The Sweetest Thing

There has been a lot of talk about the movie Magic Mike recently. Women, supposedly, are swooning over the cast and the plot. I'm really not into movies like that, so I don't plan on seeing it. However, the discussion about what women find attractive is quite interesting.
Deep down inside, I'm an old fashioned girl. I'm about the whole flag, mom, apple pie and unity of community. I believe that when you get married, it's for keeps. My devotion to Matthew 25:35-6 keeps me going

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

It's the cornerstone of my life. Service to others as well as a deep, abiding faith in addition to watching everyday miracles unfold are my pillars of character.
Everyone has a "type"-something that turns your head. Some folks like blondes or redheads; others find the cast of Magic Mike attractive. My type happens to be Italian body builders, best known as a Guido. These guys existed long before the Jersey Shore, And will continue long after that show transitions into oblivion.
Sure, there's something to be said about physical attractiveness, it's what catches your eye at first, but eye candy eventually loses its taste and leaves you hungry if there isn't anything more. As the poet John Donne stated:
Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
There are no buffers for me between attractiveness and character.
There is a trio of guys that rock my world, for a variety of reasons, and these are not short term dalliances, these are long term commitments.
The first guy on my list is Bono. People who know me know my unabashed giddiness over him, going back to Sunday Bloody Sunday and live at red rocks. I appreciated the fact that hid faith was an integral part of his life and songwriting. The song, 40, is an interpretation of Psalm 40. Other songs deal with social justice, peace and faith. He doesn't just sing about it-he lives it. The guiding forces behind both One (www.one.org) and the RED campaign (to end the AIDS epidemic)Bono has been the catalyst to change the average rock fan's view on social justice. The other big thing is, in the world of 15 minute marriages (yeah you Kim kardashian) he's been with his wife for 37 years. You read that correctly. 37 years. That's something to applaud. He even wrote one of my favorite songs, The Sweetest Thing, for her as an apology for missing her birthday due to work (proceeds from the song benefited the Chernobyl Children's Fund).
Another "hottie" on my list is Jon Bon Jovi. He's been with his missus for 35 years, and raised 4 kids. In addition to being a family man, he has quietly been involved in community outreach for years. A long time supporter of Habitat for Humanity and Project Home, he has personally funded building projects in Newark, Camden and Trenton NJ. In addition, he also funded low income health clinics in inner city NJ locations, and has innovated programs to end hunger and food insecurity in NJ.
However, my favorite guy is the BigMan himself. We have been together for the better part of 19 years, and married for almost 10. In that time, he supported me through my dad's cancer diagnosis, treatment and subsequent death; my grandmother's slow decline, and the stroke that finally took her as well as lots of other stops on the journey. As time has gone on, he has become an amazing father, where it keeps getting better and better.
Who are your sweetest things?

One

I recently had the privilege of planning and executing a youth convention for my diocese on the theme of Living Generously. Teens had a chance to explore the Millennium Development Goals in depth. The Convention featured Moses Jonkiel II as the keynote speaker, detailing his journey from “lost boy” to living generously. Through his hard work with fund and awareness raising, the various projects have benefited his home village. Before the establishment of wells and a grinding mill, village women were penalized by the manual work and unable to attend school. The teens participated in an object lesson, carrying water around downtown Sioux Falls to simulate how far it was for the village girls to fetch water before a well was installed.
The teens had several service opportunities over the weekend as well. They served at the St. Francis House, which serves homeless individuals and families, cleaning the yard and patio to provide a space for residents to relax. One of the staff stated, “I like my yard to look nice, why would it be any different for their home?” Later that evening, they packed bags for the residents of Children’s Inn, which provides emergency shelter to children entering the foster care system in the Sioux Falls area.
On Saturday night, the teens participated in a tour of the MDG’s, rotating through eight stations representing the goals. At each station, the participants had an opportunity to learn more about that particular goal and participate in an activity related to it. We started talking about food and hunger, and ended with economic justice. While some of these topics may seem as dry as the bones in Ezekiel, we did our best to infuse them with flesh and sinew, and the ruach or sacred breath. Bringing them alive through games (like filling a pot with a cup that had a hole in it) to discussion circles, the teens had a chance to explore concepts about making the world a better place. The UN hopes to meet these goals and eradicate poverty within this generation. They heard the story of Rita Mosquito, performed an improv based on barring young women from attending school, brainstormed ways to end hunger, played a water resources game and made a caterpillar to represent environmental renewal. One of the most meaningful moments was when the group counted off to show how many children in the developing world don’t live to see their 5th birthday. In between, the teens had a chance to bond with one another and have theological and political discussions, deepening the bond they developed over the weekend.
The spiritual center of Saturday night was a U2Charist, which is a Rite II service, using the music of U2 interwoven with the liturgy. U2 is an unabashedly Christian band, and have never disguised their faith being part of their music. Bono has put his money where his mouth is, and has been a passionate advocate over the last 25 years for just distributions of resources. From the opening notes of Beautiful Day, to Gloria, 40 and God Part II, I could see the transformation in front of me. Many of those present said it was the highlight of the convention, and caused them to think of secular music in a different light. A top 40 hit like Mysterious Ways or One could be a worship song. On Sunday, the teens were an integral part of worship, acting as acolytes and lectors as well as sharing the prayers of the people they wrote based on their experiences. The closing speaker was WNBA superstar Olympia Scott, who is just amazing to hear speak.The fun highlight was a late night game of glow stick tag! Most participants wished that the convention ran longer, and were sad to see it end. I know I was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbZoQvKJ9U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Frankly, Mr. Shankly

For all of you out there that came of age in the 80's, the Smiths were a truly marvelous band, and you either got them, or you didn't. They were part of the 2nd British invasion, and were a bit intellectual, effete & morose. The lead singer, Morrisey, and I are birthday twins. So I guess I feel.a certain connection to him. Back in the day, I had a huge teenage girl crush on pre-Joshua Tree Bono from U2, and Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode, long before he got all tatted up and became a heroin addict. Morrisey was your ambiguous best friend. Harmless, and fun to go shopping with.

What I learned from that era was 1. Social consciousness, thanks to Band Aid.2. Vegetarianism from Morrisey 3. Bad fashion sense from the Thompson twins & cyndi lauper.

So, fast forward 25 or so years, and the vegetarian thing has kinda stuck. Over the years, I've gone back & forth, but for whatever reason, wound up.eating meat (bacon usually is involved)again. For the last 8 or so years, its because the thought of cooking 3 separate meals.for my family has been a daunting task. Heck, getting one meal on the table has been a daunting task some nights.

Our son is a vegetarian.

Yesterday, the big man decided to take the veg pledge and give it a go for a week.

Yay.

Prayer has been answered.

So, yesterday we started.

So far, so good.

It does mean I have to redo the menu for this week, which I will gladly do, to make this a reality.

It's so worth it.