It’s simply not possible. It’s simply not, I tell you. But yet, there it is. And no, I didn’t cheat and re-take the test or anything like that. It’s actually a humbling experience to get a good score on even something as simple as this when it only reinforces how much you don’t know. Go ahead and take it, it’s fun! H/T to Curt Jester.

Yes, I know what I’m going to say is already dated in this 24×7 immediacy world in which we live. But that’s what happens after days of head-cold-induced sleep deprivation. Anyway, to my point. Yesterday, 1/1, I pulled off the last page of my John Paul II quote-a-day calendar and behind it was … a blank page. This is interesting in two ways. One, I’d expected an advertisement for something. Two, it was like a perfect rendition of what January 1 represents – a new start, a blank slate.

It also served as a reminder of the wonderful blessing of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and how we are given a blank page to work on afterwards. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Is 1:18)

And again, it provided pause to consider the greatest slate-wiping succession of events ever in creation – the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. How perfectly coincidental that this should come so closely after we celebrate the beginning of this miraculous sequence.

Amazing, is it not, how much God can make out of … nothing?

Just a quick note that I wrapped up Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians today. All I can say is that if you don’t have this book, run, don’t walk. Furthermore, if you haven’t had your interest piqued in patristics yet, this would be a great place to start to see how the Fathers of the Church still speak to us today. As they say, they’re classics for a reason.

Aside from that, I am thoroughly empathizing with Fr. Martin Fox in his post, and the more artistic predecessor thereto. It’s very hard to blog when you feel like you’re walking through half-set jello. As someone suggested to the good Father, “offer it up” and so I shall.

A note, for anyone who follows this blog: all this coming week I’ll be in meetings all day and probably late at work so who knows what kind of “spare” time I’ll have for blogging. But since Indolent Server put me on his blogs list, I suppose I have to do something. Maybe I’ll even earn that spot on his blogroll some day.