Lots - Lady, Luck, Lessons

Lots:

God's dice always have a lucky roll.
Sophocles

This March 20, 2011 not only hails the first day of Spring, but also closes with an ancient Hebrew holiday which celebrates the Providence - the casting of lots.

The holiday is the Feast of Lots - Purim.

By Jewish reckoning, it begins this year at sunset on March 19th and ends at sunset March 20th. In some places of the world, the holiday starts the last night of Winter and ends the first day with Spring.

... weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
(King James Version)

The entire story is found in the Book of Esther. Also it is told wonderfully here - The Feast of Purim. Both are a good read with a beautiful heroine, heroes, evil villains, court intrigue, and a thriller with a plot twist. Most remarkable - it's true.

Instead of merely retelling it - and there are so many good links, such as the one above, that do that - I have drawn out a few points as to this marvellous story of God's Providence.

Here are three rolls of the loaded dice:

1st roll: The Lady

In the Old Testament, who was the greatest deliverer?

* Moses when he delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt?
* Joshua who fought the Battle of Jericho?
* Gideon and his small band that delivered his people from the Midianites during the time of the Judges?
* David who defeated the Philistines?

If you go strictly by the numbers, it was a woman - Esther.

After 70 years of captivity, the prophets had decreed that Jewish people return to the land. Perhaps as many as 60,000 did so. Their story is told in Ezra and Nehemiah and two of the "minor" prophets - Haggai and Zechariah.

Yet, most disobeyed and stayed in the Persian Empire. The Book of Esther tells what happened to this majority, who did not go back to Israel. Again, it's the same old sad story of anti-semitism.

Moses and Joshua had delivered an estimated million in the Exodus from Egypt. But Esther, perhaps, delivered her tens of millions, for it has been estimated that several million Jews lived in the Persian Empire during this time.

This was no small feat. By modern standards, it would be as if Esther had stopped Adolf Hitler and prevented the Holocaust. And it was not mistake that during the Holocaust the Jews had called Adolf Hitler a modern day Haman after the villain in the Book of Esther.

For comparison and contrast, reference: Haman and Hitler

2rd roll:  "Luck"

* Was it "luck" that the king of Persia put away his wife and through a beauty contest picked Esther as his new queen?
* Was it "luck" Esther when exercised nepotism, so her next of kin Mordecai rose to a prominent position within the kingdom and had the queen's ear?
* Was it "luck" when Haman hatched his "final solution" to exterminate the Jews that Mordecai said to Esther:

... and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
(King James Version)

The story is filled with many such lucky coincidences - such that Haman's plot was exposed and Mordecai and his Jewish countrymen found favor with the king and issued the support to stop it.

Sophocles was right. God does load the dice.

3rd roll:  Lessons

The Book of Esther is unique in many ways. It's one of the two books in Protestant Bible named after a woman. It is the only book which has no direct mention of God or prayer.

In spite of that, the hand of God is clearly seen, He is alluded to as deliverance coming, prayer is implied with fasting. In a pagan court, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was still there in the shadows watching over his own - even those who were deliberately out of His expressed will. (Reference: George Campbell Morgan)

The story today still speaks to me. It gives me hope for this godless world that seems to have gone mad, and the name of God only used as a curse word.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:7&8
(King James Version)


Question: Have you had any "lucky" coincidences, which have brought you deliverance?


Picture from Wikipedia Commons: Historical dice

Barbie ought to be in pictures - and she is

Since my retirement, I've rediscovered libraries.  A great thing - especially now when they lend out videos and DVDs.

Lately, I've been nurturing my inner child and catching up on the old Disney movies and classics. Pursuing the library, a pink DVD came into view. Barbie (TM).

As a baby boomer, I was perhaps the first generation to grow up with Barbie (TM). She was the "perfect" girl next door with a figure to die for and a fantastic life limited by our imagination.

This fashion doll became a hit and a billion dollar franchise was born. More than 50 years later, she is still going strong. Barbie dolls, all her friends, accessories, clothes, cars, houses, pets, ... Just check out Walmart. Since 2001 thanks to computer animation, she has starred in many movies.

I checked out one of these available Barbie DVDs - Rapunzel. (I had just seen the latest Disney princess movie, Tangled, in the 3D in the movie theatre and wondered how this version would compare.)

I was skeptical, but figured if the Barbie movie was so sweet that it would make me gag, not much was lost, except for some time. So much for prejudice. I was pleasantly surprised. I actually liked the animated movie... very much ... even better than many Disney movies.

So I checked out more. The Nutcracker - as in the Tchaikovsky ballet. The Princess and the Pauper (based loosely on Mark Twain's - The Prince and the Pauper.)  The Magic of Pegasus. The background music was terrific, classical music (like Beethoven) performed by such renowned groups as the London Symphony Orchestra.

It seems so many cartoons out there aren't so uplifting. Just check out the prime time animation on TV on Sunday night. They may be a hit in the ratings, but the humor and the story lines often appeal to the basest in human nature. Yet, the sample of Barbie stories I viewed reinforced good character and family values.

With a strong female in the leading role, the plots did not fall into the male bashing trap of misandry as in so many comedies. Each story reinforced a positive message so lacking in these seemingly sophisticated, cynical times.

I saw the heroine far from the helpless damsel in distress in Victorian fairy tales. She consistently showed courage, perseverance, initiative, and many positive characteristics: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The fruits of the Spirit.

Barbie's inner beauty outshone her perfect 10 "Barbie doll" figure. So, move over Disney, you have some serious competition here.

Photo from Wikipedia:  Barbie Fashion Model

Memorize this!

I am thinking therefore I exist.
Rene Descartes

This week my woman's group finished Jennifer Rothschild's study - Me, Myself, and Lies - a "thought closet makeover."

Our thoughts ... self talk ... not only prove our "existence" - as the French philosopher Descartes concluded, but define who we are.

The links above give much more information on the Jennifer Rothschild's series, and I plan to blog more about some of these lessons in later posts.

As we raced to the finish line in this study, I was challenged by the leader of my group to memorize this ...

Psalm 103

My old negative self-talk would say: "I'm not good a memorizing anymore."

So I am putting myself out there or should I say, I'm putting Psalm 103 out there in many ways on this blog.

* Audio.

* The Written Word.

* Visual

"I can do it."

That's what I need to say to myself.  So here we go ...

Memorize this!


Audio:  Read by Max McLean


Written:

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.


2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits:


3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases;


4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;


5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.


6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment
for all that are oppressed.


7 He made known his ways unto Moses,
his acts unto the children of Israel.


8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and plenteous in mercy.


9 He will not always chide:
neither will he keep his anger for ever.


10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.


11 For as the heaven is high above the earth,
so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.


12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.


13 Like as a father pitieth his children,
so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.


14 For he knoweth our frame;
he remembereth that we are dust.


15 As for man, his days are as grass:
as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.


16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone;
and the place thereof shall know it no more.


17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear him,
and his righteousness unto children's children;


18 To such as keep his covenant,
and to those that remember his commandments to do them.


19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens;
and his kingdom ruleth over all.


20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels,
that excel in strength,
that do his commandments,
hearkening unto the voice of his word.


21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts;
ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.


22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion:
bless the LORD, O my soul.

(King James Version)


Visual:




These following weeks, I ask for your help and encouragement. And ask me how I'm doing.


Do you have any favorites which you have memorized and say to yourself?

Picture from Wikipedia: Thought bubble

3 birthdays, 3 presidents, 3 centuries, 3 defining wars ...

February is one short month long on holidays from the sublime (President's Day, St. Valentine's Day) to the ridiculous (Groundhog Day). And since 1926, February has been designated Black History Month.

Three outstanding American Presidents have birthdays this month - one from each century during a defining war in American history:

18th century - the American Revolution:

George Washington was our first president under the Constitution, chief among our founders as well as a great general leading the Continental Army in the American Revolution. He was born in colonial Virginia on February 22, 1732.

Volumes have been written about George Washington, but this video clip gives a good summary: George Washington insights by historian David McCullough  ( Here is the text: The Glorious Cause of America.  Also, check out instead:  Prayers That Changed America's History   - smithsk 2/16/14)

And remember it was King George III of England - of all people - after the Revolution who said that George Washington was the greatest man in the world. (Check it out in the video clip above.)

19th century - the Civil War:

Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809.

He assumed the office of presidency during a very difficult and divisive time - breakout of the Civil War. Lincoln kept the union together and signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to abolish slavery.

Again, volumes are written about Lincoln- but students summed up the high points of his life quite cleverly in this rap: Abraham Lincoln Rap

Whereas Thomas Jefferson defined us with these words from the Declaration of Independence -

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Lincoln redefined our nation by the pivotal speech: The Gettysburg Address -

"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
...

"that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

(entire text: here)


20th century - the Cold War:

February 6th marks the centennial of Ronald Reagan, born in Illinois in the year 1911.

Reagan assumed the office of presidency during a deep recession, reeling from the stagflation of the 1970s, double digit interest rates, national malaise. His administration sparked an economic recovery that was the longest peacetime expansion up to that point in history.

The following 1984 campaign  ad sums up Reagan's eternal optimism: It's morning in America again. Much has been and will be written about Ronald Reagan, but some high points are captured in this video clip:  Reagan Tribute

Most important, at the end of the 20th century, Ronald Reagan's leadership helped to accelerate the end of the Cold War. He articulated with moral clarity the reasons to win the Cold War in this clip: Ronald Reagan - We Must Fight Speech. Not long after Reagan left office the Soviet Union broke apart and the Berlin Wall came tumbling down.

21st century - The War on Terrorism and ???

We have our challenges in the new millennium which began with September 11, 2001.  In its wake came the War on Terrorism, economic woes and the continuing slide down the slippery slope of spiritual apostasy, moral awfulness, political anarchy ...

In the future, we can draw on the inspiration from the last three centuries and three great presidents - Washington, Lincoln, Reagan - who had birthdays this month. As we face our defining moments may we have the vision of moral clarity and the will to never give up.

And most of all ....


Remember who we are!



Question: This President's Day, which of the former presidents inspire you and why?

Pictures from Wikipeida commons: Happy Birthday; Washington; Lincoln; Reagan; WTC

Touching the Face of God ...

High Flight

The first time I heard this poem was watching a TV station sign off during the 1970s, such as shown in the video clip below. It was much later that I learned the story behind it and how I would be personally affected by it.

In the summer and through the fall of 1940, the Battle of Britain was waging and the London Blitz demoralizing this one island nation that did break as Hitler's juggernaut was steamrolling across the rest of Europe. During such desperate times, Sir Winston Churchill gave his famous speech: Their Finest Hour

Before the United States entered into World War II, hundreds of Americans crossed the border into Canada to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force to volunteer to fight the Nazis. Though they knowingly broke the law, they had the tacit approval of the then officially neutral United States government.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was one such American, who was 18 years old when he entered flight training. Within the year, he was sent to England and flew the Supermarine Spitfire. As he flew fighters over France and in the air defense over England against the German Luftwaffe, Magee rose to the rank of Pilot Officer.

On September 3, 1941, while flying a high altitude (30,000 feet) test flight, Magee orbited and climbed upward, a sight that inspired his line - "To touch the face of God."

Back on earth, he wrote about his experience in a letter to his parents. In it he commented, "I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet, and was finished soon after I landed." On the back of the letter, he jotted down his poem - "High Flight."


Sign off for KSAT



Pilot John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was killed in England at the age of 19 years old when his Spitfire collided with another airplane while descending out of the clouds. That was on December 11, 1941 - four days after Pearl Harbor - 70 years ago this year.

Magee's father was then rector of a Washington, DC church and printed his son's poem in church publications. Not long after that, High Flight was included in an exhibition of poems called Faith and Freedom at the Library of Congress in February 1942 and has been quoted many times world wide. Archibald MacLeish had proclaimed Magee as the first poet of the War.

In the past 70 years, "High Flight" has been reprinted and put on plaques at many air force training fields. And it has been quoted many times world wide.

Twenty-five years ago was one of those times ...

I had just been transferred to another state and that Tuesday, January 28, 1986, I had scheduled a visit to the local utilities company to have the power connected to my new house. Before leaving work early, I was taking a class that morning when one of my co-workers broke into the room with a wild look in his eyes.

"The Challenger Exploded!"

We were all incredulous, and quickly gathered in the lobby. There, we watched the replays of the disaster as the contrails forked in the air and the shuttle exploded. Our world was shaken. None of us - especially the instructor - had any enthusiasm for continuing our class.

Later, that afternoon while making the trip to turn on the utilities I turned on the radio, hearing the chatter of this national disaster. Then President Reagan, who had his State of the Union Address planned for that evening, instead gave the nation and the world the following address:





"The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them. ...


"The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."

from the Speech on the Challenger Disaster by Ronald Reagan


In my humble opinion, this speech to a nation in shock by this tragedy was one of President Reagan's finest hours.


Question: Do you have any stories about the Challenger disaster or the words in the poem "High Flight" that you would like to share?

------------------

Picture from everystockphoto.com: My View

Margery Kempe (Part 4) - she still speaks centuries later

The remarkable Margery Kempe made a career of pursuing sainthood. And she left us a valuable record of her adventures and everyday life in medieval times by dictating her memoirs in 1438. Though this medieval mystic had her shortcomings - as pointed out in my last post, Part 3: Medieval "Church Lady" - Margery had many admirable qualities.

Here a five of them:

1. Her passion for a direct and personal relationship with God

After a very difficult pregnancy, Margery had become very ill - both physically and mentally. When she thought she was going to die and go to hell, amid hallucinations of devils, she had a vision of Christ, who spoke to her: "Dowyter, why hast thow forsakyn me and I forsoke nevyr thee?"

Margery felt peace and happiness after that experience as she soon made a dramatic recovery of her health and sanity. Her peers saw this sudden turnaround as a miracle and Margery believed Jesus had rescued her from the Devil's clutches.

Since her healing followed by some humbling experiences of failed business ventures, Margery had more visions. (Some may say she was crazy. But who can tell?) Her supporters suggested that Margery's true calling was to follow Christ. And with much passion, Margery sought to directly commune with God and pursue sainthood with all her heart. This "coming to Jesus" was not just a passing fad, but one that lasted throughout her lifetime.

During Margery's life in the late 1300s and early 1400s, the organized Church had sunk to one of her low points. The Church was being torn by the Great Schism, when three popes reigned at one time. The clergy seemed disconnected from the people and more interested in wealth, building great cathedrals and names for themselves, and advancing their own political careers than in feeding their flocks.

More than a hundred years before the Reformation, Margery desired to break down this barrier between laity and clergy and commune personally and directly with God. David had expressed that same burning desire for communion in his psalms. (Psalm 27:8; Psalm 40:8; Psalm 42:1) Likewise, St. Paul had the desire for knowing Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:2; Philippians 3:10)

Margery challenges me to have that same passion and not lapse into the coldness of complacency.

2. Her courage and stamina

In her desire to get closer to God, Margery did what many of the pious tried to do in her day - go on pilgrimage. Medieval life was dangerous as it was, but even more so as a woman traveling alone, most of the time on foot. Margery made the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and many other shorter pilgrimages to shrines throughout Europe. She had a confidence that God would see her through. She faced danger from illness, travel, and hostile company. She got herself into many scrapes, but was delivered from them all. Pilgrimages were not for the faint of heart and she had the stamina and will to push on.

I think of St. Paul on his missionary journeys - most on foot - and all the perils and dangers he had faced, including a shipwreck (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). Margery had a taste of something St. Paul went through on pilgrimage on foot across much of Europe, on sea in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the North Sea, during times of peace and war, and in fear of bandits, pirates, evil doers, illness, and many other perils.

I wish I had Margery's courage and strength to keep going on my "Pilgrim's Progress" - especially when life seems scary and difficult.

3. Her conviction and perseverance

Once Margery's mind was made up, nothing deterred her from her goals as she pushed forward with pigheaded stubbornness. Her countrymen on pilgrimage had ditched her many times, but she never gave up, continued on, and found them - again. This terrified them.

St. James gives warning of the double minded man (James 1:8). Margery did not have that problem. St. Paul preached perseverance in not growing weary in well-doing (Galatians 6:9). And Jesus told parables of persistence (Luke 18:1-7).

I covet Margery's stick-to-it-iveness. She was not one to be deterred from her goal.

4. Margery knew her stuff

Though illiterate,Margery had priests read to her from the Bible and other sacred literature. The readings helped the priests as well as Margery to know the Holy Writ better as well as important writings of religious scholars.

In England, John Wycliffe (who first translated the Bible into English) and his disciples, the Lollards, challenged the authority of the Church. This left the leaders quite testy and suspicious of an outspoken woman as Margery. Her detractors had accused her of being a Lollard, which put her at risk as being labeled as a hectic and in real danger of losing her life. (Czech priest John Hus had been burned at the stake in Rome in 1415 about the time Margery had visited on pilgrimage.)

When brought before inquisitions of priests, politicians, and bishops at various times, Margery took them all on and answered them very intelligently. She convinced them all she was a faithful orthodox Catholic and even got the Archbishop of Canterbury's certificate of approval, which made her autobiography "safe" to read.

St. Paul urged his disciples to study and be prepared (2 Timothy 2:15). St. Peter counsels to always be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:14-16).

I am challenged to have that same readiness to give intelligent answers about my faith like Margery had done throughout her many trials.

5. Margery had a testimony

Though her fellow pilgrims had ditched her many times and her neighbors had made fun of her, they must have wondered if she really did have a connection to the Almighty.

In Venice on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Margery changed sailing vessels as in her account the Lord had given her warning about the craft her fellow pilgrims would embark on. Her companions must have thought this was a great stroke of luck as they were finally rid of this irritating woman that followed them doggedly throughout Europe.

The voyage on a stinking galley across the Mediterranean was fraught with perils from the storms at sea, pirates, and the crew, many whom were criminals and men if ill repute. Margery's countrymen must have had second thoughts about their boat as they bit their tongues, and with extra cost and difficulty changed their plans and went with Margery on her vessel of choice. We do know they all arrived safely at the port of Jerusalem in Jaffa.

Later, in her home town of Lynn, Margery had become a joke - an object of abuse. But during the "Great Fire" that swept through the town, Margery wept quite loudly and prayed. This time, those - who had ridiculed her before - now begged her to continue praying. The sky, which had been clear, suddenly turned dark and a great snow storm came rushing in. The citizens of Lynn now had the fire under control. Everyone seemed to agree that the storm that quenched the fire was due to Margery's efforts.

The New Testament saints had testimonies. When St. Paul was a prisoner on ship, the crew did not heed his warnings, but later they all took his advice and were kept safe because of his testimony. (Acts 27) St. Peter urges that because of a good testimony, evil doers will be ashamed (1 Peter 3:16). Many scoffers had to eat their words when they sought Margery's prayers in a time of trouble.

I desire to have a testimony as strong as Margery's, especially one that my enemies take notice.

-------

Conclusions:

Though Margery had her failings, she bears witness to a faith that did not fail and a constancy of her convictions. Searching the web, I did not see that she was canonized as a Catholic saint. In the Protestant definition, a saint is any believer, set aside for God. (Ephesians 1:1;  Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2) Her testimony still speaks through the centuries as she was as a saint in medieval England.


Question: Does Margery speak to you today?

Picture from Wiki Commons: Saints of the Catholic Church

Margery Kempe (Part 3) - Medieval "Church Lady"

"Well, isn't that special?"

So is the catch phrase of the Dana Carvey "holier-than-thou" character "Enid Strict" in the Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit "Church Chat with Church Lady."

Effective comedy is based on truth and "Church Lady" pokes fun at these ugly truths: It's an easy slide from righteousness to self-righteousness. And the world so readily sees it. Even in the Middle Ages.

Before Christmas, I had written two posts about the Life and Times of Margery Kempe, whose autobiography dictated at the end of her life in 1438 is perhaps the first one in the English language.

Part One paints the volatile times she lived in before the Reformation.
Part Two sketches the real life characters that Margery had encountered during her adventures and lifetime career of pursuing sainthood, which rival Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

The "Church Lady" persona is not new, but is as old as religion itself. And Margery Kempe unwittingly reveals herself as a medieval one of these though she casts herself in the best of light.  This medieval "Church Lady" presents herself as the martyr, suffering for her piety, and all her detractors - of course - are the villains, the uninformed, the ignorant.

Looking back at her life 700 years later, it is easy to fall into the trap of presentism. Yet Margery's spiritual warts and faults are not only seen through the lens of the 21st century, but also by the Judeo-Christian standards of the 1st century and earlier.

Many negative lessons of what not to do can be garnered by studying this medieval candidate for sainthood. Below are a five of them.

----------

1. Judging others

"Judge not, that ye be not judged" are well known words from the Sermon on the Mount as well as Jesus' warning that we will be judged by the same standards we judge others (Matthew 7:1-2). But Jesus did say we are to use our brains and be fruit inspectors of a person's life - by their fruits you shall know them (Matthew 7:16-20).

Margery could be judgemental, like she was with the one erring son she mentioned, whom she admonished for dressing like a dandy and having a strong desire for the company of girls. Undoubtedly, this drove the boy away from her for many years. Also, Margery boasted that she knew who was saved, and who was not. Yet, the prophets in the Good Book, such as Samuel, caution that though we look at outer appearances, God sees the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

2.  Lecturing others on their self-improvement

It's so easy to want to correct someone else's bad habits - especially when they annoy us. But Jesus warned of our tendencies to see the speck in our brother's eye, but not the plank in our own. (Matthew 7:3-5)

St. Paul had something to say about this, too. When we see someone overtaken by a fault, the spiritual - in meekness - need to restore such a person, being cautioned that we could be likewise tempted. (Galatians 3:1) And speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15) Likewise, we are to kind to one another, loving and forgiving. (Ephesians 4:32)

St. Peter reminds us that love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) St. Paul exhorts us that when possible live peaceably with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

As Margery tended to moralized and correct others, was it no surprise her traveling companions ditched her so many times on pilgrimage? The priest kicked her out of the English hostel in Rome? Eventually, those in her hometown grew tired of her and shunned her?

3. Making a big show of spirituality

Margery wept and shrieked very publicly, very loudly, and incessantly! She was a total kill-joy to be around. It drove everyone crazy.

Jesus warned about not making a big show of our spirituality, but to do spiritual acts, such as fasting, in secret. Those who make such an outward display have their reward - the praise of men, but not from God. (Matthew 6:16-18) And Jesus had some scathing words for the scribes and Pharisees about their big show of spirituality, while their actions showed otherwise. (Matthew 23)

4. It's all about me

Margery was wrapped up with her many visions, but they were all about her. Most centered on her being involved with the everyday living of the Holy Family, and how Jesus was very pleased with Margery in every way.

St. John tells us that Jesus is the spirit of all prophesy - not us. (Revelation 19:10). St. Paul had an astonishing vision of the third heaven, of which he was not allowed to speak, and he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. (2 Corinthians 12:1-8)

With that thought, at the church I now attend has this unwritten ritual. When our minster says, "It's not about you." And the congregation responds back, "And it's not about you, either."

5. Pride

This is the biggy. Here is one example in Margery's life:

While praying in church, Margery had survived a direct hit from a  large stone and piece of wood which with a loud noise dropped from the vault. All witnesses agreed it was a supernatural event. Margery's detractors said it was sign of God's wrath directed at her. Her supporters said it was a miracle that she was unhurt and a sign of God's favor.

On pilgrimage to York to give thanks for such divine favor, Margery retold of the event to her audiences about God's sign: "Thei that worshep thee thei worshep me." (They that worship Thee worship me)

Quite boastful on her part? To her, anyone who modeled their conduct on her advice would be assured of reaching heaven. Her relentless pursuit of sainthood centered on her - her visions, her advice, her sacrifices, her own importance.

Pride greases the slippery slope from righteousness to self-righteousness.

St. John gave a warning about prima donnas, those who love the preeminence. (3 John 1:9-11) Topping Solomon's list of the seven things God hates is pride (Proverbs 6:16-19). Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the Publican tell how the humble will be justified before God, but not the proud. (Luke 18:10-14)

Her countrymen, fellow pilgrims, and many prelates found Margery quite irritating. As a result,they ditched her; they made sport of her. She did not see it that way as she told sympathetic listeners that all her sufferings were for "the lofe of God."

What did the Apostles say of this? St. Peter wrote that there is no glory for suffering for our own faults. (1 Peter 2:19-20). Likewise St. Paul instructs us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. And if we do so, we are "not sober" - hence crazy. (Romans 12:3)

----------

Her incessant and loud weeping and shrieking, her conceit, and her moralistic outlook gave much fodder for Margery's detractors to scorn her in the 15th century - much like today's critics scorn the pious through comedic skits such as "Church Lady."

Enough Margery bashing. Margery had her strengths and many admirable qualities worth emulating, which will be discussed in the final post.

Question:  Any good advice to avoid the slippery slope from righteousness to self-righteousness?