Mr. Alonso
Patiently guards the back door
A saint in disguise
I often ride my bicycle to Wal-Mart. There is a bike trail that leads from the park in front of my house directly to the back entrance of Wal-Mart. As you crest the hill, the ugly back of the warehouse comes into view, and you can lock your bike up to one of the broken metal guardrails before hiking down through a mess of weeds and gravel to the store. Off to your left, there is a little road that leads nowhere, and off to your right, there is the back entrance to the DayStar radio station.
The last few times I have ridden this way, however, there has been a new addition to the landscape: a little man in a blue uniform with gold trimmings, who stands stock still in front of one of the guardrails. Today, I decided that I wanted to meet this unusual little man, so I rode up to him and asked him who he was and what he was always doing here.
He responded, "I am watching the gate, and also I am praying. I am praying for the people of the world." His name is Mr. Alonso, and he is a saint. In a DayStar security uniform.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Competing Interests
competing for time
mind and body disconnect
a fragmented life
--
So far my goal of spending one hour a day on mind, body, or soul, has been successful, but it hasn't yet had the effect I was hoping for. I've spent time reading and riding my bike, drinking wine with my sister and learning about some saints, but none of it seems to fit together.
In the days of the Renaissance, the great scholars desired to become polymaths, or people who had knowledge from different disciplines, excelled in the arts, and kept themselves in good physical shape. Now the ideal is ultra-specificity, narrowing the scope of your learning to a single field and concentrating all your efforts there.
Having narrowed my focus to the study of Spanish in college, I now wish I knew more about a variety of fields. I'm convinced that if I can figure out how they fit, I'll be a better person for it. The problem is that whenever I spend time reading, I feel like I am neglecting my body, and whenever I exercise, I feel like I am neglecting my studies.
mind and body disconnect
a fragmented life
--
So far my goal of spending one hour a day on mind, body, or soul, has been successful, but it hasn't yet had the effect I was hoping for. I've spent time reading and riding my bike, drinking wine with my sister and learning about some saints, but none of it seems to fit together.
In the days of the Renaissance, the great scholars desired to become polymaths, or people who had knowledge from different disciplines, excelled in the arts, and kept themselves in good physical shape. Now the ideal is ultra-specificity, narrowing the scope of your learning to a single field and concentrating all your efforts there.
Having narrowed my focus to the study of Spanish in college, I now wish I knew more about a variety of fields. I'm convinced that if I can figure out how they fit, I'll be a better person for it. The problem is that whenever I spend time reading, I feel like I am neglecting my body, and whenever I exercise, I feel like I am neglecting my studies.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
In Defense of Fairy Tales
fairy tale castles
magic toadstools and roses
so what if they're fake?
--
I went to see Tangled this weekend, and I watched The Frog Princess last night. Seeing these films made me ponder the significance of fairy tales. Such tales have been around for thousands of years, long before the printing press was invented and even longer before Walt Disney was born. I would put Aesop's fables in that category, along with 1001 Nights.
Fairy tales, like music and art, are an essential part of human culture. They remind us of that which is ideal, that which we strive for, our dearest wishes.
In the words of Santa Teresa de Avila, “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.”
magic toadstools and roses
so what if they're fake?
--
I went to see Tangled this weekend, and I watched The Frog Princess last night. Seeing these films made me ponder the significance of fairy tales. Such tales have been around for thousands of years, long before the printing press was invented and even longer before Walt Disney was born. I would put Aesop's fables in that category, along with 1001 Nights.
Fairy tales, like music and art, are an essential part of human culture. They remind us of that which is ideal, that which we strive for, our dearest wishes.
In the words of Santa Teresa de Avila, “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.”
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Optimism
dawn of a new year
sunny, bright, fortuitous
it's gonna be great
--
I rang in the new year last night with four good friends from high school, and I awoke this morning feeling pretty optimistic about the year to come. Today's mission is mind; I'm going to read Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.
Interesting quotes thus far:
"'Neoteny' is 'remaining young,' and it may be ironic that it is so little known, because human evolution has been dominated by it. Humans have evolved to their relatively high state by retaining the immature characteristics of their ancestors. Humans are the most advanced of mammals--although a case could be made for the dolphins--because they seldom grow up. Behavioral traits such as curiosity about the world, flexibility of response, and playfulness are common to practically all young mammals but are usually rapidly lost with the onset of maturity in all but humans. Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature."
sunny, bright, fortuitous
it's gonna be great
--
I rang in the new year last night with four good friends from high school, and I awoke this morning feeling pretty optimistic about the year to come. Today's mission is mind; I'm going to read Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.
Interesting quotes thus far:
"'Neoteny' is 'remaining young,' and it may be ironic that it is so little known, because human evolution has been dominated by it. Humans have evolved to their relatively high state by retaining the immature characteristics of their ancestors. Humans are the most advanced of mammals--although a case could be made for the dolphins--because they seldom grow up. Behavioral traits such as curiosity about the world, flexibility of response, and playfulness are common to practically all young mammals but are usually rapidly lost with the onset of maturity in all but humans. Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature."
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year's Resolution
time to ring the bells
resolution for this year:
blog in haiku form
---
Hello all, this is Katie. It's time for a new year, and with it, a new blog. I'm no longer in Spain, but I'm still having adventures. I just graduated from college, and I'm about to start student teaching two Spanish 2 classes and a Spanish 4 class. I'm also going to be the dungeon master for a new Dungeons and Dragons game, and I'm in the process of initiation into the Catholic Church. All in all, 2011 should be an interesting year.
For my new year's resolution this year, I have decided to spend one hour each day doing something to strengthen my mind, body, or soul.
Some ideas:
reading literature and nonfiction
working out at the gym
practicing yoga
praying the rosary
creating healthier meals
reading about the lives of saints
learning calculus
I'm sure I will add more as the year progresses. But as a way to keep track of my quest to become a well-rounded person, I'm going to keep a blog diary of my life. And I'm going to do it with haikus. Condensing a thought into 17 words is a challenge, but it's also an excellent thought exercise. Perhaps I will reach some interesting conclusions.
resolution for this year:
blog in haiku form
---
Hello all, this is Katie. It's time for a new year, and with it, a new blog. I'm no longer in Spain, but I'm still having adventures. I just graduated from college, and I'm about to start student teaching two Spanish 2 classes and a Spanish 4 class. I'm also going to be the dungeon master for a new Dungeons and Dragons game, and I'm in the process of initiation into the Catholic Church. All in all, 2011 should be an interesting year.
For my new year's resolution this year, I have decided to spend one hour each day doing something to strengthen my mind, body, or soul.
Some ideas:
reading literature and nonfiction
working out at the gym
practicing yoga
praying the rosary
creating healthier meals
reading about the lives of saints
learning calculus
I'm sure I will add more as the year progresses. But as a way to keep track of my quest to become a well-rounded person, I'm going to keep a blog diary of my life. And I'm going to do it with haikus. Condensing a thought into 17 words is a challenge, but it's also an excellent thought exercise. Perhaps I will reach some interesting conclusions.
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