Have you seen the beautiful bundles of basil at the Farmers’ Market? Pick up a large bundle – just $1 or $2. Bring it home. Rinse it off. Stuff it into a blender. Add 1/2 cup of olive oil, three cloves of crushed garlic, a handful of shredded Parmesan, salt & pepper and blend. You may need to stop the blender and push the leaves down a bit with a spatula. But when you’re done you’ll have creamy, fresh, basil pesto.
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Spread it on slices of french bread or toss it with hot linguine – like we did last night. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Mmmm.
Place any leftover pesto in a ziplock bag and keep in the freezer.
Hard to imagine that blending beautiful green leaves into mush could create something so delicious. A nice metaphor for life I think. Sometimes we think our lives are a mess that can’t be redeemed. That’s OK. Do nothing. Pray. Be patient. Fortunately, God knows how to make “pesto” from the mess of our lives.
Not too long ago I came across a someone who was profoundly fundamentalist. What do I mean by “fundamentalist”?
Fundamentalists believe that not only do they know what God wants them to do – they know what God wants me to do too! This is appallingly arrogant and narcissistic on two counts. First, it insists that the fundamentalist somehow knows more than other people know about others’ own lives. Second, it insists that the fundamentalist knows more than God (Spirit) working in the heart of the other person! This is pathological narcissism at its worst.
I was raised in a fundamentalist home by parents masquerading as Catholic. Catholicism, by definition, rejects fundamentalism. The term “Fundamentalist Catholic” is an impossibility and an oxymoron.
Catholicism requires on-going reflection and listening to the Spirit; in one’s heart, in one’s life, in one’s prayer. We can never know what God is calling someone else to do. The truth is that it’s often difficult to know for sure what God wants us to do. One of the fruits of the Spirit is that God will often lead us to a surprising decision, one we hadn’t considered or thought of. Usually, it’s a decision others haven’t thought of either. This belief that every person must search and follow their own conscience is called “Primacy of Conscience.” It’s a cornerstone of Catholicism.
From my upbringing I do know that fundamentalists are closed-minded, controlling and judgmental. Any attempts to convince them that they may not know best for others will result in denial, inappropriate displays of anger or manipulative behavior.
On the other hand, living in the Spirit is welcoming, curious, engaging and joyful. One is death-dealing, the other life-giving. We must choose with whom we spend our brief, but precious lifetime.
Fundamentalists repel others the way oil repels water. In the end, I think it’s true that God/reality separates the wheat from the weeds (Matt 13:24-30).
A very good friend of mine refers to the idea of taking a deeper dive. I am hoping to continue a deeper dive into my life. Sort of a sabbatical to stop and reflect on what my life should focus on going forward.
This entails, reflection and listening or prayer – a dangerous activity. A little like high-diving because it feels like free-falling, you never know where you may end up.
My hope is to examine what I’ve learned over the past few years, explore new areas of interest and meet new people along the way.
Education is so important. Questioning is the foundation of education – and education is the basis of our formation, growth and personal development for Catholics. This is why there are Catholic universities, hospitals and centers of learning.
Questioning is the only way we begin to clearly see systemic injustice. Until we see it we can’t work to change it.
To be Catholic is to question everything.
“What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” – Mark Twain.
What does it mean to “live within your means”? A SNL skit with Steve Martin, Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford, is based on this idea.
This skit takes a new look at ancient wisdom. In ancient Babylon people had already learned how to steward resources. And we do steward them. The resources we have are not ours. We don’t take anything with us when we leave this earth.
Here’s the secret Babylonian wisdom that will provide you with wealth and prosperity as long as you live:
1. Give 10% away
2. Save 10% for emergencies and retirement
3. Live on the remainder
Give first. Give back in gratefulness some of what the universe has generously given to you. You will care for others. This is necessary for the benefit of living within a society or living with others. Our society creates systemic poverty because we haven’t yet figured out how to meet every one’s basic needs equitably. Situational poverty will continue to exist because accidents happen, people get sick and people are born with health problems and disabilities. Those who can earn need to contribute to the social safety net for those who struggle.
Next, pay yourself. You will be providing for yourself in old age and you will have resources should you encounter hard times. It is enough to save 10%. Notice that it isn’t even necessary to invest in real estate or the stock or bond markets. It is enough that you simply and consistently save 10% of what you earn.
Finally, live on the remainder. You will be living comfortably within your means. Being an adult means learning that we can’t have everything we want. Being an adult means having the maturity to plan for the future and the discipline to deal with what actually is, today.
Foster a sense of contentment within yourself. How best to do this? When we stop comparing we are more likely to be content. Turn off the TV. TV is junk food for the mind. Without TV you will have less opportunities to make comparisons.
Learn to use what you have in unexpected ways.
Don’t purchase something if you can borrow it or substitute it with something else that will work just as well.
Learn to not cling to material things. After all we are not our homes, cars, clothes, jobs or successful children. Develop a sense of detachment. This is not indifference – but rather, it is not allowing external things or circumstances to determine our self worth and happiness in life.
Have you ever walked a labyrinth? It is an ancient meditation technique that allows us to access the wisdom hidden in our own minds and bodies.
A labyrinth is a large maze or pattern. Often it is created with a path cut into the lawn, or perhaps crushed stone lined with shrubbery. A beautiful tiled labyrinth is set into the floor of the cathedral at Chartres, France. Pews, seats and kneelers in churches are a modern innovation. Older churches and cathedrals were not built to have seats, pews or kneelers.
In the walking we use our bodies and minds to reflect and meditate in a contemplative way. In ancient times it was believed that walking enabled both reading and contemplation. This is why universities in Europe had long boulevards or tree-lined walking paths. This tradition continues even at modern universities today.
Usually a labyrinth will have a small bench at its entrance. As you sit on the bench, consider a question or problem you may be struggling with. Now gently set this issue aside. Then slowly begin to walk the path of the labyrinth. When you reach the center, pause and reflect at each of the six directions. Then slowly begin your walk out of the labyrinth.
Often, you may be surprised to find a solution to your problem emerges shortly after completing the labyrinth.
Regardless, solution or not, you will have had some time to reflect, walk, enjoy nature and experience an ancient tradition. Try it and see!
Click here for a list of labyrinths in and around the Twin Cities area.
Have you seen the beautiful bundles of basil at the Farmers’ Market? Pick up a large bundle – just $1 or $2. Bring it home. Rinse it off. Stuff it into a blender. Add 1/2 cup of olive oil, three cloves of crushed garlic, a handful of shredded Parmesan, salt & pepper and blend. You may need to stop the blender and push the leaves down a bit with a spatula. But when you’re done you’ll have creamy, fresh, basil pesto.
