Unplanned

An orthodox monk concluded, ‘in every age, and above all in this present deeply uneasy, tired and restless age, nothing is more essential than repentance’.

In the spring a movie is set to be released called “Unplanned”. It’s the story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic Director. It was only when she assisted at an abortion  herself that the light dawned on her.

She was pregnant herself at the time and was watching the ultrasound monitor that was being used to guide the abortionist. As the implements of abortion were inserted into the womb of the mother; the baby could be seen scrambling away, seeking safe haven... running for its life. But to no avail, it was crushed and suctioned out of the womb. She was horrified and quit soon after. (She has since become a Catholic and runs a charity that helps abortion workers exit the industry.)

This will be a very special movie. From the beginning of filming there are already conversions taking place. The actress playing the part of Abby told her mother about the role she was playing and was met with a flood of tears. Her mother had been pregnant with her at a young age and had gone for an abortion; backing out only minutes before it was to take place; perhaps She was saved to play this special role.

It’s an independent film from the makers of “God’s not dead” so hopefully it will be screened widely.

America seems to be turning a corner when it comes to abortion, with the partial defunding of planned parenthood and other positive policy changes following the scandals of sales of body parts from aborted babies; let’s hope Ireland will learn more quickly the horror it has unleashed on itself and repent and turn back before the nation loses its soul altogether.

A thought in the eternal mind of God

The other day I declared that ‘I was a thought in the eternal mind of God’ to which my wife rolled her eyes as if to say ‘what was He thinking?’

But it’s true; no one is here by accident, not one is unplanned. We do not realise our significance in the plan of God, that we were created to be co-heirs of His kingdom and even though we have no idea what that might look like; it sounds good to me.

It is easy to lose sight of it though, if our lives on earth are not particularly thrilling or important in the eyes of the world or ourselves. But in a way that’s the point; it’s not earned, it’s given and the degree of glory is only measured by the degree of sacrifice or love, not performance in some heroic enterprise or worldly achievement.

St Therese of Lisieux made sanctity available and within reach for all with her discovery of the ‘Little Way’ where every moment of life, pleasant or otherwise, could be sanctified and translated into an act of love by dying to oneself and going against our nature or ‘natural’ responses. 

I thought of a good example the other day; when your spouse wants you to go for an evening at the opera, to dress up like a penguin and listen to a 2-hour screaming contest whilst missing the match on telly. What an amazing opportunity to obtain everlasting glory! Instead of going with a face like a galley slave chained to his oar whose vessel is about to be rammed; just bear up and endure it with a smile.

The ladies can make use of their husbands’ faults (if they have any) in the same way and bear sweetly and quietly with them offering any irritation to God for the sake of the kingdom. It’s simple but not easy!

To walk the road to holiness, that is our task, our trial, and only when we become what we were created for will we understand the why, of it all.

Crisis of Leadership

 I’ve noticed that there are lots of men with beards these days; but few of them are philosophers. 

It’s an unusual epoch. On the one hand technological marvels are rolled out thick and fast, whilst self- knowledge and the search for true meaning and purpose in life seems to be regarded as trivial or at best a relic of a darkened age. 

Padre Pio gave this advice to a family with young children: - ‘Take care, not so much of their scientific as of their moral education... As you educate their minds with good studies, assure the education of their hearts, along with that of our holy religion; one without the other causes a mortal wound to the human heart.’ 

This would certainly seem to sum-up the current situation in many nations, reflected in their choice of leaders whose behaviour or attitude mirrors their own. Can anyone identify even one good world leader in our day? A real leader looks at the role as sacrificial; it is to love and care more for those you serve than for yourself. That is the depth of character which enables one to die for his people. 

An Arab leader born at the turn of the last century gives a good example of this: Auda Abu Tayi, was always found in the heart of battle with his men, permanently poor as his generosity and hospitality were legendary. He was described as a ‘river to his people’ which in the desert means life–giving. 

A more familiar example would be Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer and exemplary leader whose expeditions all failed in their original objectives but whose men would follow him anywhere because they knew he would get them through. He gave his last biscuit to one of his men when they were both on the verge of starvation, and his mittens to another despite the certainty of frost bite. 

We have lost the way. Western leaders preach a gospel of selfishness and nationalism while the leaders of the developing world cling to power long enough to fill their pockets and make a run for it and the Arab states, confused and frustrated, turn to Islamic fundamentalism. Meanwhile the Chinese embark on a quiet invasion of the world, enslaving nations through the propagation of debt which cannot be paid. 

It’s only the education of the heart, the growth in the Spirit, grounded in the Christian faith, which enables us to love and sacrifice for others. This can draw out true leadership, strength and goodness in our societies.