I Want to Believe.

In my heart, I want to be able to wholeheartedly support the Children's Aid Societies of Ontario, and the work that they do to protect children from harm.  What could possibly be wrong with saving children from neglect and abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to care for and protect them?  The problem lies in the face that not everyone has the same idea of what constitutes abuse and harm, and that these societies have Great Powers which they do not always use Responsibly.

The recent case involving the father in Kitchener, who was subjected to arrest, strip search, and cruelty at the hands of the police after his young daughter drew a picture of him holding a gun, with which "kill bad guys and monsters" while she was at school, brings to light exactly what the problem is with these professional "do-gooders".

There was an episode of Little House on the Prairie: A New Beginning, which I remember watching, as a child.  It was called The Wild Boy.  A young boy had been adopted by a Dr. McQueen, and subsequently beaten, abused, and forced to drink lye, to cause him to become mute, before being caged as a sort of freak show exhibit.  I was absolutely appalled that this could be allowed, and was quite happy that I was growing up in an enlightened age, where such things were not permitted.

Fast forward to the events in Kitchener, however, and we see the other side of the coin.  The social workers (if they are indeed licensed workers, as many in Ontario are not) employed there would not only arrest such villains as Dr. McQueen.  They would arrest the hero of the earlier seasons of Little House; Charles Ingalls would be suspect, in their eyes.  After all, he had a gun.  He was known for engaging in fisticuffs and more, in defense of his family or others, albeit, but still; a violent man, at times.  I cannot think of many better husbands or fathers portrayed on television, but in today's eyes, viewed through the lens of the Nanny State, he would be Suspect.

Surely, there must be a happy balance; one in which both children and their parents are protected.  When paranoid, overzealous social workers and police officers are allowed free reign to bring the inquisition down onto innocent families, the abuse is being perpetrated not by the investigated but by the investigators.

I Gave In.

Yes, that's right.  I gave up the battle that women around the world fight daily in their homes....the fight to keep the toilet seat down.  The lid of the throne at my house is now set in an upright position and will stay that way, for the foreseeable future.

It's not that I am tired of yelling for it to be put down.  Oh, no; the males in my household have no problem with doing that.  It is just that with 6 of them using it, and some of the smaller ones not bothering the lift the seat, and some of the medium sized masculine entities not bothering to aim well, or wipe the rim before plopping the seat back down, I am tired of all the scrubbing.

It was being sick this past week that really did it for me.  There's nothing like fighting waves of nausea, brought on by the combination of bleach fumes and illness, as you kneel in front of the porcelain throne and scrub at the pee stains.  I know when it is time to throw in the towel...or the scrubby.

So, boys, you win.  The seat stays up.  For now.

*not my actual toilet

We Really Do

A great article on why it is so very necessary for all of us to do our part to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness.  It affects one in four of us; when you are judgmental about mental illness you probably do not realize that there are people in your own life who are or have been struggling with mental health issues.  I join the nurse in this story in the simple prayer "Please let me not be judgmental today"

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2012/02/24/we-have-to-learn-to-be-less-judgmental

On Fear

The Wakeaney crew all gathered in our living room this evening and watched the film version of The Green Lantern. Being the die-hard Marvel fan that I am, I had only the very basic understanding of the character...I knew that his power came from his ring, that there was a Green Lantern Corp. that protected the universe. I did not know that the green energy was the power of the Will, which was the opposite of Fear, the yellow energy.

Of course, this is not the first movie about the danger of letting fear get in the way of action, or lead you to wrong action.  As a child, I admit I was puzzled at how fear was lumped in with hate by Yoda as being an emotion that led to the dark side.  As an adult, I am all too familiar with how fear has led me and others to "do what we would not do, and not do what we would do".

Who can think of this subject without thinking of Frank Herbert's classic Dune, and the Litany Against Fear?

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear - From Frank Herbert's Dune Book Series

© 1965 and 1984 Frank Herbert

Again, we see the conquering of fear by an act of Will, though this time it is an internal struggle rather than the green energy power harnessed by the ring.  And, oh, when one speaks of rings and fantasy, we can't forget Tolkien's masterpiece.  The ring worn by the Green Lantern is essentially the opposite of the One Ring possessed by Frodo in The Lord of the Rings; that Ring sought to overcome and enslave the will of the wearer, to use the power of fear, amongst other emotions, to enslave and to bind one to the will of Sauron.

While the strong will of Frodo, and Hal Jordan, and Paul Maud'Dib all helped them in their quest to fight evil, I would argue that a stronger power than that led them on to victory.  This is not a power even mentioned in the movies or books, but it was there nonetheless.  It was the power of  Love that caused them to say No to the evil that threatened, the love for a woman, the love for a father, the love for a world, the love for the shire strengthened the Will of the heroes and powered them in a way which Fear could not.  Where love exists perfectly, fear cannot reside, and the will is unshackled by it and is free to act.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is by suspicion, but he who fears is not grown up in love.  1 John 4:18

A New Beginning!

While I often dislike change, getting a fresh start can also be an exciting, and much-needed, thing.  This is the case with our family's recent move to Port Colborne.  It's not that anything was exactly wrong, before, it's that it wasn't exactly right for our family, either.  So far, this move has been Right in a lot of ways!

It's been a month now, and we are settled into our new home, schools, routines and soon to a new church.  I am so excited about the church which we will be attending (hopefully Sunday, if we can all stay healthy!) St. James and St. Brendan is doing a lot of great things in our community, with great emphasis on children's ministry...an answer to prayer, for our family, to find a church that is both Anglican and family-oriented.

I feel very blessed for the opportunities that God has placed before us.

Peace!