorite of his books. Happy birthday!
I just finished rereading this! It's amazing. So many layers, so much heart, so much pain.
Thank you!! A) I shouted a bunch of angry prayers and an angry rosary for the duration of my morning commute… so the timing of this was perfect.
B) The potential to be “pain-free” is a lie I’ve told myself for years. A constant, perfectionist voice lives in my head, telling me “if I just create the right process for this, I won’t get stuck in this type of situation.”
Thanks for the words of peace… and happy birthday!!
I love a good anger rosary!
Just wanted to say thank you for this post. I'm a 55 year old long-time, long-embittered agnostic (trying to be better), who happened to read this post after wandering around Substack for a while in search of writing about Catholicism. I was baptized Catholic but never became part of the faith. A few hours after reading this essay, I learned that a friend from my youth, who is dying very slowly of cancer, is going into the emergency room. I have no idea if he'll come out. All of this happened at a time in my life when I'm questioning everything about what kind of universe we live in and what our lives mean. Thank you for writing this, I look forward to more...
I am so sorry. Prayers for your friend. Happy to have more questioning sojourners here! ❤️
This is my new favorite essay by you- so honest and true!
After a year where The Bad Things came, and boy did they come hard, I could sometimes think, “Dang, God, I try to be good, do I really deserve all this?” Maybe, maybe not. That’s not the point. Cause realistically, with the paint I’ve also had a few tremendous, wonderful blessings this year, and I sure didn’t deserve those either. (I think of this as my Tale of Two Cities year... “it was the best times, it was the worst of times.” And it can all be at once lol.)
With the *pain. Not paint 😆
Happy birthday! Today's my birthday too!
I read this somewhere recently and was reminded of it as I read your essay.
"A comfort zone is a nice place to visit, but nothing grows there."
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Happy birthday! :)
Yes! Also, you are going to suffer and be in pain even if you are no longer a Christian! You might temporarily be relieved of some stress but the pain and suffering will follow you. I feel bad for some of the "deconstructed" Christians live blogging their deconstruction and have unfollowed them. I think they'd be better served, in general, by reflecting and living their life out with their people rather than sharing every dropped belief publicly. I think it puts them in greater danger, since many of their "revelations" will turn out to be hollow. They are gleeful to be "free" but don't seem to understand yet that we all worship something - either the True God or something else. My heart breaks for them, since many of them are victims of false teachings and much of what they reject is not actually orthodox teaching. I pray that this is a way for them to let go of the false teachings and that they will one day see the Truth. But I wish that this were done in private, since when they make it sound like "now" they have figured it all out, they only make it more clear that they haven't. And doing this in public distorts their own learning from the messiness of their lives. Life is hard, for everyone, and leaving the church doesn't really make it easier in a fundamental way. That said, there is still a lot of hatred out there for those who are exploring identities suggested to them by the culture, when we need to offer compassion as well as truth. I in general love Abigail Favale's framing (especially the excerpt in this month's Plough - if you don't read Plough, Claire, I highly suggest it).
I loveeeee Plough! I had the gift of blurbing Abigail Favale's new picture book; it's such a delight.