For well beyond the last two and a half years that Greg and I have been together, his boss, Rip, has not only been a father figure to Greg (and in the last year, myself), but has been a firm and friendly encourager of faith, Catholicism in particular. Every year they go on a three-day silent retreat, held at a Jesuit monestary in Minnesota, and while Greg doesn't necessarily agree with all things Catholic, the benefits he reaps from these retreats are innumerable. As a result of Greg's reluctance to wholly return to the faith he was raised in, Rip has dubbed him a "Catholic in denial." My first thought upon hearing this title was, Aren't all Catholics in some form of denial?, but I digress.
There are soooo many things I don't agree with regarding the Catholic religion (as well as some Protestant branches, not to mention, most monotheistic, paternally-focused organized religions): the paternal structure and exclusion of women from all higher posts within that heirarchy, infallibility of the pope, the Crusades, the vast and numerous discrepancies between what Jesus actually taught vs. what is practiced by most (Number One being that God is everywhere, not just in the church - especially if and when that church is selling you something), and I'm sorry, but I've taken several philosophy of religion courses and I still don't get the logic of the Trinity. Perhaps it's just me.
That said, there are also things I admire to the extent that I sometimes wish I could believe whole-heartedly in the doctrines of the Church - if not for the salvation, then maybe just to be able to hang out in some of the most beautiful buildings in the world without the urgent and unshakable fear that lightning will descend from a clear blue sky to be channeled through the bell tower and into the chapel to single out and strike my sorry ass from the face of the earth. Plus, I'm kind of like a kid in the sense that I like boundaries and being told what to do. Left to my own devices, I lack a certain objectivity that other people and/or deities may be helpful in pointing out. It's gotten better, but still needs turns and cranks here and there.
Which is why, although Rip intended this book for Greg to borrow, the latter has not been able to wrest it from my hands for the last four days.
Touché, Rip. If the whole of Ireland, St. Augustine, the stained glass, St. Ignatius, and the inspiration for rhythm and blues (and thereby rock 'n roll) don't do the trick...
we'll always have Spinal Tap.
(cue the music)
I don't want you to go through that, either! Your childhood circumstances - both yours and Greg's - are helping you to be better parents than the preceding generation. And I'm very proud of both of you.
Hang in there!
Love,
Mom