Faith

Recently while watching Miracle on 34th street, I heard a quote on faith that sent my mind to thinking. Paraphrased, it goes something like this "faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to."
Disclaimer: I am Christian and therefore most of my allusions and conclusions will be based on the edicts of christianity. I do not however believe faith to be exclusive to the christian sect. For instance I will be talking about Christmas but I feel it takes just as much faith in ones religion to not celebrate Christmas as it does to do so. In complete opposition to the controversial thinker Nietchze, I believe one should know and then own their religion.
Now back to the quote. My thoughts as I said in the beginning were spurred by Miracle on 34th street so it is with Santa that we will begin. Common sense would dictate to us that there is no such thing as Santa. How could there possibly exist a man/elf that can fly around the world in the space of 24 hours delivering presents? How could a man who eats so many cookies fit through our chimneys or our doors for that matter? It is not possible that there could be a man who knows if we have been naughty or nice or if we have made last minute amends, he certainly couldn't know us all that well. And yet, we erect Christmas trees, we sing songs to and about him and we listen out our windows on Christmas Eve for bells and hoofs. Our faith that something magical really could happen allows us to believe. Without being demeaning, it is much the same with Jesus Christ. Our common sense would say that there could not exist a man who in the short span of 33 years walked this earth performing miracles. How could there possibly be a man who could fast for 40 days and nights and live? It is not possible for a man to know if we are good or bad or if we have recently repented of our sins. How could he know us all so well? And yet, we erect nativities, we sing songs to and about him and we listen for that still small voice. We have faith, we believe. But what can that faith do for us? Faith as a word means nothing, it is intangible it says in the scriptures though that if we have faith even the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. So faith as a force is powerful. It is what allows us to not only believe but to act on those beliefs. It is what allows the muslim to not only believe in Muhammed but to believe that he truly did converse with and receive revelation from allah. It is why the jews continue to light the menorah and why the buhdist rub the belly of buhdda. Even the aetheists excercise faith in something be it themselves, others, their hobbies or money. Only the truly agnostic could possibly say they have no faith. Then why continue? Faith is the current of life. It might be argued at this point that it is ones differing faith that causes so much animosity and hatred in the world. We certainly do awful things in the name of our faiths. Perhaps though it is faith that could save the world. Faith in the human soul maybe. But that my friends would require a great deal of faith.

I'm a blogger not a writer

OK I can't really even call myslef a blogger seeing as how this is my second blog...ever. I just recently read in a magazine a short blurb saying that bloggers were not really writers and maybe that it true. It might possibly be the best thing about a blog. I have a degree in English. When I try hard I know how to use a comma and spell really big words (proud 5th grade spelling bee champ) but like I say I am not a writer. In my third trimester of pregnancy I have developed a rare liver disorder called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Translation...an itch all over that is a real bitch. In addition to the itch it can cause real problems for the unborn child including cranial hemorraging and stillbirth. Needless to say I have spent countless nights scratching off my skin and stressing (#1 thing not to do) over whether the baby is even going to make it. So now I have found my outlet, a brief distracting rest from the restlessness, I blog. If I were writing a paper on Marx or Tennyson or even Shakespeare I would not feel so good. It is comforting to know that I am sending these words into the night for everyone or quite possibly no one to read and it won't come back with red marks all over and a paragraph of comments about how I could do so much better if I only tried. I don't have to try... I am only blogging.

Why I hate the word potty.

In a few short weeks my husband and I are going to welcome our first child into this world. We are doing our best to prepare for this event but as it is often said... "there is no way to prepare for such a life changing thing." That being said, advice from others has not been in short supply. Others ways of preparing you for the unpreparable I guess. Raising a child is so specialized to the couple as they each bring their own ideas, cultures, and nurturing to the table. One thing I know that will never happen in my house though (all you seasoned parents can gasp) is the use of the word "potty." I hate it. That is putting it lightly, I despise it. I think adults rarely give children the credit they are due. Children are intelligent growing beings and don't deserve the disservice done by talking down to them. I no way intend to be vulgar in my home, but what is so wrong with saying "do you have to use the bathroom?" Teaching children from the start the appropriate name can go a long way. Imagine telling your 7 year old that he/she can't use the word "potty" anymore because he/she is too old now. Why re-teach? Not to mention how incredibly stupid and ignorant it sounds cooing out of the mouths of mothers across the nation. As my first blog this is much more of a rant nonetheless it seems of great importance to me to express my great disdain for the babytalk that is the word "potty." Seriously people let's get over it. I know I have.