I’m just…. [a story of truth, honesty and true embarrassment]

(Chastity South Africa)

Article originally appeared at:

Marianna Irene Kalabakas's blog:

http://marikalabakas.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/im-just/

Article by Marianna Irene Kalabakas

Have you ever found yourself in a position, where you pretend to be something, your not? Where you lie to the one you love because you just don’t think you are good enough for them? What about the times you do something that is morally wrong, yet you do it for all the wrong reasons, just to get their attention?

Sometimes you find yourself in a position you’ve never been before. You need advice. Your friend seems to just know a bit about the situation you in, or might of the opposite sex, someone that might have some sort of insight as to what to do when it comes to them. But what if, you end up doing what they tell you to do in that situation? What if you do it and in the end you feel so guilty that you want to crawl in a hole and disappear never to be seen by that person again. Don’t get me wrong, getting your friends advice is absolutely fine, but following it to the letter…perhaps not such a great idea.

If you think about it, lets say you really like someone. You don’t know what to send in the message to them, you think your friend who does have a stable relationship might know what you should do. So you send the message they advise, and you realize that you just made a fool of yourself. It might even work and you end up living a lie with the individual thinking that you had the courage to say such a thing. But what if it has the opposite effect? What if that silly little message that was meant to help the situation made things so much worse that you doubt you would be able to fix the situation and that, that half a chance you had just got ruined? What if you seem so desperate that they just want to get rid of you that they scold you? In all the above situations you can say that you just did not follow your intuition, that you just rushed things and didn’t let fate sort it out. Sometimes after that situation and your feelings so strong, you can do nothing else but wish upon a star and anything else that just might change things.

What about the times you lie to the one you love cause you think they wont accept you for you? You know deep down they will find out but you do it anyway, just so they can look at you, then you really loose your chance, then the possibility of actually sorting things out is very unlikely.

What about the times you do something your friend does, like make out with someone you shouldn’t just to make your ex jealous? You end up getting a bad name. As for that friend, its best to stay away from them your reputation goes down the drain with theirs. You end up being pulled into because they making out with someone they don’t even know.

Basically, love and life is like your very own book. You write what has already happened, the rest of it you finish off yourself. If your friends try help and solve it, the story…just wont end up how you want it to. Take your friends advice just make sure it doesn’t contradict your own ideas, cause it might complicate things. No matter what be yourself, and if your ideas don’t work, you might find someone that they will work on. Every chance you get at love is a learning experience so as to not make the same mistake again, provided you open yourself to love and be loved.


About the author (by Marc Aupiais ):

Marianna Irene Kalabakas, is Greek Orthodox by faith, a non-Catholic religion which maintains the apostolic line, and a supporter of the African National Congress's leader Jacob Zuma, in contrast to our editor's support of the Southern Hemisphere liberal, Northern Hemisphere conservative Democratic Alliance (DA). She is currently studying a bachelor of laws at the University of the Witwatersrand. She writes from life experience and from theory, and her views may be looked at, at her blog:

http://marikalabakas.wordpress.com/

Editor's note: I personally find her views interesting and intriguing and well written in a fun way to read, even if I sometimes disagree deeply with her point of view on matters, we both understand the importance of academic freedom, at least as far as having differing views from one another goes. I also find that our religions' similarities and difference often are what shifts our views on life and politics, I read almost everything Marianna writes. Even if as a Catholic I must oppose the ANC and some other things she has shown support for. She is a very capable student of life.





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Subsidiarity- a Catholic concept

(Also appeared at : Journey in a Broken World 26 / 08 | August / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

In Europe, much is made of subsidiarity- it is a concept which keeps the Union together, just as federalism glues America into a powerful union of connected states. Subsidiarity is why so many in Africa oppose many of the intercontinental adoptions occurring. This concept is also vital in Canon law, and Catholic doctrine.

Understanding subsidiarity is understanding half the choices the Vatican makes. Subsidiarity, appears in a way in the bible, further, it is a basis on which the Vatican interacts with the faithful world.

According to this concept, the lowest, most local solution to a problem should be sought first, the lowest adequate solution should be sought, the lowest competent measure. It is why most miracles are social, and why the safest normal salvation is in sacraments.

It is as much logical as when some seek first the least direct solution, and only use a direct one if needed. In subsidiarity, the least powerful body, or tribunal first hears a problem- but more than this, the first solution should be looked into from the ground- where we look for the most local- though not always most simple solution first.

A foreign national should not adopt a child from a country- unless there is a valid reason why this child should not go to local parents. A person of one religion should not be allowed to adopt a child of another religion, unless a local solution within the child's own community is not viable.

On a larger level- the Vatican leaves much of the governance of the hierarchy to bishops, and then parish priests. Catholic doctrine looks for a local solution first: unless something is better sorted at a higher level.

This is why local bishops are those who first oppose evil politicians, and why dissident bishops are often left for the local conference to request back into order. The pope does not speak until the local authority has been given an opportunity to, or the situation warrants this.

In accordance with this- the Vatican oft respects the formal relations between politicians and its representatives in important local bishops- still it has a direct route- separate from their authority- a nuncio which represents it. One need only read the speeches of the papacy to politicians, and the letters from the Vatican- and compare them with important local authorities- to catch the catch phrases.

In the ancient Israeli Sanhedrin, the council which judged criminals and similar matters- the youngest and least experienced of the men spoke first. The most experienced spoke last. This made the least experienced consider what they said, and prevented undue influence over these by the more powerful men.

Subsidiarity is oft applied by the church in advising on politics, and many matters. This same concept is why the church advocates nationalised armies, but not nationalised healthcare nor nation run economies.

If a matter can be sorted out in civil society- it need not be legislated on, unless civil society is found- sufficiently to be lacking.

Subsidiarity is a vital concept in understanding the church. Its primary function is in making local authority useful and using power to do what its proportion can best achieve. It is why Moses in the desert, appointed judges to hear the lesser cases, while the greater came to him. Remember most- if not all: who were appointed- would surely later perish with Moses for his disobedience- and theirs, and yet were permitted to judge Israel... Were they not en masse destroyed, yet would be used to judge?

Subsidiarity serves to protect conscience- the lowest jurisdiction is the first and is protected from interference on a higher level- until there is reason to demand otherwise. This is why Romans chapter 10 in the bible is important- we must evangelise and change and save the world- it is broken deeply in its own lack and in the lack of the church- the salt which is designed for the world- to salt it into a better territory, even as the world is designed for the saints of the church.

Subsidiarity is also why we must pray first to the saints when they can help us. In it, we respect the gifts given... As God also does by Romans 10, and as He does in His use of Gabriel, Raphael, the prophets and apostles. Subsidiarity is vital to Catholic doctrine!

This is also why Saint Paul commands the early Christians, I think it was the Corinthians- as recorded in the bible- that the wives were first to discuss their problems in the household, and ask about the scriptures there. We should first speak with our own family, asking for answers before we approach a priest or theologian. Even before this- we should look ourselves: for an answer- it is us who are condemned to hades or saved from it. By subsidiarity- we have a definite responsibility- even God notes our personal responsibility by allowing choice! The God of order did not create our minds to ignore them!

This said- with the breakdown in many places- of the family church- and in many a local authority- it is often best to discover the truth for yourself from the magisterium- the source, and also by your own resources at seeking truth in grace. You are the most local authority in your own design... This means that even if the family were not oft broken, you should still seek answers in yourself. First one must ask their own intuitive conscience, and then work up within themself, the Christian must become reliably creative to survive, subsidiarity helps here. Where one is competent- one should attempt first to solve an issue, an equation- before one subjects to another's authority- this also helps make their help easier to apply, or reject.

It is wise to learn from the wise, and we should, yet we must not underestimate ourselves. Some things we cannot handle- it is why there are apologists. Some things are near impossible to cure, and require sacraments and the like administered- because we are not (except in some extreme exceptions) competent to save ourselves without assistance of another from this matter.

This is why we must educate ourselves constantly- from observing the world around, by reading what wise people say, and by creatively viewing the entire world. What we can solve, and are adequate to solve- we should first try to solve, but we should certainly make ourselves more competent, and add to our resources to do so!

This is why most of what I write on theology is to apply to your internal being- your personal responsibility. First focus on your own salvation... It will better prepare you to save others. First focus on your own means, they are oft adequate. First pray, prayer and intuition save a lot of thought and work.

It is not unwise to attempt tasks in a wise, even minimalist manner- what effort is saved is used elsewhere- as long as the effort was adequate!

The meaning of "life" and "life alike"

(Journey in a Broken World) c.f. also in French Translation Le sens de la "vie" et "la vie même"

Article by Marc Aupiais

Ever tried to find a celebrity on facebook? Odd... Isn't it- how easily one finds a fraud!

It is just as hard to find any genuinely helpful book in the spirituality or religion section of a bookstore, or a genuinely religious bookstore for that manner. I have seen a soul lost due to a book I lent a person, from a trusted Catholic bookstore. A book which should never have been sold or published.

In reality, it is common to find people using another's reputation to profit, which is what those abusing religion, or shouting to the heavens from various valid causes can well do.

Jesus warns against this, in the first commandment, and yet; there is the utmost danger of ignoring the true person, of letting the liars, frauds and enemies prevent one from connecting with a real person. Evil is lack, so that a good man, who is ill equipped, is in a way physically evil. Those who usurp another's assigned place, can also be evil: as the good they do is less that the other is meant to, and would be doing!

This desire to use another's name is common in organizations for the common good: which uplift nobodies, with no intelligence, a rabid desperation and infinite self serving needs: to high rank: simply out of perceptions of need. In fact, such organizations attract these people.

And it is there that good and evil can tear each other apart as beasts do: but only should there be good, only should some individual take a stand.

It is therefore not surprising that the same can happen in the assigned Church.

This sinful reality- It is a just justification, and reason for just celibacy and poverty vows. Priests, Religious; these official servants must live as Christ did, least we see them as liars, as thieves and as Simonry's children.

It is their task to channel Christ; for which they must gradually lose their own need to be important: and in the place of this need, determine to become important: but below Christ as a factor of truth!

So, what is this deceptive vice which causes one to pretend, without true, just justification: to be what they are not? I say ... it is the depth of all evil: the original sin, which happened before pride, or in the pride of the first sinners, and is at the depths of the essence of pride.

We all desire meaning, purpose. It is common to all men, all mankind; to want to be important, even vital.

The sin is abusing that which is important for our own desperate desires and fears, and greed.

Let us not neglect that the situation is always desperate. We will always have the poor, weak, abused; until Christ comes again. The All Encompassing Church too, for thousands of years: has been infiltrated, with weeds among the good crop. Our enemies so often using the same trick as the Snake, that vile Serpent whom we read of in the story of Adam and his wife -Eve.

Evil uses the reputation of Good, the appearance of importance to do what benefits it and no one else; and deep inside, this aids -not even itself.

Should the whole Hierarchy fail, and fall into the depths of the currents of decay, death, sin and ruin: do not forget that the Sacraments and the Tradition of the Rock, and the Magisteriam will not fall.

As with the Old Testament truth bearing devices: or as Saul spoke truth of the Second Israeli human king, so the Magisteriam stays strong, should vile men call it to judge, or should good men invoke the procedures.

But know that to be important, good, vital, or needed; one must stare into the hallowed and fearful depths, to cleanse the soul and conscience with wise, connecting intuition: and become good.

Evil is lack, and disproportion. Good is proportion and fullness. To be good, is to be full, or fuller and seeking more. In our dark times, with bishops, perhaps cardinals, entire nations, and so many turning from their posts: their right level, their right place: to be good is the most important gift you have. Even unseen good affects all, and prayer is only one of the many ways we spiritually affect the world. Our every action is a prayer, a request ... To good or evil.

Even our inners speak, and venerate one or other!

To become good, we must stay in our proper place, we must train the soul, and spread the gospel. We must note how important personal responsibility is to Christ: that he command us to help ourselves before others.

Indeed ...he does not forbid us to take the deathly splinter out of our enemy's eye: rather; he demands that we firstly care for our own soul, before any other; least our judgement be wrong and evil!

It is why he speaks of the log and splinter when speaking of judgement. How can we save, if we are ourselves blinded. No, then we as blind men would lead others into the chasm of hades and hell. We must remove that log from our eye; and then we can remove others' afflictions. To be good is to ...to continuously strive even unto, even past every death to better your connection with the Intuitive Truth, which is, and which leads via the magisteriam, and to and in God! For that truth seeks life, and not death; even if it means dying in the quest!

For we should never perform evil that good may occur. In those times, to do evil is to pray to evil. Good is never wrong nor bad. It is always practical: even if it takes more wisdom or energy or less. To do evil, is to lose sight of the gospel. We all have done evil in small portions, and yet; this was surely of doubt, despair and distrust of God, that we betrayed him!

Let us never move our gaze from Christ... Least the water surround us in a drowing death!