When I Was Young...

When I was young

I wanted to be in the city

Crowded places

Lots of faces

Dreamt of skyscrapers

And of busy streets

Cramped rooms

Days go vroom

It appeared to be full of life

It appeared to be dynamic

Loud music sounds

Opportunities abound

But as I grow older

City lights lost their charm

Life is stressed

Time compressed

I dream of the big sky

And plenty of country

Clear air

Less crowed affair

I want a starry night

Dynamic sounds of wildlife

Barren land

Opportunities grand.

The Tough Life I Seek

Its the tough life I seek
The pain, torture, and agony
Where fortune seems bleak
And the sorrow is deeper in me

Why should I do this?
Engage in the terrible straits
The narrow road of crisis
Determined by the Fates

Dredging through the mud
Emboldens my resolve
And boils my cry for blood
Barriers beware of ensuing dissolve

In this dark, harrowing time
My true self discovery occurs
Ripped away from what is sublime
This concoction begins to slowly stir

Fermented in the shaded shadows
A phoenix starts to emerge
The fiery flow beckons and bellows
My power soon converges

What is this you see?
It is the reversal of direction
Lifted up from changing seas
Cleansed of the failure distortion

You see the tough life I seek
Is only but for an mild instant
The lesson learned in meek
Forever rises in changes fervent

The new self that rises
Points a new direction of North
The strength of character surprises
Forward and further comes forth

The time away in somber silence
Stews the mind courageously anew
It grows in strict, incorrigible confidence
Becoming a light, airy, and vibrant hue

The change is nearly complete
My story makes a transition
A new challenge is here to meet
I seek to amplify with distinction

Its the tough life I seek
The pain, torture, and agony
Where misfortune is bleak
And the joy is deeper in me.

Today is so yesterday...

Today is so yesterday
Tomorrow is fast approaching
No time to contemplate
The speed is scorching

Opening mine eyes
Ready to doze off
The cliff of fiscal responsibility
Makes one ready to jump off

Celebrations a-plenty
The losses are discouraging
The joys and the sorrows
Keep me a-whirling

The 31st is here
But just for a fleeting moment
The countdown begins
The 1st is speedily fervent

As the curtains close
And a door opens anew
Hope and anxiety arrive
I bid the past pains adieu

Time to make things happen
Plans are already set in motion
No recourse from the old
Full steam ahead is the notion

All that I ask
In this new year
Is to go a bit slower
Set in a steadier gear

Though somehow deep
Beneath my physical self
The soul knows better
What is to become of oneself

Today is so yesterday
Tomorrow is fast approaching
No time to contemplate
The speed is scorching.

The Infallible Pope

It is time now to review this principle (as good as any), the thought that the pope is infallible. I'm not a theologian or an authority of the Catholic Church, but rather follower of the faith. As you may know, the Church is going through a rough period right now with the scandal that affects the priests and those in power within the Church, and how they have been maliciously robbing the youth (to say it in a understated manner). I predict that the Church will get through this as they always have throughout history, but changes will and should be in store.

One of those changes I think need revision is the principle of infallibility of the pope. It has been obvious in my own opinion that popes have in the past strayed from the path of holiness, yet their authority and power is considered infallible as it is dictated by the teachings of the Church. We as citizens and servants of God must obey the pope for it is his duty given by God to shepherd us. We are led to believe that we are human and that is why we make mistakes to which I agree wholeheartedly. We need the guidance of a holy person to shepherd us toward the light.

I'm not saying the pope cannot guide us to the path toward heaven however. Rather, I would follow a holy pope if he was truthful, enlightened and saw God in everything he did (a core principle of the Catholic faith). Theoretically, that person would act in a righteous manner when given the opportunity to promote justice. It now seems that Pope Benedict in the past may have knowingly or inadvertently caused more harm in his leadership as Bishop and Cardinal Ratzinger, who in high positions of the Church acted in ways perceived as corrupt.

Even if he inadvertently caused harm to others, you would think that as Pope Benedict, he would be remorseful of those decisions. I would still follow him if he were humble and owned up to those mistakes. However, the principle of infallibility will not allow him to do so. In fact, he writes a scathing but justified letter to the Irish congregation about the abuses of the Church in Ireland, without mentioning the problems affecting the German Church which is odd considering his German origin and the abuses there. I assume that would put the pope too close to breaking the infallibility principle.

There are cries out there now in the world for the resignation of the pope. Still others are taking matters to their own hands by with lawsuits (which probably will fail due to the mere fact that heads of state are immune to prosecution). Others have given up and left the faith. What am I to do? Oddly has it may seem, I am still the keeper of the faith. I know we will ride out this storm, but the aftermath of this pain will bring new revisions to Church policy just like Luther and the Reformation did for the Church.

This time, I believe one of those revisions or issues should be the infallibility of the pope. I hope that Pope Benedict will be courageous enough to proclaim that he, like me, is not infallible and that we are all human. According to Catholic teaching, his decrees are like new policies and rules within the Church. The only difference is that he has the calling of God to which I hold in high regard. He can still lead, but current issues obviously affect his leadership. What is a shepherd to do when he abuses his sheep, leaving them out for the wolves to prey?

The Church will be saved. I have no doubt about it as it is an institution run by God, but those within this institution shall have their day of justice if abuses are not corrected. I pray that these changes come soon and swiftly.

____________________________________

I've been thinking about this issue for over several years now and I wanted to just bring them out into public view. I am a follower of the faith, but I believe the current situation in Church is dire and despicable. If these abuses continue to arise, a change shall surely happen and they should already be happening. The only issue then is, will the change be for the good or will this drastically affect the Church in a negative light? To that, I have no clear answer or opinion. It is at a breaking point and I wonder where the cards will fall.

May God help us all.

Disclaimer: This is an opinion of mine and has no bearing or authority on the teachings of the Church (even though I would like it to be taken into consideration). I have not the power to dictate policy or teachings within the Catholic Church.

Problem Gambling Awareness Week

Have a problem gambling? Are you addicted, craving the need to pull that lever or bet that extra grand you do not have? If this is you, I suggest that you get help. Though this type of addiction does not harm the body like drugs or alcohol, its effects are just as detrimental. Like those typical addictions, gambling harms relationships between you and your loved ones. It also alters behavior, skewing your sense of reality. In the end, you may end up broken and in despair. I find this very dear to me because of the people around me who have "fallen off the wagon" so to speak because of this very addiction.

Funny thing is, I did not know this week was dedicated to that cause (or even know there was such a cause) until I played the Mega Millions lottery (jackpot of $212 million; one of the few times I do in a year or two) and received the following message with my quick pick numbers:


Notice that the service announcement is on a lottery ticket. Though I understand playing the lottery is not as harmful as being at the blackjack table, it is still a form of gambling. Some people play the lottery every week or even twice a week, which I would contend is addiction. However that is not what is amusing.

It is quirky that a "gambling association" supports the inhibition of "gambling addiction" though it is the very reason they are in business. This hearkens me back to other "service announcements" by groups or organizations used as PR tactics to brighten their business's image while not really putting an effort toward fixing the intended problem. Examples include Phillip Morris printing pamphlets on their cigarette boxes on getting help for smoking addiction and cessation, a Vegas casino (unfortunately I forgot their name) providing a hot-line for gambling addiction, and Exxon promoting their "green" technologies as a move to promote efficient energy, thereby helping to decrease oil addition.

What odd humor?! To think that they can sweep dust under the rug over the consumer. What do you think?