You who are so quick to judge...

Friends and readers-

I feel like I must first apologize for being so negligent to posting.  I have a reason (good or not, take it or leave it...) but I have been hearing a running motif over the past week that I feel needs to be addressed.  

I recently had a conversation with a very close friend of mine about faith.  They do not identify with any particular religion, but they were raised non-denominational.  I could not help but wonder what it was that turned them off to the religion, as I am always curious.  I have found in my years of teaching that lots of people turn their back on God when the going gets tough, when I say, if the going gets tough, pull your head out of out of your ego, realize you can't do it alone, and ask for some help... makes sense to me

They gave me an answer about how everyone he knew where he came from was a huge hypocrite.  Fair enough.  We all are... not on purpose mind you, but when you are raised in the church I think its safe to say we all recognize our imperfection, which is why we are there to begin with.  People who are not so familiar often have a hard time coming to this realization.  ANYWAYS,  my friend said they did not want to be a part of a group of people who said one thing and did another.  My friend went on to tell me about a buddy of theirs who writes off people "like us" (meaning artists, who may express themselves through outward appearences).  This is where it gets almost humorous, my friend said their buddy was super conservative though... like a "catholic mormon"... and then I saw them start to sweat... realizing I am a Catholic.  

Fear not friend, I am not about to judge you, because I understand catholics are getting a bad rep... so CATHOLICS, THIS NEXT PART IS IMPORTANT!

We, catholics, know there is no way for said friend could be a catholic mormon... the 2 are like day and night.  When I ask for clarification, my friend said what they meant by that phrase was the conservative judgemental views  that both religious groups had (in their opinion, from what they had experienced...)  

Brothers and Sisters, my heart broke a little when I heard this...  And I feel like my guardian angel on my shoulder wept a little as well... I normally don't discuss my faith or political views with friends, but it was one of those moments I needed to set this poor friend of mine straight about our faith...

Readers, we were compared to mormons... and not in a good, way.  This is the biggest fault in the book.  Friends, "they will know we are christian by our LOVE"... not by our Juicy, our Pradas, or our Egos... Being Catholic makes you SAVED, but by no means does it make you BETTER.   It is not ok to go to church for an hour and then flip someone off on the way out of the parking lot.  And it does NOT make it ok for you to turn up your nose at anyone who is not catholic... JESUS ATE WITH SINNERS AND PROSTITUTES.... WE should BE so lucky that Jesus gives us the time of day (see my last blog for why) 

"But you're not hypocritical, Nat, ur very true to urself... so ur fine."

It's true, I work very hard to stay true to myself, and most people see my tattoos and numerous piercings and then pick their jaw up off the floor once I tell them I worked in the church for 8 years, BUT, I am the biggest hypocrite of them all, right? (see last post again.) Friends point was not that flawless only that I keep it real.  

Well played on me, right? Here's the secret.  Pay attention: Love your neighbor. 

Do it.

Seriously, my grandma once told me "Natalie, the only commandment you need to remember is love your neighbor as yourself.  When you get that right, everything else falls into place"

SO TRUE, Grams! If you love your neighbor the way you love yourself, stealing, fighting, all that isn't an issue.  Which is true.  If you call me say Nat, it's an emergency, I NEED you... you bet your BALLS I will do everything to move heaven and earth to help you out, be it noon, 7 a.m. or 2:30 in the morning... because if I called someone with those words... I hope, nay, KNOW they would do the same for me.  

Friends, WE ARE THE CHURCH... I'll say it again, WE ARE THE CHURCH.  My friend has been wronged, they was either judged or denied something by us, and felt unloved... THAT IS NOT THE POINT.  SHOW ME LOVE.  Words are nothing but symbolic unless you have the action to back it up with.  And I KNOW my buddy is not the only one, I hear it ALL THE TIME.  

to sum it up: be a Catholic with ur heart, huh? And if you ever hear this... don;t be afraid to say something about it... otherwise all the misconceptions are going to keep living.  Stop it in its tracks, tell people we are LOVING, and then you BETTER back it up with your actions!

Good talk, go team!

GUEST POSTER

I know you all have missed the last 2 weeks of Blogging, and to tell you quite honestly, so have I.  However, auditions and school have been getting the better of me, so I actually asked my roommate if I could borrow some of her thoughts for today.  While it is not reflective of this week gospel, it is still amazing, and maybe even more pertinent to ideals of today.  I invite you to read Jolie Milligan's thoughts entitled "I am a prostitue":

I thought the title might intrigue you...

I may not be a prostitute literally but figuratively I'm as used as they come.

My all time favorite book in the bible is Hosea.  I wouldn't call it the most well known or the most read... but it should be.  Despite it's rough edges and hard to swallow accusations there lies a beautiful truth.  

If you are feeling:

Unworthy

Unwanted

Unloved

Heavy

Ashamed

You should read it.

Let me break it down for you.  Hosea is a minor prophet, one of the last in the Old Testament. God asked Hosea to do something crazy; marry a prostitute.  Hosea did it.  He trusted the Lord and took a leap.  He fell MADLY in love with a less than reputable girl named Gomer.  Things were going really well. She seemed to be done with her previous lifestyle... and they had a couple of kids.  God was very specific as to what Gomer and Hosea were to name their children:

Lo-Ruhamah (Not loved)

Lo-Ammi (Not my people)

Hmm... interesting names... can you imagine what Hosea's friends and neighbors must have thought about this!

"Hosea is off his rocker! First he says Gods speaking to him... then he marries that prostitute... now this!? Poor guy, lost his mind!"

Gomer got sick of the home-life and ran off with another man.  Hosea was devastated.  Heart broken. Depressed.  Can you imagine? Someone God chose for you, someone you loved deeply, passionately, someone you would lay down your life for turns their back on you and leaves.  

Hosea is so in love with this woman that he even gives her new lover money to take care of her.  All he wants is for her to be happy.  

So why would God put Hosea through all this agony? To prove a very important point. 

During this time Israel (the people) had been less than faithful to God.  God had gotten down on his knee and asked Israel to be His bride.  She willing accepted this covenant and was so excited to be one with this dreamy God.  But when the honey moon was over she got a little bored and decided to dabble in a few extra marital affairs.  

the israelites would go through the rituals that God had asked them to perform... but they would also partake in other rituals performed by worshipers of other gods.  

God was a broken hearted lover (and still is for that matter).  

We break his heart everyday with things we do.  We put money, work, friends even relationships before Him.  We are no better than prostitutes.  

But there is hope.  

As Hosea was walking in his village he saw a man trying to sell his half naked wife.  God told Hosea "Go show your love to you wife again." He purchased her back for 15 shekels.  The first thing he did was tell her he loved her.  He said that she would live with him and stop this unfaithfulness because she would never find anyone that loved her as much as him.

If there is hope for Gomer, there is hope for us.

Despite our pitiful shortcomings, regardless of our promiscuity, God loves us more than we have the compactly to know.  Even though we break his heart he brings us close to him and says "I still want you".

He brought us back when we were in the arms of another lover.  He did not pay with silver, but rather with blood.  He gave up the life of his Son, Jesus Christ, to purchase us back.  

It is both the heart breaking and the uplifting to know that we are so deeply loved by God.

I'm feeling a bit like a Pretty Woman right now...