Update Update Update

For the past little while I was feeling rather unwell. It was hard to wake up in the mornings, and then I was taking constant naps throughout the day. I know something was going on because even taking multiple two hour naps (or longer) I was still sleeping through the night just fine.

Pearl Hunting

I woke up this morning feeling much better than I have in a while. No aching back, no stiff neck, no lingering migraine. It actually felt good to wake up this morning. I'm not going to go bouncing around doing cartwheels and such - but I do feel better than I have for a while. This in no way ties in to what I'm about to write below, but I wanted to give y'all an update on how I am. Anyway, on to the post.

On Timeliness

I realized that I made a mistake with my dating yesterday and posted the reading from the Prologue from March 20th instead of the 21st. Indeed, it seems that with my migraine I was unable to keep up with what date it was. So I apologize to any of my readers who were confused by me posting yesterday - the 21st of March - a reading for the 20th of March. I was getting caught back up on my readings this yesterday and this morning, which is why this post is just a tad later than I typically like to post. Anyway, we are back to the Rule of St. Benedict for this one. Chapter 43:1-12

On God's Punishment

I have been unwell the last few days. Struck by a migraine yet again. It seems that anytime there is variable weather - as one gets when the seasons are changing - that my migraines flair up. This reminds me of when I was a teenager and one summer before it would rain I would get a nosebleed; the severity of the nosebleed would depend on how severe the rainstorm would be. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I had a few people suggest that possibly God was punishing me for some sin that I had committed. Thankfully, the nosebleeds only lasted that summer (though I do still get them from time to time, but not every time it rains).

On Rejecting Pride

This morning's reading comes not from the official Lectionary, but from a reading plan from the Bible app. The reading plan is "Daily Journey through Lent with the Early Church" and was made by the Coptic Orthodox Church. I've been pleasantly surprised in the use of quotes from Eastern Orthodox saints from after our schism with the Copts. On that note, the Coptic Church has also made an app called Catena which has the Greek Lectionary as well as the Coptic Lectionary, it has quotes from the saints and commentaries from various Church Fathers (you can choose from a certain set to include or exclude some), and lately they've added Bible plans (or you can make your own). I think the Catena app is an excellent Orthodox alternative than the more Protestant based Bible app. Anyway, on to the post.

On Caring for the Sick

I have been sick enough times in my life that I understand that it is no fun. In fact, I can not stand those people who think that others who have legitimate chronic illnesses are just faking being sick to get attention or to enjoy a day or two off. As someone who has been sick a lot I can tell you that there is no enjoyment in that day off. But as someone who is constantly sick, I feel like I have not done nearly enough for those who get sick in my own community.

Why I Left Freemasonry

It should be obvious by the title of this post that I will be talking about why I left the fraternity known as Freemasonry, but before we get to that I will have to talk about why I joined the Freemasons in the first place.