Diary Archives - Page 2 of 5 - The Rev. Kenneth Allen

Neurotic

July 28, 2011

I attended a talk once by Judith McNutt; she described a disturbed client and then added that he was truly disturbed, ‘he wasn’t just neurotic, like most of us.’ I love listening to her talks, by the way.

That of course got me to thinking about the word neurotic. People use it jokingly, to describe themselves from time to time. And I have too.

So the other day I decided to look it up the word ‘neurotic’ before I go about using it randomly to describe myself, while it was on my mind. It causes strange looks from people at times.

FROM: Dictionary dot com

on “neurotic”

1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of neurosis.

~~~

and on “neurosis”

2. a relatively mild personality disorder typified by excessive anxiety or indecision and a degree of social or interpersonal maladjustment.

FROM Wikipedia

The American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has eliminated the category of “Neurosis”, reflecting a decision by the editors to provide descriptions of behavior as opposed to hidden psychological mechanisms as diagnostic criteria.,[3] and, according to The American Heritage Medical Dictionary, it is “no longer used in psychiatric diagnosis”.[4] These changes to the DSM have been controversial.[5]

So yes, I’m occasionally mildly neurotic. Continue on, please.

Into the Woods

July 21, 2011

Yesterday while discerning the will of the Lord I drove over to Bayou Segnette Sate Park for some photo ops.

It’s crawling with gators, but yesterday evening they basically just looked like logs in the muck and were not that interesting to photograph. Unless they started splashing and moving very quickly, in which case the last thing I was interested in was taking their picture.

But, you know how when you’re walking through the woods admiring the generically beautiful woodsiness of it all and then…. suddenly… you feel something like light fish wire across your face and realize you’ve walked through a woodspider’s nest and all you can do is imagine it’s huge gnarly body walking all over yours as you both scamper to be freed from one another as soon as possible?

I hate when that happens.

It looks just like this bucolic photo above.

But what’s really there is this.

Exact same view, different focus.

Ick.

Being 6’6″ I’ve walked through my share of woodspider’s nests, and I just don’t like it.

Here is a baby gator in the muck. Mama gator was nearby watching, with lots of other gator heads poking up amidst the algae. Sadly, National Geographic I’m not.

I felt like a pelican in the wilderness, a lonely bird upon a roof…

Still, it was a good side trip after a long day in the office.

The Fragrance of Christ

July 19, 2011

?”Thanks be to God, who unfailingly leads us on in Christ’s triumphal train, and employs us to diffuse the fragrance of his knowledge everywhere! We are an aroma of Christ for God’s sake, both among those who are being saved and those on the way to destruction; to the latter an odor dealing death, to the former a breath bringing life.”

I love the imagery in this quote from 2 Corinthians. We are as incense for Christ, of Christ… only much more profound.

In a profound change of imagery, this happened to me the other day:

Poor Jen. Whoever she is.

And in important developments:

I joined the Catholic Writer’s Guild
I made some plans for an upcoming trip I’m getting excited about.
In fact, the trip is to the Writer’s Guild Conference. I’m hoping to go before they realize I’m not much of a writer and cancel my membership. I have things to learn, and am looking forward to it.
And, I changed the name of my weblog once again.
I like the word ‘chronicles’.

Via dictionary.com; “a chronological record of events; a history.’

And that’s about all this site is.
Name changes drive ESTJ’s crazy.

Fragrance is very powerful, and often very subtle; a notion worthy of contemplation.

July 18, 2011

Every time I come to this fishing camp I take a picture of this tree, slowly decomposing in the river. It fell over in Katrina, and has been a steady study in tediously slow decay ever since.

I would say it’s fascinating, but it’s not. Sometimes there’s just not a lot to see here, which can be one of the points of venturing out.

Although, this is new.

The iced coffee in the Tervis Tumbler about sums up the day. I had to reflect on many things.

For instance, what is the purpose of Facebook? And why do I keep a weblog? What is going to come of my brother’s mental health issues? What’s ultimately the cause of them? What’s going to come of my brother’s family, my niece and her daughter?

Are the things that have been irritating me really worth being irritated about? How can I better my Homilies? What is up with my exercise regimen and why is it almost non-existant? When am I at long last going to wrap up my very important office project so I can relax about that?

All of these are very important things.

But none of them are as important as prayer.

Somewhere along the way I was losing that focus to a degree. So I took some time out to make certain it’s the main focus once more.

It’s not always easy, but it’s simple. And it’s not always glamorous or attractive, but it’s fruitful.

And it pulls me out of my comfort zone right into the beautiful fray of life.

So, a late afternoon with some iced coffees and a pleasant sunset, after a long day of rain, … it was well worth it.

A Jazz Brunch

July 17, 2011

Well, I would call it more of a Jazz Reception, but it was a lovely time whatever it’s name might have been.

Ain’t She Sweet? Families, kids and Volunteers showed up for a reception in honor of the feast of St. Mary Magdalen, which is actually this coming Friday.

Fr. Bob was there, holding court in grand style.

One of my old school friends, Melanie, teaches at our school. I was way, way, way ahead of her in school though; and I believe she must have entered high school just out of the cradle. Here she is with her daughter.

Fr. Nick is recovering quite nicely and was able to make it over to the Reception. It’s always great to see Fr. Nick!

The trio did a great job. I’m going to have to find out who they are, and recommend them again.

I was going to comment on the fact that you can tell women designed this lavender and pink cake, but figured that it would entail me being in charge of the cake next year and decided not to comment on that issue at all. Not a peep out of me about the girlie cake, mind you.

It was a fun time. And I’m sending all my photos to Susie, on the right here, so that she can put them in the Parish archives. Wherever that might be!

After that grand morning, it’s been raining all afternoon. I’m looking forward to a relaxing evening with friends, and blessed a night’s sleep.