2020, Here we come!

We've come to the end of another year (and, depending on how you define it, the end of another decade). Each year seems to reach peak craziness, only to be outdone by the following year. Ideas that defy reason, economics, and human nature continue to be pushed as enlightened, compassionate, and "progressive".

Political intrigue reached a new level when the long awaited Mueller report on alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russia turned up with no real evidence of such, no doubt letting down those who dislike Donald Trump intensely and were looking for a short cut to remove him from office. Then came the impeachment show, with a parade of witnesses who either heard from someone else or inferred what Pres. Trump supposedly did regarding Ukraine. Interestingly, the IG Horowitz report and the Barr/Durham actions to come relating to malfeasance among top federal officials may overturn the conventional wisdom as to who is guilty of what. Meanwhile, elections in Britain and movements in Hong Kong and other places further highlight the power shifts that seemed to be taking place in 2019.

For all the follies of politicians, much of the establishment  media outdid them in foolishness in 2019. From the Covington HS students at the March for Life through the whole Mueller and impeachment narratives, plus too many other media fiascos to recall, it's no wonder the public is so divided when there are differing perceptions on what is real v. "fake" news.

The April fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris seemed to symbolize the crises burning in the Catholic Church and among various other faiths. Regardless of the scandals and upheavals, the Church has been through similar trials before and the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, both sacramentally and as head of the Church, will prevail in the end.

Even with all of the political and social upheaval going on, amazing progress continues to be made in medicine, technology and other fronts. The year began with the NASA New Horizons spacecraft encountering a mysterious little world at the edge of the Solar System. Progress continues to be made and 2020 will likely see the resumption of human spaceflights launched from the US, this time on commercially developed vehicles. The Moon is gaining increased attention as the US has accelerated its goal of returning humans to the surface to 2024. Other nations and commercial enterprises are also ramping up their lunar plans 

May we continue to make headway in protecting life and defending liberty while respecting the dignity of every person despite our differences. And may God's blessings and peace  be upon you and yours and wishing all the best in this new year of 2020 and the amazing decade to come.

Have a Holy and Merry Christmas!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:1-14

Hanukkah and Our Attitude about the Future

(This is a post I originally made in 2003 and feel is worth repeating each year, especially in light of some very dark anti-human views of the future vs. ongoing and emerging developments that can provide resources, from the Earth and from other locations in the Solar System and beyond, for future generations.)

Rabbi Daniel Lapin has a provocative column in WorldNetDaily on a message of Hanukkah that is relevant to people of all faiths. He shows examples, ancient and modern, of how a pessimistic Malthusian worldview has been repeatedly disproved by the Creator's providence of material resources and the ingenuity to utilize them to provide for the future. Rabbi Lapin says:

It only seemed that we lacked sufficient copper, whale oil or wood. In reality, our God-given ingenuity developed exciting new technology that eliminated our need for each commodity just as it was becoming scarce.

Hanukkah's miracle was that, day after day, the Temple's menorah just kept on burning in spite of an apparent shortage of fuel - a metaphor, surely, for all apparent shortages that can be overcome with faith. Hanukkah invites us all to express gratitude to the Creator whose beneficence is boundless. It stimulates discussions that can spur our spiritual growth. It reminds us that with His gift of creativity, challenges become optimistic opportunities to partner with God in creatively solving all material shortage.