After reaching my 50th
birthday a few years ago, I dare say I am (reasonably?
considerably? certainly? undoubtedly?) past my mid-life point. If I unknowingly had a mid-life crisis, I guess it was somehow sandwiched in between busyness and turmoil. I have been around the block a few times and not
because of a desire to exercise. I’ve found,
along life's bumpy path, I’m becoming much more opinionated. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I really don’t
know. But I’ve decided to express my opinion on a few issues which are not
officially Church teaching or dogmas—just
a matter of personal taste. (Please excuse me if I ramble a bit. Most people who express opinions tend to do
this and I am simply following suit.)
- Beware the Ides of March . . . and the Elections of November
I am sick of politics (and of many high-profile politicians).
Who lies? Who
tells the truth? Who really represents and tries to assist the average person and who is self-serving? So often it gets
to be a case of choosing the lesser of two evils (can I morally do this?) because I don’t
really like any candidate in far too many elections. I feel sorry for the honest person who enters politics with a noble intention and who is determined to change the system because he or she will probably be surrounded by a
cesspool of corruption. It’s hard to
stay untainted when you are immersed in so much garbage and waste. I have said many times before and I continue
to pray that I will never sell my soul to
any political party. (My soul
belongs completely to Jesus, thank
you very much.) I usually vote for the person—as
opposed to any party—with whom I may agree because of the positions for which he or
she officially stands. And making
that decision for a particular candidate isn’t easy. I compare it
to the choice between hanging and the
guillotine. Either one brings various unpleasantries with the same end result. Gulp!
- The “Boob-Tube” Lives
Most television is a waste of time and energy. How can we have so many channels and still conclude that “there’s nothing to watch?” Reality TV is far from my real life. Talk shows are frequently shared ignorance sessions. The News is mostly bad, depressing and frequently
slanted depending on the network.
Premium cable TV has too much perversion. Far too many shows push a particular political
or social agenda, whatever may be in vogue. Philadelphia sports teams usually stink. I’d rather watch that test-pattern from the
days when the stations would go off the
air in the middle of the night. At
least then they gave us a break and
not an infomercial.
- The Hills are Alive with the Sound of ?*!#@
Much of the music today has no enduring
quality. Let me first establish the
fact that I really love
music. I’ve listened to it continuously since
I was a small child. I have a rather eclectic taste—from classical to pop. I
have dabbled at playing the piano and have even attempted to write some songs as
well as liturgical hymns. Unfortunately,
I find that so much of today’s music borders on vulgar (Warning: explicit contents)
or is just really poor quality. Yes, there are a few very talented people and some good
material being written. I gravitate
to that. But, I think, most of what I
hear in contemporary music would unfortunately surround me in Hell for all eternity in unending cacophonous torture (a la Manuel Noriega), if I don’t
make it to those Pearly Gates. The
fires of Gehenna pale in comparison!
As a side note, save me from “church
music” that is still stuck in the Kumbaya
days, sounds like a love song or pop tune, or is something that is more
suited for the Broadway stage. Church music should raise our minds and hearts to God
and should be unique (unlike other
secular music) for the purpose of Divine
worship. Shouldn’t we give God something
that is our ultimate—our very best? If I can imagine the hymn being “performed” by Patti LuPone from the balcony of the Casa Rosada, if it sounds like I’m ready to propose to someone with ring in hand, or
if it’s something longing to come out of the mouths of the boys of One Direction, then maybe it’s not suitable
to raise my mind and heart to God.
While I’m at it, if it feels like I am
waiting for a Bob Dylan wannabe to lead
us in song or for “That ‘70s Show” to
appear miraculously on a flat screen TV in front of the altar, please keep it out of the church! Bring
on the Gregorian Chant! I think that they may have been on to
something back then, in my humble opinion.
- The Too-Smart-for-Its-Own-Good Phone
How did we ever exist without a mobile phone? When I was young, text referred to a book and a tweet came from a bird’s
mouth. There was no such thing
as driving while on the mobile phone (we
drove on the highway) or while texting. Phones didn’t go off regularly in churches and other formerly sacrosanct localities. The fact is we are addicted to our phones and we use them constantly, for everything. Person to person communication now involves a
mobile device which has an app
capable of bringing all things to all
people. Just think of it, and there’s
probably an app to do it! Thinking? Yes, there’s an app for that!
- Bringing It In for a Landing
I have too many additional concerns and unanswered questions plaguing me right now. Let me try to make a quick summary of the
varied trepidations in my brain, rather than formulate an opinion about each of them. I've babbled enough already.
I pray that we be delivered from the apathy, indifference, negativism,
relativism, secularism, selfishness, rationalizing, perversion, etc., etc., currently
permeating much of society. At the same time, I ask for wisdom and understanding concerning a few troublesome matters in today’s
world: Why is life so cheap that we dispose of it so easily? How long can we exist as a society with the
traditional family unit disintegrating
so quickly that it’s becoming unrecognizable? Why do we infrequently talk to God (pray and worship) and then blame Him for everything disastrous
that comes down the pike? Why do we
disregard moral teachings founded on solid biblical
principles—principles that have guided peoples for centuries—and make them appear so irrelevant for
our “enlightened” society? How long will
God be patient with us as we seem to close our eyes and ears, hearts and minds
to Him?
As I said in the beginning, these
are some of my opinions (and the various thoughts and worries that accompany them).
I don’t claim to be a sage or scholar.
I am simply reflecting on what I see, continually seeking the Truth and, perhaps, rambling a bit. Feels a bit therapeutic.
I humbly defer, however, to the Almighty for the final say in all matters.
(Rev.) Edward Namiotka
(Rev.) Edward Namiotka
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