Shut the front door: writing and learning to shut up

There are so many things that I want to bitch about lately. The scandal in Kansas City. Palestine. The political op taking place in Minnesota churches at the direction of their bishops. Catholics whose values are aligned more with Capitalism than the Gospel. Catholics- priests and lay alike- who are smearing the Wall Street protesters- rather hypocritically, I might add. The endless prattling of American Christians hell-bent on finding reasons to call themselves "persecuted" when they are a solid, powerful majority. My own financial spot. I could go on and on.

But, in the grand scheme of things, what would it accomplish? You know my opinions about most of these matters, and expressing them again and again wouldn't benefit you or me. We can all talk about these things, and other issues as well, in a way that contributes to the conversation, offers ideas, suggestions, encouragement, whatever, but too many of us (by "us" I mean people who broadcast their thoughts on the internet like I do) just bitch. Often and loudly.

Maybe that's why we can't hear God speak. In my (admittedly limited) experience, God speaks when I shut up. Even Francis spent a good 50% of his time in retreat on a mountain away from people, emerging to speak only after communing with God.

Pax et bonum.