PEARLY NUGGETS
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • WEBSITES
  • PICS
  • TIES
  • POETRY
  • FIND A GRAVE
  • CONTACT ME

I'm not a Catholic . . .

5/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'm not a Catholic and know little about it. 
 
For those of you who have been following my experiences for the past six months, you'll understand why it piques my interest.  Call it desperation; call it curiosity.  With obstacles and brick walls with an 'as is' home purchase, I've not sat quiet or passive.  I've been very proactive with all problems presented to me.

Being a participant in this game called 'life', I've had seven decades of curiosity about life and the inhabitants that roam here.  'Free will' is one of the most intriguing components of life's chessboard.  I feel everyone, as I refer to the two-legged human animal, could benefit greatly ... if four-legged animals could only share their viewpoint, ways of life and its components.  There is so much wisdom in just observing the animal species, if you 'stop, look, and listen' to them.  Be present, without the human thought process that seems to impede the goodness of our option of 'free will' and our decision making.

Back to my curiosity of Catholicism at the current time.  Often when searching and/or researching, things I'm not looking for come to my attention.  In this situation, that is the case.

One day I was searching about prayer, in general ... who, what, when, where kind of thing ... it's the reporter in me.  Catholic prayers and the saints was a link that came up.  Growing up, I've basically shied away from the Catholic religion  for two reasons ... idolatry and people I knew who left it, and not always for another religion or even a different church - many often turning to atheism.

One of the links I clicked was about the statues of various saints, what they represent, and how they are often 'buried' for help, for various things in one's life.  One of the saints I read about was Saint Joseph because it related to selling real estate which, for me, is and continues to be a struggle.  Since that's what I am struggling with I, of course, read on.

Once I read the basic teaching, I continued my search for feedback from people who have used this spiritual measure in this way.  That in itself is interesting because of our emotions and humane thinking.  Some call it idolatry; some call it faith.  I have to admit that I've found more who feel it was helpful and/or successful.  Hmmm ...

I'll fast forward a bit here.  I now own a Saint Joseph statue, and a print out of all the prayers and the manner in which you use them (called a 'novena').  A novena is 'a nine-day period of private and/or public prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or make special petitions'.  St. Joseph is the 'saint of workers'.  You can learn more about this here:
https://www.st-josephstatue.com/history-of-st-joseph/

Since receiving the St. Joseph statue I have read and re-read different web links comparing how and where to bury it, its specific purpose, how to do/use a 'novena', and also what to do with it once your prayer petition has been answered.  All this is very intense, especially for one who does not regularly practice Catholicism.

As I sit here before my screen, penning this blog entry, I find myself uncomfortable with the physical action of burying a plastic statue upside down in the dirt beneath my feet (no harm intended toward Catholics or Saint Joseph).  I am, however, a proponent of prayers, faith, miracles, positive energy, etc.
  
Also, an obstacle I'm experiencing is someone told me the Saint Joseph statue should be 'blessed', before being buried.  I went so far as to make phone calls to a few local churches, to no avail.  In my searches of details about burying it, I also found that many simply put the statue in a place where its direction is so it will 'draw' positivity.  I have chosen to do that.  Right now it is sitting in a window, facing the highway a few blocks away from the front of my home.  I also have the 'main' prayer on a card, standing up beside it.  Now that I own one, I'm equally as uncomfortable about tossing it in a drawer, etc.

My own father was a self-described atheist, however, my sister would argue with him, telling him he was an 'agnostic' (perhaps a way to soothe her own heart).  I just add this because I can imagine him watching my tap, tap, tap as I scribe this blog today (he had an old typewriter that he used). Wherever his soul departed to after leaving this earthly plane, I'm sure he is somewhat sorely amused with his daughter.  These are times when it'd be great to have a telephone line to 'the other side'.  I love you, pop!

I am ... ~nrl

0 Comments

Exploring the local park, Nelson, Nebraska (about a year ago).

5/6/2018

0 Comments

 
The other day while paying one of my utility bills, the gal in the office and I were talking about summer coming on so quickly (finally), and about being a bit out of shape and wearing a bathing suit.  She does water aerobics at the local pool.  I didn't even know there was one, let alone where it is located.  Because I like the idea of water aerobics (if I am still here), she headed me toward its location.  The pool is actually located next to the city park which, interesting to me, has older and newer playground sections.  There is also a place for camping as well. It's a well hidden secret (for newbies in the area).

It was a nice day. The clouds were fluffy bright white highlighted with a clear blue sky.  I took a leisurely walk around the grounds.  As usual, I had my camera close at hand.  Here is a slideshow of my walk.
0 Comments

Today's weather, in Nebraska!

5/5/2018

0 Comments

 
It's been warm and sunny all day.  Toward late afternoon I was sitting at my computer chatting with a new FB friend.  All the curtains and windows were open today; it was so nice, with a nice cross breeze.  One window is just to the right of my computer.  All of a sudden it was as if all the lights went out, although no lights were on.

I looked out the window and to see a very dark cloudscape.  I took a walk outside, with my camera, walked around the house and took photos of what looked like a somewhat threatening sky.  A light wind arose and a few splatting raindrops hit my face.  I didn't hear any weather warnings either.  By the time I came inside and downloaded these photographs the skies were the same as they'd been all day long.  A few minutes later the skies darkened, again.

Here is a photo slideshow depicting a few short hours of Nebraska weather:
0 Comments

    Who is this little girl?

    I am . . . 
    ​

    ARCHIVE

    August 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.