Summary of the Development of Trinitarian Dogma

Summary of the Development of Trinitarian Dogma

Silva Redigonda                                                                       Part One

     Providing an outline this particular way was due to my review of classnotes, readingings and some of the tape recording in class to date.  It fulfills instructions 1a in helping me pull it all together so that I can fulfill the task of the second portion.  This may be considered a blend of your request for my way of helping me pull it together and your request of the latter portion of a chart from scripture to Dogma.   

Outline

Who is God?  Not, what is God?

Three in one and one in three = Trinity

Tasks - Understanding and notion of Doctrines (gradually developing)

             Research – data – interpretation – some canons; some rules – meaning

                           Dialectics – differences are contradictory

                                        Conversion or not

Problem of relating to Trinity -  Thinking modern thoughts - therefore, do not think modern

1^st century Judaism – God             > therefore, if not God, created by God- eschatology –monotheism/               Not God             

  Two dogmas –   1. Mystery   2. God acts on behalf of God’s people.

 Shift 

-  over time Israel provides a shift - spirit and word.  Spirit only given to Kings and prophets.  King mediates to the nation.  Prophets guide and announce something new.    

-Duality -  Wright  (more than one divine).  Hebrew accepts other religion but it is not God.

Easter – Resurrection – we see Jesus who was dead and is now alive (reason) - Spirit poured out onto us.  Jesus is God – recognition and reconciliation of Jesus – scriptures open to us – mission.

Easter changes everything -  Jesus is God and God is Jesus – The Holy Spirit acts and God is one and one in three.  God as Father, God as Son and God as Holy Spirit.

Scripture -John to the Philippians – proposes a shift.  High Christianity vs. low Christianity

John – will not find human Jesus Christ. (word about, work of :Cross; word of:Ministry, word of human origins,  the word. Revelation – starts giving names of the Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit has personal name.  God is on trial at a certain point.  God makes a judgement. Communion of God.  Father giving to son and the son giving to the father and Holy Spirit receives everything from the father and the son and the spirit bears witness and gives back. Obedience of Jesus, the Father and Son work together because one is obedient to the other (two can do the work of one).

Mark – (behavior) only human Jesus. The word of Jesus: Ministry – how Jesus got to the cross; Jesus performs that belong to God alone. (claim authority over law, forgives sins and drives out demons). Jesus speaks own authority.  Messianic secret. Depicts Jesus before Easter.  Who Jesus is and who God is. All things lead to Son of God. Development – mutual neutrality of Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.

Paul -   Jesus is raised.

Luke – goes further: human origins.  Stops at Adam. One humanity in Christ. Interested in overshadowing Mary. Spirit at conception.

Mathew – interested in origins of Jesus. Focus on Israel. Jesus is Israel and reveals God. Spirit at conception. Obedience of Jesus, the Father and Son work together because one is obedient to the other (two can do the work of one).

Early Christians – story of Jesus as story of God’s own obedience.  There was no issue that Jesus was human.  The pivot  is the revelation of who God is.

1^st movement – a WAY

2^nd movement – ascribing agency (spirit becomes the subject – a verb)

3^rd movement – Luke – exploring depths of this agency. Mutuality between Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Things need to be clarified  so – Dogma

Pray text, Pray 3 in one and one and three

MOVEMENT FROM SCRIPTURE TO DOGMA

GK philosophy and culture cannot accept a suffering God.  God is abstract.  Proclamation of Christ as God is a scandal.  How to proclaim the gospel through new meaning?

Church Theologians 2^nd century   

Martyr Justin (executed in Romo circa 165) and Irenaeus of Lyons, bishop of Gk speaking Gaul (180-190)          ^                                                                         -traces of all four gospels and other NT writings. Tatian Pupil 170 created harmony of the gospels – Diatessaron

Gospel of Ebionites  - on the day of his bapism Jesus is begotten as Son of God, by the Spirit entering him (adoptionism).  Accepted by Byzantium, Theodotus the Younger and Artemon (end of the 2^nd century).

-^ rejected by mainstream church and considered heretical.   

Later second and third centuries

Monarchian school at the beginning of third century. He himself made himself a son to himself.  A Father makes a son and a son makes a father thus reciprocally related out of each other to each other cannot in any way by themselves simply become so related to themselves, that the Father can make himself a Son to Himself, and the Son render Himself a Father to Himself.

                                                                                                                           ^(argument) with God anything is possible.

 Tertullian (IN THE WEST) -  Father and Son – two different entities are needed.  I cannot be my own father or my own son.  Trinitarian counter position – God the Father implements the salvation of human beings with the help of the son and the Holy Spirit.  The Father is distinct from the son, being greater than the son, inasmuch as He who begets is one, and He who is begotten is another

Demonstrates in Praxis 11, that Monarchians have no scriptural proof

Origen (IN THE EAST)  [died 253/4} (most educated in his time [probably]) Put forward Logos theology grounded in both the Bible and philosophy – decisive attacks on Monarchians.  Like other Logos theologians, more concerned about distinction rather than unity in God.  Origen described Father, Son and Spirit as three distinct hypostasis.  Therefore, three entities with their own existence and real presence, and their distinction is expressed. He designated these three as being one. No other beings are good in themselves.  God is first and only.  All that is spiritual is eternal and only the material is transitory.  God is the creator of all.

Arius – born circa 260 – theology from the Alexandrian milieu strongly shaped by theology of Origen before him.  Dispute over Arius occurred circa 318.  If the pre existent son of God had a beginning, then he did not exist before he was begotten, created and set up.  God is therefore, true God. The Son of God is not true God, he only bears the title God.  The Son belongs more on the side of the creatures, who also came into being from nothing.  The son is so radically subordinate to the Father that in Arius’s view he cannot know the nature of the Father.  Therefore, Christology no longer a threat to monotheism. Excommunicated circa 318.  Bishops of Nicomedia and Caesarea supported teachings

Bishop Alexander of Alexandria warned fellow bishops against intrigues of Arius and followers.  Also counters Arian doctrine that the Son has a beginning.

Council of Nicaea (325) deliberations began and held in Gk. Eusebius was offered the opportunity to justify himself with a creed.  It had become customary in the dispute over Arius for opposing parties to sum up their theological views in creed.  Council fathers to work out a creed chose the theology from earlier creeds which were undisputed, namely pre-existenacne of the Arian dispute.  The term homoousios belongs in the anti-Arian repertoire of the Council of Nicaea.  Council Fathers also condemned the core thesis of Arius including that Son of God had once not existed.  Fathers also used the terms hypostasis and substance (ousia) as synonyms and did not distinguish them (poses a problem in the future).

Question  :  Are Father, Son and Spirit three distinct entities or only one was not answered at Nicaea.                       

Banished dignitaries such as Arius and Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia were rehabilitated and had to adhere formally to the official church.

Years after Nicaea, in the east of the empire, a witch hunt against Nicene Bishops began.

Marcellus – like the Monarchians at the beginning of the third century central concern was the unity of God.  Creator God of the OT and the savior are not two Gods but one and the same God.  Moves further in the field of pre-existence Christology and confirms (against Arian thesis) that the Son really is God’s own and true Logos.  Emphasizes that the divinity of the Father and of the Son is indivisible. 

 Athanasius and Marcellus were banished to the west of the empire so that peace could come to the east.  In 337 Constantine dies there and empire is divided between his three sons.  Son Constantine allowed banished bishops to return but in due to unrest in  339 they leave.

341 – a synod took place in Rome without Eastern participation.  Verdict – rehabilitated Marcellus and Athanasius and at the same time accused the theologians of the East of being Arians.    4 different formule are associated with the Synod of Antioch.

East and West divided in church politics and theology and incapable of union on their own.  For this reason political support was seeked from Ermperor Constans, ruler of the western half of the empire.

Circa 342  council met – none of the disputants reached the theological stage which would be the binding tradition of the church decades later.  However, problems not discussed at Nicaea were now openly on the table.

351 a synod in Sirmium

350’s revival of Arianism.  This new version is also called Neo-Arianism.  Used concept of begetting to express the difference in substance between the unbegotten Father and the begotten Son.  The son is like or similar to the Father in substance.

In reaction there was a counter-movement in the East.  Emperor Constantius also anxious of Neo-Arianism rise.

357 Constantius organized a small synod in Sirmium to give discussion on a new direction.  Result: Rivals agreed on a joint text, fourth formula of Sirmium, dated 22 May 359.

New Years Eve 359/360 all present bishops in Constantinople finally signed a creed (synods 30.2-10)

362 – negotiations in Alexandria – the orthodox content of the different theologies was established.

381 – second ecumenical council – a   Synod of the bishops of the East (orientated on Neo – Nicene theology). Pope not invited.  Only one Western participant Bishop Acholius of Thessalonica.  Canon 1 which the council passed proves the bishops still recognized the Nicene Creed.  With the council of Constantinople the crises that the theology of Arius had sparked was overcome, in the East of the empire.  Canon laws. 

Part 2

    This paper will examine the dogmatic development from the end of Nicea to Constantinople II pastoral application of reflection reaching out to the spirituality within each person.

    The Council of Nicaea deliberations began in 325 and were held in the Greek language.    Council Fathers condemned the core thesis of Arius including that the Son of God had once not existed.  Fathers also used the terms hypostasis and substance (ousia) as synonyms and did not distinguish them which would become a problem in the future.  Subsequently, what was not answered is the question, are Father, Son and Spirit three distinct entities or one?[1]  We may examine the differences of  two Creeds, the Creed of Jerusalem indicates the Son of God as the only “begotten Son of God”, while the Nicene Creed” … from the substance of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made”[2]  The difference being created and not made.  What is basic at Nicaea is what you can say about the father you can say about the son.[3] The statement that“ ‘true God from true God is also anti-Arian’ ”(Dunzl, p 56).

     Circa  342  Serdica council met and problems not discussed at Nicaea were now being dealt with.  This could have been an ecumenical council as intended but the Bishops of the East refused to take part in joint sessions with Marcellus of Ancyra and Athanasius of Alexandria were present (Dunzl, p 79).   The Eastern bishops also once again condemned,

          doctrine of there being three Gods or that Christ is not God; that neither Christ nor  

          the Son of God existed before the ages or that one and the same is Father,

          Son and Holy Spirit, that the Son; that the son is unbegotten or that one and

          the same is Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that the Son is unbegotten or that

          the Father did not beget the Son by decision and will”

                                                            (Dunzl, p80)

     The Western assembly continued to meet in Serdica.  It had two tasks, to safeguard the rehabilitation of Athanasius (had been banished to the West of the empire so that peace could come to the East) and other deposed bishops legally (Canon 3 of Serdica).  The Bishops of the West wanted to give binding expression to their faith and to publish it in an encyclical (Dunzl, p 80) .  Questions raised are: Is there only one divine hypostasis as the West taught or are there three as the East taught?  Neither the West nor East could provide a convincing answer.

     In the 350’s an unexpectant revival of Arianism also called Neo-Arianism, occurred which did not meet with undivided approval among the Bishops (Dunzl, p 89).  In reaction there was a theological counter-movement in the East which maintained the Eastern doctrine of the three divine hypostases but at the same time wanted to separate itself clearly from Arianism.  Neo-Arianism  believed that “the Son is like or similar to the Father in substance (Gk. homios Kat’ousian) One can also express the relation of the Son to the Father with the adjective homoiousiso, so in history of dogma the representatives of this doctrine are designated Homoeousians.  The two Greek adjectives homos and homoios have the same meaning and express likeness but with different nuances.  Homos can mean “like” as indentical; homoios “like” as similar.  Since two things that are like each are not identical, this is the problem.  The traditional East taught that God, the Father and God the son cannot be identical with each other, since that would be modalistic thinking, they are therefore two distinct hypostasis, each with his own ousia, individual substance.  A breakthrough  to a conception of the Trinity which would pave the way to the future and ultimately overcome the dispute over Arianism is the pioneer work by Basil the Great.  Both supporters and opponents of the Nicene Creed had used the terms hypostasis and substance (ousia) as corresponding to each other. The West and the Old Nicenes around Ahanasius of Alexandria had always started from one divine substance and at the same ti8me one divine hypostasis to safeguard monotheism.  The East spoke of three divine hypostases (three existing realities).  The two terms “substance and hypostasis” was also customary for Basil.  However, Basil learned to keep the two concepts apart due to the controversy with Arian (Dunzl, p 106).  The key basic insight that Basil has is that the Spirit has his own divine operation.  The Spirit is God.  God works the difference.[4]                

     A great moment in Church history is the negotiations in Alexandria in 362.  Here there was an understanding of opposing parties and a clarification of terminological differences.  The orthodox content of the different theologies was established (Dunzl, 106.   

 Here in pastoral terms one might be able to recognize and respect the language, difference of opinion 

---

[1] Dunzl, Franz.  A Brief History of the Doctrine Of the Trinity in the Early Church.  Trans. John Bowden. New York: T&T Clark, 2007. Page 61.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by author’s name followed by page number.

[2] Handout, Class B.  Prof  Mongeau, Gilles, Regis College.

[3] Prof Mongeau, Gilles, Classroom B, Regis College, 2 Nov 10 (class instruction)

[4] St Basil the Great, De Spiritu Sancto, Chapt 16 – 26.  Hand out  (all info unknown). Chapt 16.  Further reference will be indicated by St Basil and Chapter.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!What did you do?

Aw, New years, new promises, new resolutions, new beginnings and discarding the past. 
     I have the flu and broncitis.  So much for that walk in clinic physician telling me to be patient.  I went to see my own physician and he gave me the anti biotics I needed.  I came in close contact at parties with so many people who were sick.  Why do people not stay home when they are sick?  Why do they insist on going out and partying because it is fun?  Oh well.  My New Years Eve was spent with me laying down on the couch and one of my pets laying on my chest, which kept me warm.  However, my spew of coughing chased the pet away.  Where else would I rather be I told myself.  I spoke with kin and everyone else who called me and told me what they were doing.  I was having the quietest evening and it was nice.  My good neigbour and author came to visit me with a bottle of wine but I had to chase him away (after taking the wine) and tell him not to touch me, after he touched my face.  I was startled as he immediately put his hand near his mouth.  I hope I did not make him sick.  I eventually relented and asked him if he wanted to come in and he admitted he did not want to get sick.  So, I placed the wine on a table for another night when I am no longer under the effects of the antibodies.  Apparently these pills work for an additional ten days after stopping.  Yes, strong meds.  What I needed. 
     I spent the night alone not wanting to infect anyone and I found myself quite content in my solitude.  I dined on mushroom soup with garlic bread (It is so nice when you can eat garlic without worrying about breathing on someone) and drank gingerale like it was going out of style.  It was so relaxing.  I watched a comedy I had taped with Chris Rock in it.  It is about a young black man (Chris Rock) who dies when he is not supposed to and so heaven sends him back in the body of a 53, out of shape white man, who also happens to be a Millionaire.  I was surprised by how much I laughed.  It was sooo funny.   I also watched a bit of the festivities at Niagara Falls where I spent one weekend celebrating the New Year.  It was 2000 when everyone was expecting a disaster.  My disaster was the amount of money spent.  I also spent some time watching the festivities of New York City.  I love New York City and would not mind living there for a few years.  I have been there a few times and always felt at home.  I actually like it better than Toronto.  It is more vibrant and exciting.  I actually feel safer walking there at night.  I do not in Toronto.  I like the idea of lots of police on every block to protect us against the bad guys.  In Toronto we are on budget cuts that effects all our emergency services.  I like it in New York because there is a Starbucks on every corner.  I love Starbucks but my neighbourhood  only has Tim Hortons.  I would rather pay more for an excellent cup of coffee and service with what I have to settle for without taking my car.   You all know if you have read my blogs that I hate taking the TTC which they claim is the better way.   That is why I am resisting getting an office downtown.  Parking is too expensive; insurance is rediculous and I hate the buses and subways.
     So, I had a very quiet and relaxing night.  I have been told by my physician that in a few days I shall feel better and will no longer be contagious.  Hurray!!!  Then I can plan a small party.   I do love parties.  Only my closest will be invited and some kin for sport.  Just kidding.  Family is important to me.  I just have to make sure that I have enough chairs and room.  At my last party, I asked my brother in law why not take a seat.  He replied that there were no chairs.  That is why I am keeping this party restricted to people I really really like and care for.  Some are bringing their own chairs and the rest I will borrow.
          What did you do New Years?  Did you go party which I normally love to do?  Did you spend it with family at home?  Were you happy with how you spent it?  That is the key.  If not will you allow yourself the opportunity this year to examine what you really would have liked to have done and who to spend it with?  Why not spend this new year focusing on new beginnings?  Why not start it with getting a good physical?  It is important for a person to be physically as well as mentally cared for.  There are physical ailments that result from the emotional aspect.  Stress tears the body down eventually.  Chemical inbalances can be modified by medication.  Consider it if you are in this category.
     I wish you all a Happy New Year!  What do you think? 

The Raping and Killing of Women in India

     Recently there has been the reporting of a woman, a 23 year old medical student who was gang raped and beaten so badly she later died in hospital.  Last night in the news and do not read this part if it is too horrible to read, go to the next sentence after this sentence.   A two year old girl whose hands were tied behind her back was raped.  She too died.  That broke my heart.  What gives me hope is the uprise of protests that are going on in that city.  Men and women are protesting in the streets and I see a flicker of hope.  It is when men say enough is enough, that other men listen in Patriarchal societies. 

     Many years ago in my first career, a man let me read a paper from his home city.  He had moved to Canada from India where he served as a military officer.  I really liked this man.  He told me he had come to Canada to give his daughter a new life.  He told me how poorly women were thought of and how babies were aborted for the sole reason that they were female.  I pondered at the time.  If they kill all the females who will be left to reproduce?  It is a long time that I did not see this man and I do hope that he is doing well and Canada appreciates him.  I certainly did.  I have met so many good people who have come here from India to escape or to find a home where their children can grow up in a safe community.  We all have a responsibility to do just that.  Keep our country safe and not let poison tarnish it. 

     I met another man from India years ago.  After speaking to him many many times, and after him getting a promotion, and having a new baby girl in his life, he was so devoted to, he told me his story.  I thought and marveled how this kind and gentle man had suffered so much in his home country.  Suddenly, at the end of his long story, he yelled out, “Canada, I love this country!”  That bellowed in the hallway of where he stood, a humble man.  The hallway was busy and noisy with people and no one reacted to his shout.

     Another man, not from India, told me that he had to work for a woman he did not like.  He told me that in his country a woman knew her place, but if he was to survive in Canada he would need to change his views.   I saw hope in this young man.  As we talked more, I realized how torn he was from being raised in a Country where the voice of women was silenced, to coming to Canada and working for one.   I used to tease this man mercilessly and he took it so well.  I hope he can form a positive and healthy relationship with a woman in this country.  I hope that for the sake of my country.

     A woman from a Middle Eastern country in one of my undergrad classes spoke of how North American women were nothing but sluts and deserved to be raped.  After all we all dressed like sluts.  A male student took offense to that and tried to rationalize with her.  We were working in groups.  At the time it was best for me to remain silent and observe.  I am hoping that eventually this woman was returned to her country.  We do not need this.  However, I also realized that this woman was also projecting her own view of herself.  I have come to feel sorry for her.  But at that time, I did not feel sorry for her.  At that time, I thought, we were providing her with a home and food and the opportunity to have an education and she was slapping us in return.   She did not complete that class.  We were relieved.  Trying to be polite and respectful of other views can be difficult at times.

    It is unfortunate but in many countries where women are treated so badly, some believe they deserve it.  They integrate the norm of societies.   Women who are circumcised so they cannot have sexual pleasures are held down by other women.  If they are not circumcised than the men from their country will not want them as a wife.

    In one of my undergrad classes, I took a literature course as a break and we were analyzing one book based on Utopia, a perfect paradise.  We were asked how we would like to live in such a place.  I raised my hand and was surprised to find myself from about a class of about 30 or more, alone.  The others found a peaceful world too boring.  That was not the only time I was alone.  Another time, we were studying the plight of a native boy who had been placed in one horrible foster home to another.  Eventually, this loving boy who had lived in so many horrible places and barely experienced love, killed himself.  The argument I posed was why not let loving parents who were not necessarily native adopt him? You see none of the placements were suitable to begin with.  It was already known.  Again I was alone in my stance.  I proposed that it did not matter what nationality the parents were, what was most important was that the child be placed in a loving home.  My view was trumpt by the rest of the class which gave priority that the child should have been placed in a native home, regardless if it was inadequate.  What was lost in all this was that David the young teen killed himself.  Did not his life and death speak volumes?  He deserved to be loved.

     A woman I met owned her own business.  She told me that in her country she was subservient to men.  Here she learned that she does not need to do all the housework and other domestic duties plus work outside of the home.  Here in Canada she realized that she has choices and a voice.  This was alien to her before.  She did not realize she had a voice.  She did not realize there was another way of life.  She had accepted her previous role as normal, as that is all she knew.  Does that cause conflict with her husband and sons?  Of course it does because such changes always cause some disturbance to someone.  Moving from a Patriarchal society where a woman is nothing or less important than any male, to Canada where a woman has equal opportunity by law, will cause friction if the males in that family do not agree.

     I am pleased that the men and women in India are protesting about the young medical student who lost her life after being raped and brutally beaten.  How many lives could this young woman have saved?  Who are these cowardly men who cover their faces for fear of their lives?  What are their stories?  What about the government who fails to protect their people? 

     What if women who are not appreciated found their own utopia and left their men behind alone with no women for them to rape and torture.  What would happen then?  The devastation that rape has on anyone, man or woman is damaging to their spirit.  That happiness and trust is diminished.  No one has the right to do this to another person and to a child it is more horrid.        

     What we need to remember is that in any country there are always good men as well as good women.  It is my belief that the world has a responsibility to take care of itself including its people.  We have a responsibility to pay attention to what happens in the world and to try to make it a bit better.  Leadership should have decency and when it does not, the rest must pay attention and not ignore what is happening.  I am glad that this is in the news, because only then is leadership forced to make a decision.  

     I have met too many people both women and men (before I provided psychothery) who were suffering from being subjected to sexual assault at some point in their lives and never went to see anyone about it.  If you have been assaulted please take the time to seek help for it, even if you think you do not need it.  Find a therapist you feel you can trust and don't stop at the first one if there is no connection.  Check out different ones out until you feel safe with one.  Trust takes time and give yourself that time.  Sometimes we need to face the past in a safe place to move forward.  What do you think?

Snow, incoming from the USA

     I am really enjoying my holiday but I am afraid that my cold is returning.  At least that is what my lungs are telling me.  I awoke to find lots of snow outside to the point that my pets tried to go out, only to return promptly.  The female refused to go out and the male attempted it.  My pets who had such a hard beginning in their lives are now perfectly settled in their warm home, surrounded by lots of love and food.  No more mean people and streets for these two.  They are quite content living the life of Rielley.  One acts like a princess and appears to have been one all her life, only misplaced for awhile.  The other is the alpha male who has no liking for any human except for me.  I am flattered.  He is also very affectionate, which took some time.  He only gets mad at me when I have company.  I wonder if that will ever change?  If that happens, I may be able to take a real vacation.  Time and patience and lots of love is my recipe for any animal. 

     The snow is now mercilessly blowing.  Aw, it is my neighbour with his snow blower, blowing everything against my bay window.  One look outside and he controls that.  Aw, people!  What one appropriate look can achieve.  Words are not always required.

     Now, I shall return to writing my book, before braving the snow outside.  I am still at page 171, but no more after today.  This book is written carefully and with clarity.  This one is not written for fun. 
     What are you doing with your lives?  Are you happy?  What are your hobbies?  Do you have any?  Would you like to try something new?  Why not?  Do you have pets?  Do you treat them with love and respect?  Is this the right time in your life to explore who you are and what you want in life?  Who are the people in your life?  How do they treat you?  How do you treat them?  Are you able to communicate with them?  Do they accept you as you are?  Have you started that journal?  If not, try it.  Write down your emotions of what is happening in your life.  Get it out of you.  Your diary can be you talking to yourself, to someone you love, to God..................You can also be talking to your diary.  Don't just record the events in your life, the emotions you feel are important too.  How does it feel when you argue with your spouse, your children, your friends?  What happens inside you?
   
      Wow, my neigbour is now plowing away my snow on my property.  It must have been my sweet look.  There you go.  With every presumption there is another possibility.  What is it that you presume?  Can there be another side to what you are noticing in someone?  Why not take that opportunity to discover who you think you know.

      Well, USA, we will take your snow gractiously.  A little late and not Christmas, but after all, what are neighbours for?  What do you think?
    

Have you had a nice Christmas?

     This was one of my best Christmas's ever.  Today I am resting.  I have been so involved in my starting a practice that I was working perhaps a bit too much.  Now I have had perhaps a bit too much fun.  Balance is always important.  One thing I learned is that I can no longer have coffee at night.  Even my pets permitted me to sleep in which they never do the rest of the year. 
     How has your Christmas been?  Have you had the opportunity to be with people who appreciate you and love you?  If not, perhaps a new year resolution this year, may be to work on that part of your life.  We can never change other people, but we can certainly change ourselves.  There is so much opportunity out there to meet new people, we can welcome into our lives.  If you are not happy in the situation you are in, please think about making those changes to enhance your life.  Life is too short as it is.  Start by loving yourself and realizing that you are worthy of so much more.

     This morning as I was drinking my morning coffee and reading my paper, I heard a beautiful song coming from outside.  I stood up trying to find out who was singing.  Leaning against the open back doorway, I  marvelled at the fat little Cardinal chirping away on one of my trees.  What a wonderful gift of nature.  Family, friends and nature make me happy each Christmas.  What makes you happy?  What do you think?

Merry Christmas !!!!!!! Be proud to say it!!!!!

 

     Yesterday I went to mass at a Senior Home where I would be attending a Christmas party.  The priest spoke of another senior home where he had a mass.  I really like this priest.  He is so good with the seniors.  He was sent to Rome a few years back for a course in his work with seniors and I would have loved to have taken that course, because he is such a gentle heart.  The people love him and it is easy to see why.  He knows everyone by name (which has never been my strongest suit) and he makes each individual feel as special as he and she should feel.

     Yesterday as he remarked about this other senior home, a sadness began to mar his face as he spoke about some senior homes only having a mass service once a month for their residents.  This for a Roman Catholic is unacceptable.  He spoke about how religion is not adequately provided for those who want it and how it will, in his opinion be reduced further in the future.  The provision of religious services may disappear in the future he predicted.  These were not his words. This was my interpretation.  “Perhaps I do too much here,” he spoke out.  He provides mass for these elderly people each day.  They responded in unison, that it cannot ever be too much.  This is true because whenever I visit this home and there is a service, it always appears more attended than my own neighourhood parish.

     At the end of the mass, I approached this sweet priest who so cares for his people.  I told him that I related with his sermon.  I proceeded to tell him how with all the organizations I belong to, one wanted nothing to do with any course I have taken that has anything to do with any spirituality or faith sounds to it.  It disqualified any such course.   I have so many courses that it did not affect me.  Slow me down a bit, perhaps but not seriously affect me.   These courses which were so casually dismissed were taught by an experienced psychologist who happens to be a priest and a Jesuit.  The people who dismissed these courses so casually neither have the education, experience nor wisdom of this delightful man (who hates my book.  He did not tell me this of course but I was informed by one of his confidents). 

     As I rushed my words out to the delightful priest he respond, “More contemplation and less medication.”    Those words really had an impact on me and I realized that I have not been contemplating enough myself.  As I completed my formal studies, I became caught up in life.  Starting a practice is a full time job, one that our studies do not prepare us for.  We have to become concerned with the business side of things.  My mother once said that I make money from the sufferings of others.  I quickly responded that physicians make money at the suffering of others.  She agreed.  “Besides,” I continued unnecessarily, “I do not make that much money at all.”  I obviously spent more money on my studies, professional development, seminars, insurance, etc…than what I am paid.  “If I did not have income from other sources I would not be able to do what I do,” I argued.   She did not say anything further.  The point was already made that I needed to survive too.  “How is your book coming along?”  She asked.  “Have you stopped writing?”  “No.”  I responded.  I told her I was still at 171 pages and expected to write a couple of more hundreds but I stopped for a bit, because of life again.  It appears I need to upgrade all my electrical in my home.  Even though an old house has lots of charm and is solid it needs to be upgraded.  And electricians want to be paid like physicians without the education to match.  I could have saved so much money going into that field and be making a small fortune now.

But let me return to what I was saying before I was curtailed by life – seniors – religion.

     Are religious services disappearing for seniors?  Is religion disappearing?  Here it is Christmas Eve.  I have had two days of parties and I am tired already.  I returned home yesterday to watch some Christmas shows that were not too Christmassy at all.  I tape everything and then watch what I want when I have the time.  I deleted most of what I had taped.  I watched a rerun of Home Alone, part 2 and five I believe.  Five is never as good as one and did not come close to two -  disappointed once again with  all the different actors and without the same punch.   I suppose I wanted to hear some Christmas music like Silent Night and the only thing that came close was some rock version.  I didn’t even bother taping any of the Canadian Christmas shows.  The one I watched last year was from a Canadian talent whose satire about Christmas with sexual overtures was so disappointing that I feared watching anything else.

     Merry Christmas is a greeting which is said with some reserve these days.  Clerks at stores tell me that they are not allowed to say it.  They have to say, “Happy Holidays.”  I have to add Merry Christmas to my cards now.  At one party I went to, a man told me that this year his institution is not having any party associated with Christmas and that ironically it was a Jewish person who complained about that.  I did not find that ironic at all.  The high school I went to had many Jewish students and I never heard a complaint about Christmas celebrations.  It took one college student to complain about angels on a tree to have every angel removed from the trees.  Whenever, I see an angel on a tree, I celebrate.  What is it that has made Christmas a negative connotation?  A lawyer last year in Toronto or was it the year before, had a Christmas tree removed from the lobby.  A politician with more sense over ruled her.  The Nativity set at old city hall has once again this year been vandalized.  A business man at his own expense installed some sort of glass enclosure that he assured cannot be broken.   Where is Jesus in Christmas?  The only time I have felt this is when I went to a communist country.  Is it not in Communist countries where religion is considered a negative?  What does this mean? 

      I do not think that religion should be shoved down anyone’s throat.  But where is the respect for those who are elderly and have a religion not to be able to practice it?  Where are we moving to?  Are we moving ahead or backwards?  I understand that religion can have a negative connotation for some.  With self professed preachers burning bibles of another religion to instigate them is not very holy.  For people to profess to love God while looking down at those less fortunate, to kill, to rape, to abuse all in the name of God is not what religion is about.  Christmas should be a time of peace, of joy, of giving and of love. 

    At this senior home where I was yesterday, this priest who had brought birds to the home had to remove them.  Elderly people used to sit and watch these birds for hours.  Yet some family members thought them disgusting and so they were removed.  I got this from reception, or words to that effect.

     It was an American man who was looking for a senior home for his mother but could not find anything appropriate for her, who introduced a new concept.  This was brought to Canada.  In my undergrad all my courses were in psychology or related to health (except if I felt the need to give my brain a rest.  Then I would take an English or creative course).  Since nurses had five years to get a degree I had many in my classes.  We learned from each other as well.  There was always so much experience in the room.   Animals were found to enhance the well being for seniors.  Seniors having responsibility such as watering plants also improved.  Cats would settle on a bed where an elderly person was dying before anyone knew he was.  Once a pet owner died, another would take the responsibility for the feeding.  It was found that not only did the Seniors live longer but they were healthier and happier as well.  We need to step back and reflect when listening to complaints about what one considers offensive.  That American man who wanted something more for his mother knew that a senior home had to be more than an institution.  It had to have a real home experience with pets and plants.  At that time there was one home in Toronto following that concept according to one of my classmates fortunate enough to experience the benefits it has.  

     I looked at my mother and told her how wonderful her Christmas party was.  I told her that each moment I have with her is a gift.  I told her that when I grow old they probably won’t be concerned about how much fibre I have.  Being a baby boomer, there will be so many of us that they will try to figure out how to diminish our numbers before we drain the system.  But I pause as I contemplate.  We have a new generation of youths who give me hope.  They seem to be more compassionate and take an active role in helping others.  I wonder, maybe they won’t put us all to sleep.  Maybe they will not abandon the old.  Maybe just maybe, they will permit seniors to enjoy their pets or birds.  Maybe, just maybe, they will allow a senior to practice their religion and provide the services for it.  Maybe just maybe there is hope that we may once again move forward rather than backwards.  Maybe just maybe we may once again know what it means to live in a democratic society once again where it means more than just speaking your mind but living it. 

     Yes Father, I have been contemplating.  Your words touched me.  Your parting words of less medication and more contemplation I immediately responded to.  Medication is important.  There are chemical imbalances that can be controlled with medication.  However, people do need identify with the source of their problems which requires exploration and recognition.  This should not be denied them.  People need to be treated as a whole person.

     Today I am off for another celebration.  I used to be able to party and party but I have slowed down.  Yesterday I was more tired than my elderly mom.  She was happy and I was exhausted after a three and a half hour dining experience (with no Christmas music.  She noticed). 

    The night before, I was stopped in the ride program.  There were about five policemen (no women?) and one lane was cordoned off.  I was stopped of course and I had nowhere to pull over since one lane was closed.  There was traffic behind me.  He asked me how much I had to drink.  “Nothing ?”  I said.  I wanted to say I had ten drinks but I did not want to be arrested needlessly.  Besides I really did not drink anything with alcohol in it.  It takes one drink to floor me.  So if  I drive, I do not normally drink at all.  “He reached inside my car his head lowered to smell any possible alcohol.  I wanted to ask him,  if I had been impaired and therefore should not be driving how I would still have to move my car since traffic was being blocked this way.  But this was not the time to have this discussion.  He waved me through after much surprise that indeed I did not drink anything at all.  It must have been my car.     

     This year I wish you all a Merry Christmas.  May each one of you have a special person you can share Christmas with and if not, remember what Christmas is and that you are never truly left alone.  Thank you for reading my blogs. 

      Every time you hear a bell remember that an angel has got its’ wings – It is a wonder life!

Merry Christmas

Silva