Obviously blogging has dropped significantly over the last few weeks, as I said it would. And for the reasons I said. There are simply more things on the plate than there used to be. That's because of changing demands of the day, growing and aging family members, and the general shifts in life.
My wife's promotion is great, but also demands much from her. And funny thing, but homeschooling one student, even in middle school, is tougher than homeschooling several. I suppose because when the three were together, they could sometimes turn to each other for help or questions before appealing to mom or dad. Now, it's him. It's us. Usually it's me.
In addition to that, we're now and only now starting to work to push back the mess that came from the big 2020 floods. Hard to believe over two years later, but with everything we were hit with over 2021 and into 2022, only now are we beginning to sort things out. Which is odd, given everything else going on right now. But then, that is part of what is adding to the list! It's crazy.
Anyhoo, it will be a few before I can make too much time for the blog. Even the fun and family posts are sitting on deck waiting to get written. Hopefully things slow down, but even then, I'm sure they'll be filled with other projects that are also on deck. So we'll see how things go in the near future. Again, it's a matter of time. It's finite. Therefore it's a case of getting some spare time back when there is little time to spare, and then I can muse and noodle things.
In the meantime, think The Benedict Option. I don't think Dreher's solutions are altogether spot on, but he sees the problems coming our way, more clearly than most I think. It may not be new Benedictine communities that are the upcoming model for the remnant. Instead, it might be the faithful as English separatists for those who aren't willing to throw the heritage of our Faith under the bus to keep up with the latest. We'll see. Till then, God bless and TTFN.
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| Gratuitous Autumn picture, just to set the mood |
I don't think Dreher's solutions are altogether spot on, but he sees the problems coming our way, more clearly than most I think.
ReplyDeleteDisagree. Dreher has a long history as a peddler of panic porn, and in a rather stereotyped way. He 'receives' an email from a 'friend' who is presented as having some sort of expertise and who just happens to confirm whatever anxiety Rod has been entertaining. The latest installment was an 'economist' at some conference he attended who assured him we'd be suffering worldwide 'hyperinflation' next year. This isn't regulated by anything going on in the world outside the space between his ears.
I agree Dreher can peddle in click-bait. I also see glaring inconsistencies at times in how he approaches the issues and troubles of the day. With that said, he's also right. Many today are trudging on as if Christianity is still the biggest game in town. Those who know better are, on the whole, jumping ship or finding ways to compromise with the new powers that be. Dreher rightly says those who strive to cling to the old ways ,the historical Faith, are in for some new trials as Caesar makes it clear you will put sacrifices before the altar or pay the price. Even if Dreher isn't the one to lead the way, he's at least the one to point out the obvious (see the story of the man in jail for daring to suggest a young'un shouldn't be addressed in the plural because of course).
DeleteI agree with you David that Dreher is inconsistent at times and he always has his bottom line to keep his eye on but I have to say that he is one of the few to at least cast an eye on the status of Christendom and what the different factions within are doing, whether to go along to get along or to hunker down with undiluted faith despite the whirlwinds that are buffeting them. I put myself in the latter camp. As of now, with grace, I have been able to resist. Not sure about the Bene Opt and what to make of that. Do we hide our faith as I see the Bene Opt proposing or do we profess it to the world as Christ asks of us? I don't know. None of this is easy nor will it get any easier as time rolls on.
DeleteBob, I"m with you. Though I don't see Dreher suggesting we hide our faith, any more than a monastic community necessarily does so. It's trying to find people willing to stay the course when so many will - are - jump ship, compromise, become court prophets, and perhaps even turn on those unwilling to do the same. And that's just those within the Faith. I do think his model is problematic, because it assumes someone like him - a person with resources and contacts enough to do so on the fly. But for most, it will be finding those who want to remain faithful, and stand firm with one another. Again, a bit like those old English separatists we read about around November.
DeleteArrrrrrrrrgggg! That last comment was from me, Bob.
DeleteIt's funny. My sons say if there was ever some cosmic apocalyptic event that wiped out our global power grids, it would be those living in the worst third world squalor and non-modernized conditions who would have the upper hand. They're right. I think the same applies spiritually, too. I had a friend from Africa who once quipped that he didn't know how we in America could truly trust in God when we have grocery stores and hospitals all over the place. I never told him he was wrong for wondering that.
DeleteOne of Dreher's more recent poses
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theamericanconservative.com/torn-and-frayed/
He's compelled to leave Baton Rouge because reasons.
Yep. That's what I said. He's not the one to lead the remnant, but he still rang the bell a little louder and more urgently than many have wanted to.
DeleteThe tract development around Baton Rouge has about 330,000 people living in it. It's not as if it would be all that challenging to avoid random encounters with his estranged wife.
DeleteHis mother, a 78 year old widow, has had at least one of her children within 40 miles of her for all of his 55 years. His daughter is, I believe, 16 years old. The younger son is about 19, In his exercises in oversharing, he's admitted his brother-in-law and two of the man's daughters are cold to him. (The niece who is fond of him lives in Santa Rosa, Calif.). I'm going to wager Julie Dreher isn't the only one exasperated with him at this point.
Possibly. It's hard to say. People go through things like that and it can impact them in many ways. I wouldn't wade into that without knowing from the inside out. My concern about Rod is his inconsistency, often driven by an emotional knee-jerk to certain issues. For a man all about the coming tyranny and attack on religious rights, he was among the first to call for people to be arrested in 2020 for defying lockdowns in order to attend church. Worse, he still hasn't accounted for that and his subsequent cooling toward the lockdowns. That sort of thing is my problem with him, though again, he does call it and call it better than many today.
DeleteHe's either cutting out on people who might benefit from his presence or the people in question have persuaded him his presence is...optional. I don't think there's a third option there, unless he's been hired as a foreign correspondent or some such.
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