A parody, and a parable. This has been floating around the internet for a few years. John 6.
From the Island of Lost Verses
Working with Young People
His induction into the NBA Hall of Fame yesterday has brought to mind again Maurice Cheeks’ most perfect assist.
It was a playoff game in 2003, and a young singer sang the wrong words to the National Anthem before the game, and got off track. Her confidence failed, and in spite of the audience’s support, the song was in danger of implosion.
Cheeks was head coach of a competing team. One might think that he had more on his mind than supporting a middle schooler who was suffering a temporary setback. But that was not his attitude.
This brief video is a snapshot of how billions of adults support young people all over the world. The young lady was doing something very difficult, and the adult helped her to complete her action, not by lessening its difficulty, but by providing structure and time, accompanying her so that she could do the difficult task well.
Charles Cole of the London Oratory and The New Liturgical Movement has published this year’s list of Children’s Choirs, in which adults likewise support young people in doing something very difficult, not by lessening the activities’ inherent challenges but by providing the training necessary to help them grow.
Music for the way home
Some Helpful Fiction
For those who would like a fruitful way to both think about the recent Church news and at the same time distract themselves from it a bit, I’d like to recommend one of C.S. Lewis’ lesser-known works, his Space Trilogy.
The first book, Out of the Silent Planet, is an enjoyable read and serves as an introduction to the rest.
The second book, Perelandra, is Lewis’ masterpiece. He thought it was worth “twenty Screwtapes.” I agree. Imagine a virgin world, a planetary paradise, with its Eve all alone with two Englishmen: one a tempter, and the other a Christian. The book is a long and lavish parable about the choice between obedience and prideful lawlessness.
The third book, That Hideous Strength, is much different and very dark, and engages themes of marriage and the use and misuse of sexuality, professional loyalty and its abuse, propaganda, coercion, and Christian community. In particular it engages some ideas about professional life that are also found in Lewis’ lecture entitled The Inner Ring.
I offer these suggestions in case they are helpful. There are audio versions which are excellent.
Bad advice
Recent events have prompted the following personal reflections of a non-musical character.
A bad advisor is one of the worst things that can happen to a leader. Some people with an agenda get close to him or her and help him strategize, not according to what will benefit the organization or even the leader, but according to the needs of the hidden agenda.
In a complex world that is almost unnavigable, advisors are definitely necessary. But when they are “yes men” with hidden agendas, they must be excluded, no matter how comforting they are. This is a mental and emotional asceticism required of leaders.
On the other hand, there is no need to give these yes men any legitimate cause for complaint. Some would say that the news outlets most responsible for inquiring into the Holy Father’s response to sexual abuse are partisan or ideological. To the extent that this is true, it seems to me that this element should be excluded as well. This is an ascesis too: focus on the truth. Focus on the faith.
Regarding partisanship, the U.S. situation is unusual in the world, because of its perpetual division into exactly two major political parties. This admittedly has the effect of demonization of the “other.” It also lends itself to an unconscious responsiveness to the other. If the left goes farther left, the right goes farther right, and vice-versa. We’ve been this polarized before, in 1800 for example. But what makes the national-ecclesial situation particularly tense now is the decision of one of the parties to insist on cooperation with evil on non-prudential, non-negotiable matters such as abortion.
Catholics actually can have a say in this aspect of the polarization. Once in a Q and A, I heard EJ Dionne say that there were districts in Pennsylvania–Pennsylvania–in which the Democrats were forced to promote pro-life candidates, opposed to abortion, because Catholics in Pennsylvania would not vote for a pro-abortion candidate. In order to win elections, the party eased its usual obligatory policy of 100% abortion support.
What I have found most heartening over the last week is the number of times I have heard people say they are praying and fasting. What a beautiful and biblical response to a situation that is in many ways frightening.
Between the porch and the altar
Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord’s ministers, shall weep, and shall say:
Spare, O Lord, spare thy people, and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them.
Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant?
From the Gospel of the day:
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”