My kids were outside feasting on persimmons and sugar berries yesterday, that grow all over our land...and I was thinking what a blessing it is to have an abundance of food sources. We have a ton of different types of mushrooms but I don't know anything about them.
You're right. We always vote with high hopes that the candidates we choose will fulfill their promises. Sadly, once elected they are often a disappointment. I think many politicians change their tune once in office, and in some cases their focus shifts to financial gain.
If I was moving into a High Position of Power in the World or the Church I would really, really want to redirect my prayer life accordingly for protection. But what if I got into such a high position and I never really ever prayed anyway ? The demons would kick me about as though I were a toy. I just, well, think very,very few people pray these days. Even a little.
I was in Venice today. And St. Mark's is the main attraction. So many people you can't take a step without bumping into someone. In the prayer chapel, only 4 or 5 people at a time. Definitely a place where the father's house has been turned into a market place. You can't even sit down somewhere without paying. I felt like I was in the world's largest mall. Couldn't leave that place fast enough.
I wasn't a huge fan of Venice way back when I visited in 2005. I lived in Rome for a semester of college, and visiting the beautiful cathedrals was a bittersweet experience. I was there mostly to pray, but the vast majority of the people visiting were walking around chatting like it was just a museum. The Masses were quite empty. It was a depressing kind of feeling for me, even as a young college student. I hadn't realized how little Catholics in Europe actually took their Faith seriously.
