Catholic Entrepreneur. Personal and Business Coaching for Christ-Centered Businesses Owners.
I write today with a heavy heart about a personal faith-related discussion that I had yesterday with a local Vicar—the matter related to a material desecration that took place (of all days) on Christmas Day.
A friend and I were both witnesses to it.
While the incident was a misunderstanding, it was clearly and blatantly avoidable. Anyone with a discerning heart and mind could obviously see the circumstances that lent themselves to it.
This same friend and I wrote a letter to the Vicar about it. We did receive an appointment to discuss the matter in person. However, by the end of the discussion, the vicar’s posture and message regarding the incident became clear. And, while not explicit, the general message was:
“s#!t happens”
For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.
Everything else is a distant second.
It was the equivalent of hearing from the doctor charged with caring for your father or mother that they fell down the stairs during their hospital stay……More
Not only CAN you - You SHOULD.
Here’s why.
Yesterday, I participated in a focus group as part of a research study for a friend’s Masters Research. The Topic was DIGITAL DETOX.
While digital usage varied greatly, the feeling was unanimous:
The less digital, the better.
Moreover, there were a handful of themes that continually resurfaced in the conversation.
Things like:
The importance of silence
The need for relief
The continuous stream of information
Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)
The fact of the matter is clear.
Our brains are NOT designed to deal with the amount and speed of information that they are presently encountering. Trying to get “caught up” (another recurring theme) is thereforea losing strategy. So what to do?
Slow down. Retreat is not surrender. In a sample of 8 people, I believe all, except one, said they were less stressed during digital detox than outside of it. Your time is your most valuable asset.
I’ve been saying for years now that the ability to simply FOCUS is quickly …More
Really intelligent people tend to make this really stupid mistake.
This is Otto von Bismarck, former Chancellor of Germany.
Despite almost universal acclaim for his diplomacy, even he made a really stupid mistake.
Between 1871 and 1878, Bismarck’s goal was to subordinate the Catholic Church to the newly unified German Empire, fearing that Catholics (who looked to the Pope in Rome) were a "threat" to national unity. This time became known as the "Kulturkampf" (Cultural Struggle).
By 1878, Bismarck realized the Kulturkampf was failing. Instead of breaking the Catholic Church, the persecution had unified Catholics and strengthened the Zentrum (Center) Party. Needing Catholic support to fight his new political enemy—the Socialists—Bismarck began a slow "retreat" from these policies, eventually repealing or modifying most of the laws by 1887.
The lesson: Don't be like Otto. Stay in your lane. Hire help.
Will Pope Leo XIV listen?
Otto von Bismarck, despite his diplomatic brilliance, misjudged his attempt to weaken the Catholic Church during the Kulturkampf (1871–1878). Instead of undermining Catholic influence, his policies unified Catholics and strengthened their political party. Realizing the failure, Bismarck reversed course to gain Catholic support against Socialists, rolling back most measures by 1887.