Friday, September 20, 2013

SQT: Zoolander, Risky Business, Robin Thicke & Embracing Grace

It's that time again! As Li'l G would say, "A one and a two and a 1-2-3-4!" Here we go with this week's Seven Quick Takes:

1) This. Zoolander meets Risky Business



2) And this. Facebook, I can't quit you, but between you advertising this and Audible attempting to entice me with 50 Shades of Grey it's like you don't even know me at all. In fact, it's like you want me to throw up a little.


3) Have I mentioned that Pope Francis and I are simpatico? Well, we still are, along with millions of our closest friends, I imagine. Yet, I think the Pope is going to be a problem. He shocks the world every time he speaks. He stretches us, though nothing he says is truly revolutionary in the life of a disciple. He just has a way of taking what has always been our mission and expressing it in ways that pierce the heart. Then commences the wailing and gnashing of teeth as the media take what they think they hear and run with it, and everyone in the Church that finds a challenge starts to squirm. The latest, of course, is from his lengthy interview with Jesuit magazines. What was actually covered? Read the full text here.

Image by John Allspaw on Flickr
4) Ok. I'm going to admit it. I'm a little bit of an oddball. I secretly hope I am not alone, but I have a sneaking suspicion I just might be. Every now and then, I feel the Lord place people on my heart to pray for, and since the last season of The Voice, it's Adam. Now, I know what you are thinking. By pray, I don't mean fawn, or admire, or ogle. I really, truly mean pray. I don't really always remember this, but I feel that push every time a Maroon 5 song comes on the radio. See? It's the Odd Life of Mama McCormick. Today, as I was chugging along in rush hour traffic bopping away to Moves Like Jagger, yes, I prayed. Then the Spirit hit me and I wondered, why don't I pray for ALL.THE.MUSICIANS? All of them? Yes, all of them. So it goes like this. Song comes on radio. I start to jam. I remember "hey, pray for them." I pray. Then jamming resumes. You can now go whisper at the well about the crazy woman. Move along.

5) [Fair warning: if you have a squeamish stomach, move on to number 6.] The maternal instinct to die to yourself is so innate when we stop thinking about how hard it is, you don't even always see it coming. Wednesday night, Li'l G was a little ornery, and it turns out her stomach was probably feeling a little not so hot. Why? Oh, because after I said she could sleep in bed with us (read: me, because we have a bed hog on our hands), she proceeded to puke twice. IN MY HANDS. That's right. I voluntarily allowed this child to empty her stomach on my hands trying to avoid getting it all over her and the bed. Rational thought exits at moments like that. Seriously, if you would have told me ten years ago, or heck, even five, that I would, of my own choosing, allow someone to purge themselves on me, I would have sent you for a psychiatric evaluation. Such is the smelly life of a mama. After childbirth, there ain't no boundaries on anything!

6) By now, if you follow along, you know that I work at a maternity home. While we are generously blessed with faithful supporters and loyal donors, we also run across the paradox that while we preach "love the sinner, hate the sin," sometimes we collectively find it hard to love the sinner in our churches and busy lives. Enter Embrace Grace ministries. I am so excited to see what they are going to be offering and hopefully be part of this movement to love more boldly.

From www.iembracegrace.com
7) Going back to #5 for a minute, the Hubs and I were talking the next day about when Li'l G finally went back to sleep, and we were both marveling at just how beautiful she is when she is sleeping (well, always, but the context here was sleep). The Hubs mentioned that as he watches her sleep, he is in awe the she somehow came from him in any way. I have those moments every day as well (and not just in the "I don't know how you're my daughter because that is cray cray and you didn't learn that from me" way). Where I work, I often get that marvelous wonderment from the ladies upon the birth of their children. "He/she is so beautiful - I never thought that would come out of me." My response there is automatic, and such a part of God's miracle. Our children reflect the beauty that God has placed inside of us. It is from that divine beauty that these precious miracles are born. It is true of the women who come to Mary's Mantle, and it is true of the Hubs and of me. It is just harder to believe when talking to yourself. Also, before you begin to say not all babies are beautiful, to their parents I most certainly hope they are the most beautiful sight they have ever seen, and will leave you meaniepants with this:




Happy Friday, internet world! To read more quick takes, visit Jennifer at Conversion Diaries.














2 comments:

  1. Oh my. Yes. After childbirth, a lot of barriers went down. And whenever I feel nervous, now I think "Well, I pushed a KID out of me without any dang medicine... pretty sure I can do THIS!"

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