The Real Answer comes from a Real Person

I happened across the Common Core website and took a look around the FAQ page.  http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/frequently-asked-questions/#faq-2304

The following question in orange is one of my favorites.

Do the standards tell teachers what to teach? YES. Because the core is the official authority on the what the student needs to learn, the core tells the teachers what concepts to teach and when to teach them.

(Question not asked) Doesn't this limit the teachers freedom? YES  The Core limits the teacher's freedom by overlooking their individual professional judgement, on what needs to be taught when, and excludes the significance of other concepts the teacher may find necessary to be introduced for the purpose of their class.

But I have translated those previous answers from their answer. So what does their answer say?

Do the standards tell teachers what to teach?
Teachers know best about what works in the classroom. That is why these standards establish what students need to learn, but do not dictate how teachers should teach. Instead, schools and teachers decide how best to help students reach the standards.

What type of answer is that?

1) Non-sequitur : 

Does it tell teachers what to teach? It does not tell teachers how to teach.

Does it tell teachers what to teach? It establishes what students need to learn. 

Does it tell teachers what to teach? The schools and teachers decide how to help the students reach the what. 

It is a yes or no question. It does not answer the question asked. The appropriate answer should look something like this. It (does/does not) tell teachers what to teach, where the parts of speech are arranged so the response answers the question asked. 

2) Cowardly:

It avoids giving an answer.

3) Touchy Feely:
It overlooks the teachers authority and training to know what the student needs to learn and limits their freedom, so it praises teachers for their expertise, then  it, then praises it again. 

4)Embarrassing 
If a teacher does not know what a student needs to learn, I don't think she should be teaching how.

In conclusion I believe the real answer to the question can be found in not what they said in their answer but by how they responded. By analyzing the grammatical dissonance between the question and answer, by looking at the consequence of the grammatical dissonance, by understanding the  meaning of the sentences and words and acknowledging their ordering and how that made me feel, and by my human experience of  teachers I see the answer to be one derived from fear and possibly guilt.

Q: Does it tell teachers what to teach? 
A: This question makes us feel uncomfortable. We don't want to admit that it limits the teachers freedom.

"Be Kind for Everyone is Fighting a Great Battle"

Dear Candid World, 

but more specifically, Christians, 

and even more specifically, Catholics,

Generally, people do not support something that they believe is wrong, evil, or morally degrading.

Think about this. Those who support gay marriage are fighting for equality, dignity, and the pursuit of happiness. They will defend the bullied, and fight to the end for justice.  All these virtues and desires are good and they fight for goodness.

Once, after posting an article on a fb friend’s wall, (which non threateningly explained the basis of the Christian stance on gay marriage,) I asked him why he believed what he believed about Gay Marriage. Then a third party commented. He called Natural Law BS and let me know that I am a hater, (all the while spewing F-bombs and expressing how much he hated me.) I do not usually engage in controversial issues on social media, and sat wide eyed and petrified for twenty minutes. My mind was trying to wrap itself around such an irrational, non-sequitur post, (him hating me does not give an explanation for his beliefs…). Then with a bruised heart, (I was offended, it was a really rude post) I sat for another twenty minutes trying to decide how to respond.

1) I knew I did not need to respond to his hateful comments about the Church, or myself.

2) Arguing rationally with him about morals and life would be pointless as he rejected the existence of Natural Law.

3) I had to respond, because I could not let an attack on my fundamental beliefs (on social media) be left undefended, or unanswered, meaning there needed to be some appropriate  response.

Honestly, I prayed, “Jesus how am I supposed to respond to this?” Then I recalled a friend of the same faith as mine who had mentioned casually how she had cohabited in the past. I explained to her why it was scandalous, but she did not understand. At that moment I realized that most people don’t choose to do things that they think are wrong. And then I found a response.

·         

      I  focused on his person: “I bet you are a really nice person to meet.”

·         I gave him a chance to respond differently: “but it is hard to tell that from your post, perhaps you want to rephrase that?”

·         I focused on his virtue: “I can see you care a lot about what you believe. We need more people like that these days. I admire that virtue in you.”

The third party, reluctantly apologized, with the sentiment that he did not regret his post but acknowledged mine. And he agreed. “I am a nice person to meet.”

In a private message, my fb friend explained how conservatism and natural law had been forced down his throat by his parents, and how his family rejected him unless he consented to those beliefs.

This person, had been deeply wounded. When he need Love, he received rejection, despite his parent’s intentions. His post was merely an expression of that honest anger and pain.

This unique individual taught me that in respecting the dignity of a person, one must see past their beliefs, and even beyond their words or actions. He taught me that one way to show Love to another is to show them who they really are as a person, loved infinitely by God. 

The Three Syllables that Induce Fear

“Well Lori, I am glad you are back in Houston now. The first case of Ebola in the US is in Dallas.”

“Hey Dad, guess where I’m going this weekend!” And I traveled to Dallas with no worries to celebrate my friend’s birthday.

But after hearing that a Mr. Duncan in Dallas had Ebola, I worried. My first thought was how terrible. I hope that person is not going to die alone and unattended. I thought of all the horrible pictures on the internet of people bleeding out their eyes. What a horrible way to die.

I was not scared that I was going to catch Ebola from Mr. Duncan, for my chances were practically zero. But I could not deny that it was scary to think about having to die from it. So then I wondered why. Why does dying from Ebola bring about so much fear? Am I afraid of the pain? Am I afraid of dying? Yes. But we as human are all afraid of pain and death, and that healthy fear keeps us alive. (I am afraid to die so I will stay in my lane and not crash into the car beside me.) (I am afraid of pain so I will not touch that hot iron skillet without a potholder.) But once I have contracted Ebola pain and death are eminent and fearing them will not help me, not feel pain, or not die.

As a Christian, I realize that if I have Ebola I do not need to fear suffering or death, as Christ has sanctified one and conquered the other. When I remember my faith the fear that comes with Ebola should flee.

What is the root fear then that Ebola evokes within us? It is a fear that comes with not being able to control the virus, (Those plastic suits and face masks are not really invincible…the nurses taking care of Mr. Duncan were still infected), and the uncertainty of catching it if an epidemic breaks out in the states. It is a fear of not having control over your life.

Ebola has made me realize that I fear surrendering my entire life to God.

Literally

Life is short.

it's only four letters.

3+4=7 Coincidence?

There are four cardinal directions. North , South, East and West
There are four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice

The first set shows man how to get places on this earth, and where things are relative to each other.
The second set is handy when living in society, they are like a key or guide to relating well with others in a community.

There are three directions in space: x,y and z
There are three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity

The first set orients one where they are in space and time and motion
The second set orients the self to an ordered perception of themselves within time space and history.

The cardinal directions helps us live well with each other in the flesh and material world
The "tri-oriental" directions help us live well with ourselves, created in the image and likeness of God.

Perhaps this is why 7 is considered a "lucky" or "good" or  "perfect" or "religious" number
7 = 3+4 

Could 7 be a sum of how man is to live in a way that fares well for his society and soul. 


For fun: but not random

North: Prudence
because Prudence or Wisdom is that which we generally tend to ask from above.

Temperance: South 
because temperance has to do with our daily lives down on earth and involves our basic material needs and goods. (food,reproduction,provision)

Fortitude: East 
Just as the rising sun may grant us new hope, so does Fortitude help us stand bright in the darkest situations and move forward.

Justice: West 
Justice is an active force. Just as the sun sets and emits red light, so are we willing to shed blood and give our all to the last dying day in the name of Justice.

Primary Things

Colors. I like colors.

Colors are like numbers to me.

I wonder how many colors there are. 

There are only so many different wavelengths of light 

that we can identify as distinct colors. 

That is because our eyes can only receive a certain range of  wavelengths 

in which our brain translates to images and color.

But does that mean that the other wave lengths of light do not have colors?

We have Ultra Violet light, which we can't see and yet call a color.   

What if it is that all light has a color but we just can't see it? 

What if there are more than three primary colors?

What if we gave each prime number a primary color?

Then each number would have a specific color, or amount of color, (4 would be the same color as 16 but 16 would be bolder or more dense, or have a greater area even though the prime roots would be the color 2)

And what would the purpose of doing this be? Well, each number then (although each has it's special prime factors) would be characterized into something that one could experience. If numbers could be expressed as a color with certain properties, one can compare it to other numbers, not abstractly by its mathematical properties, but by its sensible properties. Color, texture, viscosity, density, ect. are all properties of the the material world that cause us, not only to sense but respond to and react to. 

And who would care to experience numbers? That is not the point. How is it that the human mind works? How is it that we can understand abstract ideas?

God created of himself. He is tangible and can be experienced and known, not only in abstract concepts but also in a tangible reality. God became Man so that Man could be restored and become like God. 

It is hard to interact with a number or have any feelings, or relationship with it, but its easier to know a painting, or enjoy a soft blanket, or confidently wear a favorite styled outfit. We as humans can easily identify with art. But just think, all that color, style, texture, shapes, are abstract concepts which can be easily known. 

God is omnipotent. An idea "sublime" "abstract," but we experience Him in all of created things as everything is of Him. One just can't escape his Love. Let yourself be embraced.

Following God's Quill

I was helping one of the girls I nanny with a summery of different Saints lives. 

One of the chapters was about St. Joan

I asked her, "What are some important things from the story that you remember?" One of her responses was

"She made the prince a king!"

Latter it dawned on me that that was really significant to God for this one person at that time to become King. So much so that a young girl was given visions and voices from God to lead not only  victories on the battle field, but also social victories. She put the political structure back in order. She put a king back on France's thrown.  

It was really important for some reason for these victories to happen. France as we know and joke has lost many battles, and many wars, but for some reason, it was important for France to win victories in the hundreds year war such as in the battle of Orleans. What did one small victory matter in the long scheme of things? Well, it mattered to those individuals fighting and it mattered to God, for he sent Joan, a village girl, to lead the army.

St. Joan of Arc's story made me realize that God does care about our political situations, our military battles, as well as individual souls. 

Perhaps the French Dauphin Charles did not think it really mattered if he was king or not. Well apparently it mattered a great deal, just as much as it matters a great deal to God that we overcome the sins (cowardice, sloth, pride...ect)  that are holding us back from His will. 

Your story is important to God for some reason. Don't be afraid to live it out and make a lasting difference. The author of History knows what he is writing, Don't be afraid to follow his quill. We do make a lasting difference, and who we are and what we do does matter. 

The virtue the girl saw in the story of St. Joan was Obedience.