A Good Reason for Blogging
Posted by Eric (July 7, 2005 at 12:00 pm)
I set up this blog a couple of months ago when the world was watching the final days of Pope John Paul II. I’d wanted to start a blog for years but never got around to it. I figured the opportunity to reflect on the life of John Paul and the personal influence he had on me as a young Catholic, an apostate, and finally as a “revert” was a good reason to start blogging. But I didn’t have the time then either.
Now I’m finally writing my first entry. We’ll see if I ever find the time for a second. But the inspiration for this one is the birth of my daughter, Mary Macrina. She is my fifth daughter in a row, after my two boys. We were expecting a boy. I was sure she would be a boy. I was praying for a boy. But God gave me another girl.
She’s adorable. I just spent most of the last hour holding her at the hospital, where her mother, my wife April, is recovering from the unexpected C-section required to deliver her. The honest truth is that I’m disappointed not to have a boy. I’m a little sad that my dream of my two sons—Nate (13) and Sam (11)—getting to play with and mentor a little brother will never be fulfilled; even if we were to have another boy these two would be teens by then.
But I am not disappointed that Mary Macrina is a girl. Does that make sense? I’m delighted that she is who she is—a sweet, adorable, calm, tiny little creature that God in his great mercy has deemed me worth to father.
May God grant her many years!
Makes perfect sense to me! And she will be so blessed to have big brothers!
Don’t worry about keeping up with blog posts. Lots of us only post every few weeks/months!
(ps. I’m a lurker on the TOTB list)
Comment posted February 16th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Now that she’s seven months old, I can report that Mary is indeed lucky to have big brothers. She is especially close to Sam, who just turned 12. They’re great buddies.
Comment posted February 16th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
By way of Crazy Acres, I come in peace!
Nice blog. I hear you’re a Theology of the body teacher? Would love to read some of your insights sometime 🙂
God Bless.
Comment posted March 1st, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Thanks, Ukok. I’ve done some speaking over the years on the Theology of the Body, and I plan to post some of my thoughts and insights here. Actually, I touch on some TOTB themes in the post, Brokeback, Indeed.
Comment posted March 1st, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Hi Eric,
I read some of your blogs,found them very positive and spiritual and especially one on the lent season and fasting..I myself belong to the Indian Orthodox Church and for us these days are spend in prayers an fasting…usually most members of our denomination turn themselves as vegetarians during the lent period. Though i have been trying to follow the lifestyle i admit that i break them in between……
Comment posted April 5th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Dear Pradeep: Thanks for the kind words. I know it’s dangerous to speak of one’s fasting. One is often reminded of Matthew 6:16-17—if not by others (as happens all too often) then by one’s own conscience. But I have seen how right the Fathers are about the spiritual benefits of fasting—and our Church has so much forgotten about fasting.
Comment posted April 5th, 2007 at 9:58 am