writing

I was kindly asked to review some personal experience writing for a young woman at church. It's not like I have a lot of credentials, but I have (probably way too much of) an inner editor. I also have a reputation, but it's based on a mixture of fact and wishful thinking. Still, I love pretending to be a writer. Being asked for advice? Whose ego could resist? But realizing my short-comings, I set aside a cascade of on-line articles, and made a trip to the good old public library. Ever hear of Meg Files? Me, neither, but she wrote a great little book called _Write from Life_. Makes me want to get out the old yellow tablets and start scrawling (again). Blogging requires a minimal shine. Even composing on Word Perfect gives an illusion of printer-readiness that impairs spontaneity. Who wants to delve deep and have it actually legible at first draft? Meg says, write longhand. She says if you can't write as fast as you think, slow down your brain. This is a test. Will Mr. Parkie excuse me? If you don't see blog posts for a while, I'm on the sofa covered with lined paper, and sock yarn.

NIH stemcell guidelines

The National Institute of Health has generously invited public comment on its Human Stem Cell Research guidelines
http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009draft.htm

I offer the following:

I am a person with Parkinson’s Disease. I am aware of the claims that have been made for embryonic research, but I urge the NIH to stand by its proposed guidelines, which are ethically and economically cautious. NIH must promote research with the fewest ethical quandaries and the most efficiency, therefore funding for adult and induced pluripotent stem cell research should be robust. The prohibitions listed in sections III and IV are reasonable and humane, and should not be altered. To create embryos for the purpose of experimentation remains objectionable--the restrictions of the Dickey-Wicker Amendment should be retained. Groups like the Parkinson’s Action Network consider SCNT and parthenogenesis "promising," but research that depends on an abundance of human eggs will inevitably exploit vulnerable women. Cures developed from IVF or cloned embryos would be unacceptable to many of us in the Parkinson’s community for safety as well as ethical reasons. Again, please DO NOT relax the guidelines. Especially as iPSC research becomes increasingly auspicious, extravagant embryo research seems less and less justifiable.

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=46608
http://www.hematology.org/media/04202009.cfm

religious discussion continued

I took some time, incidently during Holy Week, to read religion. It all started with a little volume given to me, Patrick Madrid’s _Surprised by Truth_ (see my previous post). That book illustrated why a few converts were dissatisfied with their Protestantism, but the draw of the Roman Church was not made so clear. In the interest of better understanding, I searched the library. I found _The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism_ to be helpful, but I stopped reading at page 200. Too many words in a book I that became advised misrepresented the Church. Still, the meaning of the sacramentals, the gestures, the genuflections, the saints, was made clearly and warmly. For a girl who was fuzzy on the basics of Angelus bells and rosary beads, such gentle "start at the beginning" information was a treasure discovered. Then, I finished Jon Sweeney’s _Almost Catholic_. While I was initially beguiled by his tender treatment of the requisite topics, I found his conclusion not only lame, but somewhat offensive. He loves the Catholic Church, not because of its compelling truth, but because it directs him to his "true self." It’s all about him, not about Him. I was hoping to learn that one could "respect the Catholic Church" without joining Her. Instead, I better understand why conservative Catholics protest that such a regard is impossible. Impossible, but, to me, there is no alternative. I must continue to respect both the Catholics–and the Lutherans, the Baptists, the Pentacostals...
More later.

religious discussion?

Dear Readers,
A friend of mine gave me a book a while back. I ordered my thoughts into the following brief report:
_______________________________________________________

Book report _Surprised by Truth_ Patrick Madrid
I respect the Catholic Church. Many non-Roman Christians value its history and its early teachings, as well as its current bioethics. But the contributors to this work start from strikingly anti-Catholic biographies. And with ironic uniformity, each of these writers had a classic "born again" experience, thanks to outspoken Evangelical "Fundamentalists." These were not incidental detours, but indispensable bridges on each author’s spiritual path. Do they dispose of this? Or credit it? How do they excise their former Protestantism yet retain their re-birth? The church they reject is not entirely mine, and the one they embrace shares much with mine. Many Protestants agree with what Al Kresta calls "doctrinal minimalism."(p.260). Being very sure of very few doctrinal essentials is the hallmark of the non-denominationalism that Kresta experienced, and that I agree with. True, much chaos exists in Protestantism, but the unity of Roman Catholicism is hardly as self-evident as these writers imply. They fail to mention both ancient schisms and modern diversity. Understandably, they value authority. The lack of indisputable leadership may be a shortcoming among Protestants, but it may also be seen as a safeguard. There are able leaders, whose ministries can be scrutinized, even if there is no Pope. I have had a long-standing warm regard for the Catholic Church. While this volume does not kindle that warmth into flame, it doesn’t chill it, either.
______________________________________________
My friend has done me the honor of posting me on his blog (with my permission, of course). For those that are interested in detailed Catholic-Protestant discussion, I will reciprocate by offering a link here:
http://readywithareason.blogspot.com/

With thoughts (but not quite so many at 4:30 AM!), mozartmovement

What have I done?

Anyone that thinks I'm a little full of myself is probably right. But I was reviewing my old posts, and musing that perhaps I've written a few things that others might find interesting. I myself am astonished to re-visit my thoughts as I started Parkinson's meds, and weighed the pros and cons of retiring, in the '06 and '07. Hello to any new visitors from NPF !

I finally read The Shack

Ok, I made myself finish reading The Shack. With due respect to the author and his countless fans, this is neither tight writing nor tested theology. It’s evidently helped many people to see the trinity, justice, and mercy in new perspective. As such, and as therapy for the author, it has value. But it’s way too preachy for fiction and way too fanciful for serious discussion. Even the "ordinary" stretches of prose were clumsy with excess words. Gripping? Hardly. I felt like I should be taking notes. But why? Does this man have credentials in scholarship or church affiliation? Why should I trust someone who leaves errors in his acknowledgments? Therapeutic writing and creative rendering of Biblical truth is valid. But many a would-be author's angst is appropriately left on the computer or in the desk drawer. As Young’s publisher Windblown Media so candidly points out "...what The Shack demonstrated is that just about anyone can put a book out there..." But please, let's not! Tighten it up, save preaching for the conference, and be frugal when putting words in God's mouth!

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving has been regarded by many, including myself, as the perfect holiday. History, gratitude, good smells, family warmth–and a lot less baggage than Christmas. We’ve felt free to travel at Thanksgiving, in a way we couldn’t at Christmas. We’ve visited California, Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, and a daughter’s apartment just four miles down the street. All linked with the familiar feast, with my modest contributions lovingly prepared the previous day. I am honestly so devoid of sentiment this year. Yesterday came and went with no pie made, no cranberries ground. The turkey drumsticks will not be transformed into a banquet, but a crock-pot standby from our young-children economy-era. Cranberries? If I feel like it. Pie? Well, there’s a Mrs. Smith’s in the freezer. The requirement for the day is rest and refreshment–and maybe a togetherness walk with hubby. For the friends and loved ones we won’t see today, know we are sincerely thankful for you! I just wonder, as I anticipate a day without obligation, why don’t I feel carefree?