The Arrow's Path

  My daughter has wanted a 'porch goose' for quite some time. They are all the rage, so I am told. I made a leather apron and some steampunk glasses for Mr. Goose 😆

Tomorrow's Old Testament text begins by warning against the destructive nature of anger. Sirach 27:30 states, "Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them."  This aligns with the Catechism's teaching that anger, when unchecked, can lead to sin and ultimately harm both the individual and the community (CCC 2302). Anger can cloud judgment and lead to actions that are contrary to the love and mercy that God calls us to embody.

Today is Labor day here in the US. The value of labor is a significant theme within the teachings of the Catholic Church, and while the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) does not provide a dedicated section about work and labor, it does address the dignity of work and its theological implications, which is a major theme in Catholic Social Teaching 1. Dignity of Work: The Catechism emphasizes that work is a fundamental dimension of human existence. It states, "Work is a form of continuing participation in God's creation" (CCC 2427). This reflects the belief that through work, individuals contribute to the world and fulfill their role as co-creators with God. This perspective can lead to a profound appreciation for the labor one engages in, recognizing it as a vocation that has intrinsic value. 2. Human Dignity and Labor: The Church teaches that every person has inherent dignity, and this dignity is expressed through work. CCC 2428 notes, "The dignity of work is g...

 I really have no idea where August went. One would think with changing jobs and getting a cold, I'd have some idea, but, alas, it has come and gone. I was hoping to get some fall weather, but it's like 100 degrees F.  Not sure if this is September or the 4th of July. 

Finished my second week transitioning to education. It has been an interesting shift, career wise speaking. It has been nice to have actual colleagues to talk to, as well as seeing the enthusiasm young people being to life in general.  Driving a bus has been an adventure. Thankfully nothing bad as yet. I just take a hour drive out into the cornfields of Nebraska every afternoon. It's planted an idea in my head for a novel. I am curious as to whether I have enough content to do write a full length story.  More on that to come.

 So, I have started a new venture. I am back working in education after not being in an American classroom in 25 years. I did student teaching but never touched the profession since. I finished up my first full week, and it's been an interesting learning experience. My, how things have changed. I was taken aback by the school orientation over active shooters. Students practiced getting down behind windows, lockdowns announced over the intercom. None of that existed the last time I taught. Columbine had largely not even happened yet.  The kids largely took it in stride. They had never known a world where that wasn't a thing. It was as common to them as fire drills or 'duke and cover' drills were in the 1950s Cold War era.  I also noticed the school, which has been built before Columbine, on the outside looked like an institution of higher learning. Lots of windows in ever classroom. It more resembled the schools built prior to 1965 before they were built to resemble pris...