My Slow Takes (Vol. 92)

1. “The Real Lonesome Dove” program was on the History Channel last week. It told the story of three real cowboys; Oliver Loving, Charles Goodnight and Bose Ikard. The TV movie that starred Robert Duvall, Lee Jones and Danny Glover was a great western that I have watched multiple times. Seeing real people doing things that I always dreamed about was nostalgic. I have written before how much I love stories of the “Old West.” It makes me want to get my Stetson out, grab my boots and gear and head out to the corral. 

If you are interested in learning more about the real cowboys, I located the following information on “Horizons by Ken Booth.”

2. National Geographic launched a house in March 2011, using 300 helium balloons. Unfortunately Carl and Russell, from the movie “Up” were not available for comment. Leslie Katz has a great article with photos of the event.

Dug, Carl and Russell

3. This is a beautiful Good Friday message by Melanie Rigney of “Your Daily Tripod”.

“He was left almost friendless, with only his mother, his aunt, Mary of Magdala and the apostle John there at the end. Who would have believed what had happened, that the man who had had a huge entourage with him through much of his three-year ministry had been all but abandoned.
But as Paul tells us in today’s reading from Hebrews, he was heard by the One who mattered above all others, the One who had sent him. And when his suffering was complete, so was his time in earthly form.

On this most solemn of days, we contemplate the cross he carried for us… and the crosses we refuse to let him carry for us: Hatred. Prejudice. Fear. Envy. Lust. Greed. Insecurity. Perhaps it’s time to hand them over as well and commend our earthly spirits anew, confident enough to ask for salvation and the grace of starting over.”

4. What if Sunday’s Gospel was written using our names as though we were present. 

“On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala and Suzanne came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark, 
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So they ran and went to Simon Peter, 
Joyce, Harold, Dayna, and Wayne, the other disciples whom Jesus loved, and told them, 
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb, 
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter, Joyce, Harold, Dayna and Wayne went out and came to the tomb.
They all ran, but the other disciples ran faster than Peter 
and arrived at the tomb first; 
Joyce, Harold, Dayna and Wayne bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but they did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after them, 
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 
and the cloth that had covered his head, 
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciples also went in, 
Joyce, Harold, Dayna and Wayne, all who had arrived at the tomb first, 
they saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture 
that he had to rise from the dead.”

This was suggested by Msgr. Shreve although the rewrite is mine. In our daily lives there is a tendency for us to react to our faith in the same manner described in John's Gospel. We say we believe and have faith, but when the time arrives our eyes are closed. The season of Lent and the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord is important to our spiritual journeys. It is a time of reflection of our greatest gift. A time to repent, to strengthen our love for Jesus. We are provided this time to open our hearts and our minds. We must be ready when He arrives.

5. Easter Sunday started with a beautiful Mass at our Church of the Epiphany.   Msgr. Shreve’s homily was excellent and the Chancel choir, joined by the Jubilate bell ringers, provided the magnificent angelic music. It was a cloudy, rainy day, but there was sunshine in my heart.

6. We served our annual Easter family brunch at our home. Each family brings a different dish. We pray, share and give thanks. Dee provided a treasure hunt for the grandchildren while the cooks prepared the meal. Afterward was the Easter egg hunt followed by an Italian game, although it has a few different origins, played with hard boiled eggs. My mother-in-law calls the game by a name similar to the word “toots.” The winner this year was the youngest grandchild, Hailey.

7. The weather has warmed up so I spent a few of days working the yard. Raking leaves, spreading spring fertilizer and digging out a small tree in the back part of the yard. I've learned to spend just a few hours at a time so that I don't get bored.

Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.