Clear Vision in a Murky World

COVID has been enlightening in shining a spotlight on the darkness and disorder within our own minds.  It shouldn’t be a surprise that the relative madness of these days seemingly demands simple explanations: a black and white answer for what troubles us and why.  In this age of social distancing, closed places of learning, and, ultimately, fear itself, why not turn to unusual sources of information for answers; traditional sources certainly haven’t offered a great deal of wisdom or thoughtfulness in the present age of darkness.

 

In fact, many public channels of communication concerning COVID in particular seem condescending and virtue-signaling to many of us on the conservative side of the political spectrum.  Rather than invite dialogue or suggest reflection, they cement our biases or perspectives from the outset.  If state and federal governments really want to create inroads with this demographic, they should put all of their chips on the table and engage in authentic, meaningful communication.  For instance, what potential impact might be made if a state leader were to invite skeptics along for a tour of a hospital’s COVID ward?  Yes, there are HIPPA issues to address, but that shouldn’t present an insurmountable barrier.  Go outside your bubble and meet them.

 

Those who take the bait of the conspiracy theory are certainly not engaging in anything new.  These wild stories first came up on my radar when I ran for the Oregon House of Representatives almost a decade ago, but conspiracy stories have been around in one way or the other since the earliest days of modern civilization.  The anti-Jewish conspiracies of the Middle Ages after all paved the way for modern genocide.  (CNN did a recent story on this topic, and it can be accessed HERE.)  At their core, conspiracy theories seem particularly sinful for the Christian, given it’s taking the worst of gossip and melding it with characteristics of false witness, then running one’s view of the world through this inherently defective (subjective) lens. We shouldn’t cling to information that is beyond our reasonable knowing. Matthew 7:5 comes to mind here.

 

Many years ago, I wrote a short story entitled “Clear Vision.”  It was likely encouraged by too much reading of Hemmingway and not enough of finer literature, but the goal of the story remains valid enough.  While it can be argued that there is no truly objective reality, this is likely a construct of minds content to swallow the lie of moral relativism.  As people of faith, we should recognize that there likely is a true reality or perspective of the present day.  This clearer vision can begin to be understood through careful reading and studying of current events and their context or place within the complex tapestry of history.  Using this and our faith, we can create a lens that brings the murkiness of current events into somewhat sharper clarity.  We can see where we are sailing and perhaps avoid the rocky shoal.  There are no shortcuts here, though.  It takes effort to even begin to understand the complexities of the modern world.  If you look for it to be handed to you on a silver platter, you’re surrendering your intellectual independence to manipulators and charlatans.  If they're people in religious authority...Dante's vision of the heretics comes to mind.

 

I’ll share something here that I’ve not mentioned many times before.  A few days before September 11, 2001, I had a troubling dream featuring steel and glass towers burning above my head.  I remember trying to make the way through the smoke and flames before the dream ended as quickly as it had begun.  Truth be known, I believe we probably are in end times, but we’ve been here for quite some time.  No one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return, so I suggest we should strive to live as intelligent and discerning people of Christ within a world that is quickly passing away around us.   

 

One important dimension of this awareness is not to attribute contrived motivations to people we don’t personally know.  Yes, misguided organizations such as the World Economic Forum and our own president seem to cry out for it sometimes…but we have to be stronger than that.  We have to face the irrational with the rational.   We need to accept that COVID is not part of a one-world conspiracy and that Trump did indeed lose the election last year.  In short, we need to grow up a bit and realize the world needs deep thinkers more than it needs loud and screeching voices creating a false panic.

 

Additional Resources (more to be added/no particular order):

 

Ethics of the vaccines for Catholics (from Vatican)

 

Pope urges vaccination.

 

Jimmy Akins talks about COVID vaccines here and here.

Conservative radio hosts die of COVID..

 

Business Insider reports on COVID deaths of conservative hosts.

 

Regretful radio host

Father Tim Mockaitis Presentation

A Modest Proposal (Desalination for Oregon)

 

Unlike Jonathan Swift's work of the same name, today's post is aimed squarely at the topic of clean water management and creation in Oregon: just some food for thought, or...water for drink, if you like.  Let's begin by acknowledging that we may indeed have a problem here.  Between the wildfires of this year and last as well as the water wars of Southern Oregon's Klamath Basin, and this year's deadly heat wave, change seems to be afoot in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  Consistent water reserves may be turning into a luxury of the past.  While I am no alarmist, and I remain somewhat skeptical of Global Warming as a process created by human beings' industrialization and development, I think it may be prudent at this time to point out some strategies or approaches that could facilitate improved clean water distribution throughout our drying state.

There's nothing quite like waking up to a morning view like this (summer 2020) to get you asking yourself some tough questions.  I lived through Mt. Saint Helens' eruption on May 18, 1980 in my hometown of Yakima, Washington; this was the closest thing I've experienced since that frightening day from my childhood.  While there is certainly a lot of blame to go around--e.g. lack of comprehensive forest management--let's focus on one particular option that might offer a degree of hope.

Desalination is something that everyone has heard of, but people may not understand the degree to which it is being successfully utilized now through cutting edge technology offered by companies such as IDE Technologies and sharp researchers such as Oregon State University's Bahman Abassi .  There have been some phenomenal minds working on this, and the technology is ready to go.  Already, desalination of seawater is being used successfully all around the world--from Israel to Carlsbad.  As far as Oregon's geography and culture, however, I'd suggest that two central obstacles remain--not counting the price tag.

First, Oregonians care deeply about their amazing environment.  Constructing a large industrial facility on the Oregon Coast is going to take some persuasion, and legitimate concerns need to be considered before any shovel ready project can begin.  Environmental concerns on an Oregon desalination project would include site placement, water quality impact, wildlife impact (including whales, sea lions, salmon, etc.), and perhaps even electricity drain on local systems.  I propose using the term sustainable desalination, because it seems that is what is truly within reach.  

For instance, the leftover water and solids routinely returned to the ocean may have a negative impact on the salinity levels of the water for local wildlife.  This can, at least partially, be offset by selling the sea salt on the retail market, potentially also defraying the startup costs.  Think of it, you could cook with Oregon sea salt, thereby helping to support a worthwhile venture for your home state.  As I believe there are already companies in Oregon that create sea salt from our Pacific waters, perhaps mutually beneficial arrangements could be created between the concerned parties: take and sell the resulting salt for a fee that would go towards supporting the project's continuing costs and particularly its required startup investment in machinery, equipment, property, and construction.

Sustainable to me could also include a solar array that creates electrical independence for the desalination facility.  Granted, we'd want to ensure these arrays aren't zapping shore birds flying above, but it's at least one additional option to consider.  Electric self-sufficiency should be within the realm of possibility either now or soon, and it might prove particularly helpful in diminishing the environmental impact of the desalination facility, and helping make it more appealing to its neighbors.

Second, where to build the facility raises some interesting challenges.  If you constructed it between Florence and Newport, you could potentially utilize the Willamette River's own headwaters to facilitate the transport of the freshwater north to the Willamette Valley, since this river flows from south to north.  (I like the idea of using a river rather than pipes when feasible to do so.). Of course, the greatest water need is going to be further south in the state, so perhaps construction between Brookings and Port Orford might offer the best opportunity for transporting the freshwater east to the parched Klamath Basin.  Wherever it's situated, I don't believe it would be required that it sit particularly close to our picturesque coastline.  As in other parts of the world, large pipes could be laid carefully deep into the ocean to draw the seawater in far out at sea where the intake would pose the least risk.

In conclusion, I'll offer a tiny digression here.  For a variety of reasons, I am not a huge fan of the marijuana industry.  Whether it's the legal or illegal markets, it's not my thing.  I've seen the harm it causes people and their families, and I've seen the trouble the grow operations frequently bring to smaller, rural communities.  You may wonder what in the world does this have to do with desalination?  Well, admittedly, it's a tenuous connection, but hear me out.  As detailed in numerous news reports, this industry is particularly hard on community water systems, and illegal operations can cause damage to the water table, as I understand.  In short, there are many other temporary or emergency solutions that a state might consider in times of serious drought.  Curtailment of grow operations, along with actions such as using treated wastewater on agricultural crops, might go a long way in helping bridge the water gap for a time.  We need to all brainstorm and consider ways in which we can salvage our arid farmland and save ranchers from losing their livelihoods.  In the United States, after all, fresh water should be the least of our concerns.

As I told an inquiring college student recently, I am no scientist, nor do I play one on television...  No, I'm just a guy who wanted to share one option for potentially helping to begin to address the water crisis--before it gets even worse.  More than anything, I wished to share this idea with you all for greater discussion.  Let's talk about it and see if it makes sense to pursue.  I don't know what the next step should be, but I feel like we need to move quickly in addressing the water problem before it gets impossible to be a farmer or a rancher in Klamath County--and an ever-growing arid swath.

Lake Pamelia Hike (Updated from 2012)

A Day Hike to Lake Pamelia

Wild Rhododendrons in bloom around the lake.

Trying to get in better shape and break the daily routine a bit, I first ventured to Lake Pamelia around the summer of 2012.  It didn't disappoint.  Pamelia Lake is situated in Oregon's beautiful Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area.  These hikes are (almost) always a lot of fun, and I thought I'd offer some quick notes to readers (and reminders for myself) who may be interested in trying it in the future.

The first thing to bear in mind is that this is a limited access area.  This means that a special wilderness use permit must be acquired first online.  You will also need a parking permit for the trailhead.  See the Cascades Wilderness Permit  and the NW Forest Pass.  Here is a link to the annual NW Forest Pass.

The Pamelia Lake Road, leading to the trail head, is located about fourteen miles east of the ranger station off of Highway 22.  It's paved most of the way, but it is a single lane.  Use caution also due to the irregular road surface which can cause underside damage if you try to go to fast.  (No comment on how I know this.)  

The hike itself is not that difficult, but it's probably not fair to call it easy either.  Moderate difficulty is probably the most accurate description.  Make sure that you bring more food and water than you think you'll need, and remember that weather conditions can change rapidly, so bring appropriate clothes (and sunscreen).  The pleasant sound of Pamelia Creek accompanies the hiker for much of the way--a good reminder to stay hydrated!

About three miles of hiking uphill, the winding trail deposits the hiker on the lake's west side with impressive views of Mt. Jefferson to the northeast and wild rhododendrons gracing the lake's shoreline in early summer.  It's a great place to sit and relax for a while.

The only last suggestion I'd offer is to watch your way carefully. There are a number of poorly marked and intersecting trails on the lake's western side.  It's easy to get a little turned around and find yourself going in a circle--not exactly filling the hiker with wonderful feelings of accomplishment.  If you get confused or lost, it's best to return to the lake to regain your bearings.  


I hope the reader finds this information of some value.  It's a great little hike for those of us in the beautiful Willamette Valley.  


(Here is one more link that may prove useful!  Particularly good explanation of the trails in this area.)

New:  You may also enjoy "Injured and Alone."  

The Ripples of Emotional Abuse

 

I’ve never really written about emotional abuse before, but I thought I’d pen a few paragraphs on this dark topic tonight.  My wife and I know of a couple where the domineering female half of the couple has made life increasingly difficult for the man, whom we will call Germaine.  Every time we have a suspicion, it seems that something odd happens that somehow verifies the accuracy of our instincts.  Earlier in the relationship, the female half, for instance, somehow managed to accidentally dial us in the middle of a terrible (verbal) fight.  If you heard it, you’d understand the destructive nature of emotional abuse—whether it’s a man or woman on the receiving end.  She was screaming awful things at the top of her lungs—completely unaware of the open line being recorded on our voicemail.  Shortly after, the male half attempted to leave her.

 

For a while, we were thankful that the man began to finally have an opportunity to heal and speak again to family members—particularly his daughters of whom she harbors a deep and baffling jealousy.  He confirmed much of what had been previously suspected.  Germaine verified that she held his phone and screened his calls and texts.  This has led to injured relationships with family members and old friends, missed opportunities, and a general lack of connection with family and friends with whom she doesn't wish to connect.  She took away the television they had out of fears of him being drawn away by another woman he might catch sight of on the screen.  Her narcistic tendencies also had a devastating effect upon his livelihood, but further details here can’t be shared at this time.  As we feared, though, he decided in the end to return to the isolation and pain of abuse.  It felt like a gut punch to those who love Germaine.

 

Most recently, she impersonated him on a long and viscous series of texts to one of his daughters in particular.  When the truth of her deception came to light, it was shared with Germaine; sadly, he seemed less surprised than simply deeply grieved by this broken trust.  To those whom she does not see as a threat, she’s as sweet as pie.  Germaine’s own brothers don’t appear to have the slightest idea at the degree of emotional abuse he’s suffering daily.  Going home for Germaine is less a retreat than it is a war zone filled now with her hoarded belongings.  But, he said yes: for better or worse.

 

An interesting thing about emotional abuse is the people it hits beyond its initial victim; both daughters are greatly suffering.  One of them in particular is dealing with incredibly painful fibromyalgia, which seems to be linked to the stress and pain of the lost relationship with her father.  Having lost her mother some years back, she now feels essentially that she’s lost her father too.  She has to try to back away from the relationship to safeguard her own mental and physical health.  

So…if you’re considering returning to an abusive relationship, understand that yours is not the only life that will be darkened by this evil.  It's like a cancer that races out from a starting point with a desire to infect and corrupt.  

 

Enough is enough.  

Resources:

Help for Men Being Abused 

National Domestic Abuse Hotline 

Help for Battered Men

USCCB

 

A Call for Your Miracles!

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.

--St. Augustine

Do you have family miracles that have not been widely shared, stories that should really be told?  I am considering creating a compilation of Catholic and Orthodox miracles from the last century, or so.  Too many times people believe that these episodes are over; I want to help share that they continue.  If you wish to remain anonymous, please state so in your communication.  Please e-mail me your accounts in a summary form.  I'll let you know if I am moving ahead with the project and whether, or not, your contribution will be able to be utilized in the book.  Please e-mail me at miracleswithapurpose@gmail.com and copy me also at karl@karlerickson.com .  Thank you!

A Review of Caravaggio, A Life Sacred and Profane

Caravaggio, A Life Sacred and Profane by Andrew Graham-Dixon could be described as an authentic work of art itself.  The author’s masterful use of the language brings this troubled, brilliant artist to life in a way that is truly remarkable.  His whole mysterious life is virtually opened up to reader—from his early days as a new artist trying to earn a living in Rome to his ill-fated Maltese knighthood; the contradictions abound.  I offer the opening paragraph as an example of the author’s eloquent way with words.

 

Caravaggio’s art is made from darkness and light.  His pictures present spotlit moments of extreme and often agonized human experience.  A man is decapitated in his bedchamber, blood spurting from a deep gash in his neck.  A man is assassinated on the high altar of a church.  A woman is shot in the stomach with a bow and arrow at point-blank range.  Caravaggio’s images freeze time but also seem to hover on the brink of their own disappearance.  Faces are brightly illuminated.  Details emerge from darkness with such uncanny clarity that they might be hallucinations.  Yet always the shadows encroach, the pools of blackness that threaten to obliterate all.  Looking at his pictures is like looking at the world by flashes of lightening.  

 

In 2017, at the Gallery Borghese in Rome, I had the opportunity to view a magnificent painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610): Madonna Dei Palafrenieri. Caravaggio’s masterpiece is captivating in its beauty and expressive detail. The painting’s lifelike faces of Christ, Mary, and Saint Anne as well as its vibrant colors held my attention for some moments before I noticed something else.  Looking closer, I observed that Mary’s bare foot was squarely atop a serpent’s head and the young Christ’s foot was atop hers.  This detail might go unnoticed by some visitors, but the theological implications behind this symbolism is not only rich and profound, it also transforms the beautiful image into something much more complex and nuanced.  Andrew Graham-Dixon’s book does a particularly outstanding time describing this painting and its journey from Saint Peter’s Basilica (a short stay of about a week) to the Borghese family.  Like so many other pieces of his art, truly born of sweat, tears, and blood, the pages tell the fascinating backstories of each work.  

 

The Madonna of the Palafrenieri, sometimes known as the The Madonna of the Serpent, is an unsettling picture.  Monumental in scale , almost ten feet tall and most than six across, it shows three figures in a tall room, absorbed in a confrontation with pure evil.  The Virgin and the infant Christ together crush the head of a serpent beneath their feet.  As the foul creature writhes in its death agonies, St. Anne frail and bent by age, looks on in solemn contemplation.  By God’s grace, the devil is defeated.

 

At the same time that I was finishing this book, I was also listening to a Sacred Music course on the Great Courses platform, taught by Dr. Charles Edward McGuire, that touched on some of the same Roman families as mentioned in the in the book.  This serves as a good reminder that there is no such thing as wasted knowledge.  Even the smallest detail can add to greater understanding of the subject being studied, lending clearer context to the matter at hand.  The interconnected nature of the great families of the past—such as the Borghese family--have a way of coming up again and again in the study of art and music.  We owe a debt of gratitude indeed to the great patrons of the arts for commissioning and helping to safeguard the classic works of art of Caravaggio and so many others.

 

 Reading this powerful book on Caravaggio, it feels as if I’m drawn again into those ancient Roman churches and museums to gaze at his awe-inspiring paintings.  I can’t wait to see them again in a year’s time—Lord willing.

Resources for the Reader:

Gallery Borghese

Church of San Luigi De Francesi

The Vatican Museum

The Caravaggio Foundation

Caravaggio on Wikipedia

Caravaggio in The Britannica

Andrew Graham-Dixon

An Artist Called Caravaggio

Rome and London (See 22nd minute.)

 

 

In Memory of My Nephew, Jonah Dennis

Obituary

Jonah Mark Dennis, age 16, died Thursday, January 21, 2021.  He was born in Santa Cruz, California on March 12, 2004 to Richard Dennis and Felicia Wilson Lee, joining two older siblings, Lydia and Josiah.  Following military orders, the family lived in San Angelo, TX, where sister Lily was added to the growing family, before transferring to Hawaii for several years.  After his parents divorced, Jonah and his siblings moved with their father to Rotan, Texas and his family grew again when they moved to Dallas, TX to join forces with his step mother, Shannon Collier Dennis and her two children, Emma and John.  Jonah’s brother, Bede, and sister, Mary, were born in Dallas.  While Richard was in seminary, the family lived with Shannon’s parents, John and Shirley Collier in Plano, TX, where the youngest, Ruby Rose joined Jonah’s family, rounding out the dynamic duo, the fantastic four, and the terrific three of the blended siblings into a full, busy, and loving household.  Jonah’s family subsequently moved to Corpus Christi, TX, Aransas Pass, TX, and Spring Branch, TX.  Beginning in 2018, Jonah and his biological siblings lived with their mother, Felicia, in Kirtland, New Mexico.

 

Jonah’s kindness, gentleness, sensitivity, and playful humor endeared him to all he met.  He was the family peacemaker and the family prankster. He would readily give up any possession to stop others from fighting, but he could stubbornly argue until the cows come home.  Jonah gave his best effort to all he did.  He was an excellent, well-rounded student and loved learning.  He loved legos as a boy and building model rockets with his grandfather; playing the cello and drums; and eating cereal Saturday mornings in a blanket on the couch.  Jonah was the chess champion of his elementary school.  He wrestled; played soccer and golf; and enjoyed swimming and fishing with his family.  Jonah wanted to become a priest, but also dreamed of becoming a pilot at the Air Force Academy.  Above all, Jonah loved his family, which was tragically fragmented in divorce.  Jonah was a light in this world and his passing left a hole that will only be filled in heaven.

 

Preceding Jonah in death are his grandfather, Mike Dennis, Sr., his grandmother, Shirley Collier, and still born siblings, Christopher Richard, Maple Margaret, and Roan Titus.

Surviving Jonah are his parents, CPT Richard and Shannon Dennis, Aaron and Felicia (Wilson) Lee; grandparents, Lenice Dennis, Dr. Jim and Deborah Wilson, John and Karen Collier, and Keith and Betsy Lee; siblings, Lydia, Josiah, Lily, Bede, Mary, and Ruby Dennis, John and Emmaline Dyer, Faith, Mari, Gabby, and Charles Lee; aunts and uncles, Joy Dennis, David Dennis, Dr. Allen and Amanda Dennis, Chris and Heather Carrol, Karl and Kimberly Erickson, and many cousins and friends will mourn his passing.

A funeral service will be held in Kirtland, New Mexico at 10:00am Thursday, January 28, 2021. Burial will be at Belvieu Cemetery in Rotan, Texas.  Visitation will be from 9:30am – 10:30am at Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home Chapel in Rotan on Saturday, January 30, 2021 with the graveside service to follow at 11:00am with Dr. Fr. Philip LeMasters officiating under the direction of Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Children’s Home of Lubbock in Jonah’s memory as Jonah would have wanted to help children of broken families.

 

www.childshome.org

P.O. Box 2824

Lubbock, TX 79408

 

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