It dawned on me today that I am not very good at extending Christian charity . . . at least not online.
The other day I fisked a fellow geocacher pretty well. I have no issue with the post I made. What has been on my mind, however, is that I did not let this guy up off the mat. Why was I so harsh?
I do not have an adequate answer to that and that is troublesome for me.
Frodo extended his apology. While I recognized he apologized, I did not accept it. It seems that despite whether I believed him, the proper response would have been to accept it and move on.
Nothing good becomes of dragging this out.
It’s kind of odd how I came around to thinking about this. It dawned on me that here during Lent, one should, if anything, extend his Christianity. I certainly did not practice that in dealing with Frodo.
So, what to do? Well, the action took place publicly, so it seems only fitting to deal with this publicly, hence, this post. I ask for Frodo’s forgiveness. I hope to be a better man than to take someone down just because I object to an Internet message.
It has always seemed particularly odd to me that folks declare that they are giving up chocolate, or some other such vice, for Lent, as though that equates with Christ’s sacrifice for us.
Yet, as flawed humans, what are we to do? The sacrifice that we take on at this time of the year is our way of consciously doing without while concentrating on Christ’s works.
If I declare here that I am forgoing carbonated beverages for 40 days, what does that really represent? It is a personal sacrifice on my part. But is it anything beyond for my own personal gain? Does this emulate Christ? How does giving up soda benefit others?
Lenten sacrifices appear to be like New Year’s resolutions the way people use them today. Abstaining from chocolate, caffeine, or fast food is uniquely selfish, which of course, is not Christ-like at all.
The real meaning of Lent is sacrifice, not for our well-being but that of others. Fasting, abstinence and prayer are just a means to achieve that goal.
We are asked to become holy and like Mother Teresa, our holiness in God, must be for the benefit of others.
What can I abstain from that will be for the benefit of others? What can you abstain from for the benefit of others?
Police say Robinson was forcing his girlfriend, Shatora Jenkins-Thomas, into the trunk of his car during a domestic dispute when DeGregorio intervened and rescued the woman . . .
“When DeGregorio approached Robinson, he said he was a police officer,” Ostrowski said. “Robinson responded, ‘I don’t give a (expletive) who you are.’ ”
Ostrowski said DeGregorio pulled Jenkins-Thomas away from Robinson, at which point Robinson got in his car.
“Robinson circled (DeGregorio and Jenkins-Thomas) like a shark about three to five times,” he said. “Carmen and Shatora decided to try and make a run for it. Multiple witnesses said Robinson then made a straight run for DeGregorio, striking him from behind.”
I knew Carmen DeGregorio. He and I, along with his wife, completed RCIA together back in 2003-04. Their children often attended.
Carmen helped me out when I was in court for my accident. He spoke with the DA, with whom I couldn’t get a minute, and it seemed like because of that, all went smoothly.
He was a good man. Even if he had not been, to be run down like the guy who ran over seagulls at the mall a few years ago is horrific.
