Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you.
I received a link to a post by a friend on another social media site. I forgot I was on it actually. I read his post and now can't even remember what he posted about. I scrolled around and discovered another friend, whom I haven't heard from in ages, was on it as well.
He appears to be immersed in Traditionalist Conservatism; the TLM and anti-Francis, pro-Trump/Putin world view. I knew he was into conspiracy theories and related mythological thinking, but I was sure he was grounded in reality. A comment he left on another guy's site was very telling of where he's at. Introducing himself, he cited a couple aspects of his state which seemed offered more or less as credentials to validate the opinion he proffered. We all do stuff like that, in order to be accepted. Now that I'm older, not so much. But I used to do it all of the time, especially on this blog or in work environments. Now I let people think what they like.
Anyway - I was deeply disappointed. For a trad, he has all the right signs of being a 'devout', 'fervent' Catholic, so who am I to judge? I sense he's a fan of Bishop Strickland and his group of followers. Many in my archdiocese seem to be as well.
I came across something from Pope Francis this morning, which I find especially consoling and perhaps challenging, may I strive to put it in practice. One of the things I love about the Holy Father is his closeness to real people - we ordinary, sinful people of the streets. He knows us. He has taught me so much - I keep trying to put it into practice.
Pope Francis reflecting from hospital:
"The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches...
They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than
those in airports...
It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor.
A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar...
In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist...
A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care...
A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor...
It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing.
The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss.
A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence.
This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people.
Do not criticize your body too much.
Do not complain excessively.
Do not lose sleep over bills.
Make sure to hug your loved ones.
Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless.
Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance.
. . .
You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect...
Listen, perfection does not exist.
A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here.
Here, we are given an opportunity to learn.
So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now.
Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you.
Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere.
Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely!
And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator."
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