In Case You Cannot Tell

In case you cannot tell, I have a real sense of sadness in me tonight.  My last post was one of just decrying the senselessness in our world.  I sent this prayer to a friend tonight. I know she will not mind of I share it with all of you. Because, in case you cannot tell, I have a sense of sadness and despair that is weighing on me.  I want to share this prayer:

I hope your days ahead reveal some strength God knows you have, and faith, which is certainty that God is with us, whether or not we have the proof we think we need, because He gives us the proof He knows we need.

My Post on Facebook

My Facebook people do not read my posts;  I know some people who read my posts who do not read my Facebook page.  I am including the link here https://www.facebook.com/joyce.n.badger.  I can copy what I wrote here:

I don't post often, but recently, I have seen several things that speak to my beliefs and values. Several have come from my friend Mary, and I appreciate her posts very much.
I am honored to be on the board of directors of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock. Usually, each board meeting starts with Mass. Often, the celebrant is Bishop Placido Rodriguez. His homilies generally reflect on the fact that we serve to ensure social services to those who need it in our diocese. His message usually focuses on the fact that the Word, which is prayer, urges us to act in service.

The two posts I made tonight send us the same message: first we pray, then we act.
I would be a better person if I could remember not to let my concern stop with prayer. Even small acts of service help.

I am not sure how to show or link what I posted on Facebook. So, I hope these links work.

https://www.facebook.com/LeftAction/photos/a.163594537018870.33966.139398939438430/1203440919700888/?type=3

https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodLordAbove/photos/a.157796790974699.40772.157750900979288/1716288598458836/?type=3

A Visit From the Pope

Don't you just love it.  This is a description of the visits that Pope Francis will make during his trip to the United States http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/17/nyregion/pope-to-meet-prisoners-and-the-meek-during-east-coast-visit.html?emc=edit_th_20150917&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=40853516.  He will not only be seeing dignitaries and government leaders, he will be seeing the common folk.  This is his hallmark. He is a humble man who emphasizes acts of Christian Charity, and forgiveness. He is the Pope we needed for this time in history.

Thank you, Pope Francis.

A Truly Tragic Accident

At work today, the word went out, that there was an accident involving a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/index.html vehicle, and it was bad. Our unit was asked for help, and sent 10 staff members.  We waited with heavy hearts for word.

The accident involved a chain bus that was transporting offenders from the Middleton Unit in Abilene, Texas, to the Sanchez Unit, in El Paso Texas.  An accident occurred, and all 15 people on the bus were involved:  2 correctional officers dead, 8 offenders dead, 4 in critical condition, one in serious condition.  http://cbs7.com/news/article_ea95e15c-9c50-11e4-89d5-ff5d85652c25.html  http://www.kcbd.com/story/27853733/correctional-officer-injured-in-bus-crash-airlifted-to-umc. 

This is tragic yet it seems to be an accident.  The unofficial word is that it was due to icy conditions on the interstate.

God grant peace and mercy, and rest to the souls of those deceased. Pray for the ease and recovery of those who were injured. Give comfort and ease to those survivors who mourn their loss. Prayers go out to the family, loved ones and friends of all involved.

There are staff at the Montford Unit who knew the staff involved: they drove chain buses to Montford. Staff transferred from Middleton to Montford.  For the folks who are personally involved, my prayers are especially sent out for your peace.

I Am Blessed

I am on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities, Lubbock Diocese.  I am not a practicing Catholic, and I know I had to have the Bishop's blessing to be on the board.  I am thankful that my friend Arlene Brooks went to bat for me, as did, years ago, a now deceased board member, Joe Hart do the same.

Tonight, the Bishop hugged me and thanked me for joining in prayer at the Mass.  I thanked him for having me, and he told me he prayed for me.  I told him I need all the prayers I can get.

This means so much to me.

I am so blessed to be on the board of directors at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock http://www.cclubbock.org/.  This is where I started my social work career, and I think it is fitting as I wane in my professional life, that I wane at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock.

My Heart and Prayers Go Out To All Canadians

Canada, its government and its people have been good neighbors to the United States. While no two countries can agree 100% per cent of the time, Canada has been staunch and loyal as a neighbor to the US.

Today, the unthinkable happened: Canada was attacked by what may have been terrorists http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/world/americas/canada-ottawa-shooting/index.html?hpt=wo_c1, and one soldier, Cpl Nathan Cirillo was killed as he stood guard at the Canadian War Memorial.  It will be of little consolation to his family for them to know that he died a hero in service to his country.

The other hero is Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers, who shot a gunman in the Canadian Parliament building on Parliament Hill. His actions saved the lives of many, and his heroism should be acknowledged.

My thoughts and prayers go to the Cirillo family, and to all Canadians. Although I live in Texas, a couple thousand miles from New York City or Boston, I can tell you that having my country attacked, in 2001 or 2013, sure ripped into my psyche, and made me feel very vulnerable.  It also made me want to have a solidarity with those parts of the United States that were immediately effected.  My desire to express solidarity for the citizens of Canada is no less sincere tonight.

It Must Have Been the Prayers

The regular reader will have read my blog of August 4, 2014, in which I explained that I took Sake to the vet 2 weeks after her steroid and antibiotic injection that was supposed to last 4 weeks. It helped some, but by Friday, August 8, 2014, she was almost not eating again. It was the morning before I went to work. I was at my wits end and I did something horrible:  I took some of my grape flavored Anbesol http://www.anbesol.com/ and rubbed it on her gums.  She was very angry with me for doing this.  But she ate.  I do not know what the correlation was. But she ate.  A very little.

I was so sure, when I went to work on Friday, that she would not eat over the weekend, that I did everything I could to get my work done and ahead for the next week, in case I needed to put Sake down. (I knew I would need some time off, if I had to put her down.) One of my coworkers, bless her heart, asked about emergent care for Sake over the weekend, should it be necessary.  I told her it was in place. Several of my other coworkers offered prayers.

Well, Friday night, Sake did not eat well.  I ran errands, and let her rest.

Saturday morning, Sake ate. Not well, but better. And she continued to eat over the weekend. She eschewed the chicken, but liked milk, and beef liver.  On a whim, I purchased Fancy Feast Liver and Chicken Classic (paté).  She has not liked paté in the past, but she ate it over the weekend.  I offered it to her on Sunday, and it was a hit.  I offered her more on Monday morning, and she ate well. Monday night, she ate real chicken and asked for a second serving, which she got! Later, she ate some of the beef liver that I had mashed and put out for her.

I do not know how long this revival will last, but I will take it for as long as it does. It must have been the prayers! Thank you, to all who have prayed for Sake. And me.

Prayers to West, Texas

On April 17, 2013, there was an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/key-facts-plant-explosion-west-texas-18990641.  The authorities treated it as a crime scene, and are slowly opening up zones to allow residents back into their homes. They are not saying it is a crime.  They are using crime scene techniques to help understand what happened, and to protect the citizens of the community.

West http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hgw06 is a small town, about 17 miles north of Waco, off of I-35. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West,_Texas.

This was a horrific tragedy, flattening a large section of the town, costing lives, causing injuries, and disrupting the town. 

There are no words to describe the sadness this event causes me.  This last week has been a week of sadness in the news. 

Prayers go out to West, Texas and those who have been affected by this tragedy. 

Many who lost their lives were First Responders.  This makes sense:  they had responded to the fire that lead to the explosion.

Once again, thank you to all First Responders.  Many of your days are quiet, but you never know when you will be in a situation in which you are putting your life on the line.

Gregorian Chants

I can not tell you how long I have enjoyed Gregorian chants.  I loved the Easter liturgy services because of the Gregorian Chants, when I was growing up.  I can only tell you how stupid I was not to search out recordings of Gregorian Chants to listen to.  That changed a couple of years ago.  By chance, I was in Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and happened upon a CD of Gregorian Chants Salve Regina by the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint  Maurice and Saint Maur, Clervaux http://www.amazon.com/Salve-Regina-Gregorian-Chant/dp/B0000040ZC. 

I have really enjoyed that CD. 

Last fall, I obtained another CD: Gregorian Melodies, Popular Chants.

Most recently, I obtained The Gregorian Book of Silos.

I really enjoy listening to Gregorian Chants.

I frequently play these CDs when I am computering. But I also play them when I am reading.  I do not play them when I am doing housework. When I am doing housework, I need vigorous, rapid paced music to help me to be active.

But, I use the Gregorian chants to help me to be calm, soothe my soul, and in general help me to relax and refresh.

Ash Wednesday

I am not a practicing Roman Catholic, but last year I made a sacrifice for Lent.  I did not really think about it this year, but last night decided to do a meatless Ash Wednesday.  I am not a big meat eater, but the course of my usual day often includes chicken soup for breakfast (hot, aromatic, noodles or dumplings).  I frequently eat in the chow hall at the prison where I work, and the vegetables choices are sometimes slim and none, but there is usually a meat selection, but sometimes fish.

However, I have been bringing salad to work, and usually have some on hand.  I opted for boiled eggs for breakfast, cheese and salad for lunch.  I did not strictly fast: I had cookies for snacks a couple of times today.

So, tonight, I need to plan a dinner.  I have lots of non-meat options available, including seafood, or fish (Fish is not seafood.  Fish is fish.  Seafood is clams, scallops, lobsters, shrimp, squid, octopus, crab, etc. But not fish.) and cheese, including cottage cheese.

The problem is, I can not decide what I want to eat, and then, when I am really hungry, I fix something fast but not necessarily nutritionally appropriate. I have been trying to cook ahead (mostly on the weekend) so I have food readily and quickly available when I get hungry.

But, I will figure this out.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season in preparation of celebrating the Easter miracles for the Roman Catholic Church.  The Orthodox and Coptic Catholic churches have slightly different schedules, but parallel closely to the Roman Catholic Church.  Yesterday was Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which is a big deal in many parts of the world:  a last hurrah before Lent. New Orleans and Rio De Janero are two places renowned for their Mardi Gras celebrations. 

It is significant that Pope Benedict XVI decided the Monday before Ash Wednesday to announce his abdication, February 28,2013, from the papacy due to physical and spiritual health problems. The papal succession can and will occur during Lent. I wonder if the pomp and circumstance of the ordination of the new Pope might be curtailed during Lent, or if the new Pope will be elected, and prevail but not ordained until after Lent.

Any way, the Roman Catholic Church has a 2000 year history with mostly peaceful succession of leadership.  A much longer history the United States.  But the truth be known, there have been periods of upheaval and Popes in contention with each other in the Roman Catholic Church.  Also there was the breach which created the Church of England and the other Anglican Churches.  Close to Roman Catholic but not. And, there are the Greek Orthodox Churches and the Russian Orthodox Churches. And the Coptic Churches.

Many of the traditions and symbolisms exist in the Orthodox, Coptic and Anglican Churches, as well as the Roman Churches.  But each has it variations. 

These variations do not diminish the message of Ash Wednesday: a day of humbleness, humility, sacrifice, and preparation for cleansing and preparation for the Easter miracles. 

Prayers to Newtown, Connecticut

On 12/14/12 there was a mass shooting in an elementary school in Newtown, Ct. http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/14/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html

I heard this at work, about mid-day.  I checked on the town.  My brother lives in Connecticut, and works for a power company, so I could not imagine him having any reason to be in an elementary school.  The shooting occured in Newtown, not in North Haven, where he lives, nor New Haven, where he works. 

I called him after work.  He did not know of any immediate connection between coworkers and the families in Newtown, but we agreed that surely they will know or know of people who were affected. 

I am very saddened by this tragedy. I have been more emotionally moved by this than by some of the other mass shootings that have occured. Maybe because I have ties to Connecticut, and maybe because it was mostly children who were the victims.

This has had national and international implications.  President Obama http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/12/14/transcript-obamas-statement-on-newtown-shooting/ made a statement.  The Pope Benedict XVI sent a letter to the Roman Catholic Church, St. Rose of Lima hthttp://home.nra.org/#/nraorgtp://www.strosechurch.com/ where a vigil was held that night.  Even the sports communities were affected http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/8748654/sports-world-shaken-connecticut-school-shooting-newtown.   One commentator I heard said that he was calling on the National Rifle Association http://home.nra.org/#/nraorg to not just advocate for the right for gun ownership but for gun safety. That is something with which I wholeheartedly agree.

We are a brave, innovative, and powerful nation. Surely, we are smart enough to figure out how to reduce these kinds of mass shootings.

One of the commentators on TV talked about the need to improve our mental health care system. The thought being that folks who perpetrate these kinds of crimes do need mental health care.

That may be true.  But I have to wonder if they would be identified as needing mental health care prior to committing crimes.  I am not sure that these perpetrators were identifed as needing mental health care, and then for some reason, they did not or chose not to receive it. 

I agree that our nation does not support public mental health care at the level that meets the needs of the public.  I see this in my work: many people end up in prison in the State of Texas because they are not receiving mental health care, are off their medicaitons, and commit serious crimes that might could have been prevented.  Some of the lack of mental health care is "volitional."  People do not want mental health care.  But there is no follow up with them to help determine if they are safe to be without mental health care.

But, there are many people out there who are not even receiving mental health care who need to be receiving it.  Maybe because they do not want it. Maybe because they cannot afford it. Maybe because accessing publicly supported mental health care is so cumbersome, difficult and not time responsive.

But maybe, most people do not not receive mental health care because there is still a very negative stigma regarding mental illness.  No one wants to be identified as mentally ill. The implications are so humiliating to people that they deny the need for mental health treatment. And the general public re-enforces this by the way we treat people with mental illness.

Therefore, when people need help, they do not receive it.  Instead, they act out and get themselves involved in a system of court committed care or incarceration that does not have their mental health treatment in the forefront, but has their stabilization and ability to participate in the legal due processing of their behavoir in the judicial system. This then perpetuates the lack of treatment and ongoing punishment and stigmatization of mental illness, because the patient then goes to court, and if is convicted, goes to prison. And hopefully receives mental health treatment, as minimal as it is in prison.

To wrap this around.  We do not know if  the perperator of this crime had a mental health problem.  We may learn there were some circumstances in his life that influenced his thinking and abherant behavior. We may learn he was floridly ill. We may learn there were no indicators regarding his behavior.

Whatever we learn, we must keep our prayers focused on the family, friends, school members and souls of those involved in the mass shooting.