Good News & Not-Really-Bad News

I have good news and not-really-bad news on my blogging scene.

Not-Really-Bad News: I've decided to put A Third Way on hiatus. Temporary hiatus.

I started this blog to detail my third-order vocation journey. And, given where I'm at with my vocation of wife and mother right now (and for a while), a third order is not in the cards. Just not now.

I don't have the time to discern, make meetings and really give myself completely over to the process, let alone postulancy. My kids are young and my time is theirs right now, not my own. I could try discernment and possibly even postulancy, I know my husband would support me, but I don't want to force it.

I want to enjoy the whole process. And I know that right now this time crunch would not let me. I'd be at meetings fearing my cell phone is gonna vibrate with the news my little boy won't go to sleep. Or I'd be looking at my watch, wondering if I can get a quick run in to the grocery store after the chapter meeting and before I get home. Unless God shows me otherwise - or drops a free nanny from the sky, lol - it ain't gonna happen for the foreseeable future.

It will happen, I know it will. I still feel very strongly called to a third order, most likely The Dominicans. But I also feel called that the time is not right currently to embark on that amazing journey. When it is time, A Third Way will be back up and running.

The Good News: I'm going to continue posting at my new blog, Contagious Catholic. I've been secretly setting this up for me - and you - over the past week. I wanted the place clean and the lights on before I invited you in. It's still not finished, but it's good for posting.

Now, the really good news. If you enjoy reading A Third Way, you'll enjoy reading Contagious Catholic because it's the same blog, just a different name. The perfectionist in me has been going crazy posting under a blog name that doesn't really fit the content. Contagious Catholic does. So, it's second verse, same as the first over there.

So please join me over at Contagious Catholic. We'll continue to have fun. And go see how I came up with the name, it's a good story.

Thanks for reading, friends.

Take that Bible off the shelf

A couple of weeks ago I missed my regular 11 a.m. Mass at my parish, so I hit the 5 p.m. "last call" service in a neighboring town.

I really enjoy the priest at this parish, he has a very kind, uplifting way about him, while celebrating a beautiful, faithful Mass.

During the homily, Father had an aside that made me think. He noted, and I'm paraphrasing here:

"When you have your Bible at home, don't leave it on the shelf! Wherever you have it, leave it open so the Word of God is invited out. You should always display your Bible open."

It makes a lot of sense. A Bible buried in a bookshelf vs. a Bible displayed open on a table - it's a no-brainer as to which I would pick up more frequently.

So I've removed my study Bible from the shelf (which tells you how my, um, studying is going ;-) ) and placed it on the home altar, open. Where it should have been all along, now that I think of it!

Welcome to our home, please excuse the mess

Have you ever had anyone stop by your home or office, and it's a mess?

As in, you're happy to have the company and you love to see this person, but you're mortified at the state of your surroundings?

Yes, I most certainly have. And, it's also kinda the way I feel about the Pope's visit this week.

I am so happy he's coming. We need him here so much. But I am so embarrassed by the state of my country. I love my country, it's a place of hope and still a land of opportunity.

But it's also mired in a morass of moral relativism, a place where most people are obviously living for this world, not the next. It's a country whose citizens - if you listen to the mainstream media (and I don't anymore) - have their emphasis on all the wrong things.

I don't mean to come off as holier-than-thou in this post. I don't mean to convey the message, Be like me! Rather, my point is, Be like Him! I don't feel superior to those less faithful at all. I feel sad. Sad for me, sad for our country and sad for them.

I know we're hardly the only country in the world who has seemingly abandoned its Christian roots. I just hope the Pope realizes that there are millions in this country who love him and love the Lord. Holy Father, just don't turn on the TV, OK? And, please, don't mind the mess. We're so glad to have you here.

The Lazy Afternoon of the Soul

Hello friends!

I didn't mean to let my Easter vacation from the blog turn into an extended absence, but it's been a weird time, spiritually. I've felt very "blah," that's the best way I can explain it.

It's not a Dark Night of the Soul, I don't feel like God isn't there for me. I've been feeling like I'm not there for God. Prayer has been difficult, attending Mass a chore. Two things that until now I was all fired up for. It's more like The Lazy Afternoon of the Soul.

It all came to a head at the end of Lent. I was feeling very lazy, spiritually. It was sad because Easter is supposed to be such a joyous time, and I was feeling, well, tired - and lazy. I think "sloth" is technically the correct word, but you get the drift.

I attended Holy Saturday Mass, the first time I've ever been. It was so glorious, that's the only word I think of to describe it. My parish does an amazing job - full choir, brass quintet, the whole nine yards. I got there just before Mass started, and since I was feeling blah, I sat in the back, on the aisle. I usually sit in the front pew, but this time I didn't feel like it.

Ironically, it turned out to be the best place to sit as the Easter fire and candle ceremonies (is that the right word?) were right in front of me. It was so beautiful. And when Father came around hurling baptismal water into the pews, I was literally smacked in the face like a wave. It was pretty funny, and a good wake-up call!

But, alas, Holy Saturday didn't reignite the fire. I've been slowly persisting ever since. Forging ahead with prayer, attending Mass, and trying to get that fire relit. I'm not questioning the faith or having any major crisis, thankfully. It's just this kind of laziness I've got going on. It's the first time I've experienced this since my re-beginning in the faith, and I know I have to "fake it till I make it." I know I'm going through this for a reason, and I will forge ahead and get my mojo back.

It makes me think of a part of a talk on the Engaged Encounter weekend - the concept that all marriages go through cycles of romance, disillusionment and joy. This, I feel, is no different. I'm not disillusioned with the faith or with God, but rather with myself, spiritually.

Plus, I seem to be effected more recently with other worries and concerns. I know there's a direct result between not praying regularly and an increase in worry, so I need to get back on the stick in my prayer routine. The hymn in Evening Prayer Saturday really spoke to me and reassured me:

Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o'er me,
Where the dark clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure,
The path to life is free;
My Savior has my treasure,
And he will walk with me.

I think one thing I'll do (in addition to regular prayer) is start making some Rosaries. I haven't made any in ages, and it will help me get excited again, maybe grace through osmosis?

So that's the deal from here. I'm working on getting myself spiritually back in shape. Any suggestions - and prayers - are most welcome!