7qt: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

A choice selection of profound thoughts and complete time-wasters for your weekend. (Find more Quick Takes at the linkup!)

1) Exclusivity and Isolation in Parish Ministries

When I read this article, I wanted to cheer, and then I wanted to start day-drinking, because it really is kind of a depressing situation for anyone who doesn't fit one of the pre-assigned Demographics to Which we are Catering. I think the real examination of conscience (for all parishioners, but especially those very involved ones) comes in this paragraph:

At best, these manufactured groups can forge tenuous bonds between people that have the potential to be nurtured into genuine friendships. At worst, they can devolve into cliques comprised of a set of previous friends who make an effort to be welcoming to strangers, but who just can’t help but fall back into the familiarity of their organic friendship, leaving newcomers feeling ostracized and superfluous until they gradually drift away.

2) Why the Church Needs Bad Catholics

...the disappearance of the bad Catholic impoverishes the Church theologically. It is not a sign that Catholics are holier than they used to be. It is a sign that today’s Church is less capable of creating a space in which the individual can experience the reality of the human condition: that is, the frightening gap between the Command of God the Lawgiver and the deeds of a human life. And yet, the creation of such a space is essential to the Church’s mission. Without it, true conversion of heart cannot take place.

Before your hackles go up, he's not talking about dissenting Catholics, just those whose sins are of a more obvious nature than those of us who like to hide ours. And if your hackles are still up, I sentence you to go read The Power and the Glory before you decide that we don't need their kind 'round these parts.

3) Women Having a Terrible Time at Parties in Art

Anna, he’s going to start reading poetry at us
what do we do
play dead?
no that’s bears

Maybe it means I've been to one too many terrible parties, but I laughed so hard at this. (language alert)

4) Forgotify

In case "before they were cool" isn't hipster enough for you, listen to something that literally no one else has ever played on Spotify. I've caught some neat stuff and some terrible stuff on here, most of it not in English. If you feel like you're in a music rut, it's worth a try.

5) Inspirograph

It's a Spirograph, for your computer! Oh, the nostalgia. The Bean was pretty impressed by gears that can draw pictures, too.

6) This comic

Which reminded me of so many of my college friends. Cheers, guys! I'll see you at Fiddler's!

7) That's all for now, folks! Have a great Halloween/All Saints/All Souls!