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Originally Posted by amicus_curiae
I appreciate your concern. I had a call from my insurance company this afternoon and I’ve been assigned an RN who will attempt to rapidly coordinate my most immediate needs. I’ll speak to her tomorrow afternoon, after my PCP appointment.
Oh, I agree with you about Paul! It’s that nasty Cultural Catholic in me that quotes his less pernicious writings! I no longer follow the mass readings. I tend to agree with some scholars who write that the Church is more a ‘Pauline’ (ha!) construct than Christ-centric. The ‘celibacy’ foisted upon priest comes straight from Paul’s wish that EVERYONE should follow his example; Christianity wouldn’t have had much of a lifespan if that wish had been followed.
I’ve written of my personal experiences with the Church elsewhere — no need to bring up my bitterness here.
No, I don’t mean to imply that I follow Christian beliefs, only that I grasp at the least tarnished metaphysical jewels. You’re quite right: There is no reconciliation between Christianity (however mere!) and Nihilism. And I am a diehard nihilist!
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Okay, thanks for the comments on St. Paul. His message has always struck me as dangerous in that it cuts off what makes us human, and it seems to me that Christ never gave that message. I never heard of the word Pauline but my word, the Catholic Church is so f----- u- at this point. I was volunteering in the garden at my local church but stopped. I showed up at the service last week and the head priest shook my hand when greeting members in front of the church (suddenly he knew me! - after I had been going to Mass there for months - because I had been breaking my back all summer weeding the gardens there) and I blurted out, "Father, your garden is looking good...but has a lot of weeds sprouting..." and he didn't say anything. Did he think I was speaking about the church? I don't know. I am just angry. I was also angry because that day he didn't address the letter from the Pope, which I think should have been printed up and left in the back for the congregation members to pick up - as it was a letter from the Pope to all the members of the church. Silence does nothing. Well...as for your "searching for faith" --- that old Irish priest of yours had it right.
What a relief you have a nurse to see to your needs. It is as it should be. No, you should not be left unable to navigate around your own home, and yes, staying in your own home is important. I am still wondering if you have hospice care as they visit people in their own homes. They even (should have) chaplains and divinity interns who surely would learn a thing or two from visiting with you.
There was a Buddhist teaching that the head of my sangha (community) taught that I loved. He said, "A person is alive until they are not." It sounds crazy (well, he was known as the Crazy Wisdom guru) - but the thought was - that every second counts - as Michael said in another post - and every second and moment and hour counts for you...and I am happy you have found a lively amount of connection on this thread. No one should be treated like they are "half-dead" or "gone" -- while they are alive. I have been following the YouTube and Instagram accounts of a young UK man named Dan Thomas. He has incurable, terminal cancer. He is also wildly popular, a fighter, a real badass, a heart-throb to all the ladies (and some men, too!) and he is funny and witty. They keep extending his terminal diagnosis. He is certainly a case of a person who is very much alive. (His YouTube is called PeeWeeToms in case anyone wants to check him out.)
Thanks for your comments. I had no idea this thread was being talked about!
