A Bit Of Musing

With Jen Psaki, Frey, and others jumping in hard against prayer (if you have BP problems avoid the Congresscritter chastizing a 16-year-old for prayer), I agree with those on X who are asking variations of the following question: If you were a servant of the evil one, a demon, or demonically possessed and wanted to attack Christianity and prevent the power of prayer, what would you do differently from these people?

Be Careful Out There

Seems like this has become my standard holiday message, but there is chatter and we just had that demonic attack the school yesterday. It’s enough to give one an itchy feeling between the shoulder blades. So, keep your situational awareness, have a plan, and enjoy the holiday.

Be safe and be prepared. Keep your friends and family close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

In Case You Missed It

A brief follow-up on yesterday’s post. How many of you realized that the video of Mayah Sommers brandishing weapons to keep her sister safe was made and posted by the would-be assaulter? That he, speaking clear English, goaded her to show the weapons so he could film her and have her arrested?

He knew that law enforcement would back him, and that she would get in trouble, probably arrested. It was deliberate on his part to to harm her because she kept him from doing whatever it was he wanted to do to her younger sister. She resisted, and resistance must be crushed, not to mention that she was a female who defied him and as such must be punished. That is the Islamist way.

The British caste system is already jumping in on his side, with people referring to her as ‘from a rough family,’ trash, scum, and worse. She is not just lower caste, but what many consider the lowest caste of native Brit (Scot actually).

Now, with international negative feedback, the government and local police have apparently arrested the man, who now apparently speaks no English according to a (very disbelieving) post I read. Oh, and don’t expect to see much on the BBC or other corporate outlets, as this (along with the flag displays, see the link in the note to my original post for a very good read on such) is being suppressed hard. There is some independent/semi-independent media in the United Kingdom, but they are subject to censorship and legal actions media here are not. Makes it hard to cover stories the government doesn’t want covered.

UPDATE: Corrected a typo.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Prognostication

Or at least ruminations on some potential futures, and the dangers and opportunities that await within them. In many respects, I am more optimistic about our future in this country than I have been in many decades. That said, things can go south in a heartbeat, and not necessarily because of what happens here.

So, in the days ahead, I plan to write a bit about some of those potential futures and what we can do to try to avoid the bad ones. Or at least to ride things out as best possible if they do come to pass.

I’m going to start today with the United Kingdom. I’ve alluded to the fact that I think the United Kingdom will fall, and in fact it has already fallen. For part of it, read here, here, and here. For a different perspective on the problem, read here. Today, I’m going to try to put together the outline of the problem (as I see it) and what I see as likely to happen.

Of the totems the progressive “elite” worldwide have bought into world-wide, massive immigration has to be one of the most dangerous and pernicious to the concepts of freedom and individual liberty. That is very deliberate (if short sighted) on their part. First, let’s take the time to define a few things.

Yes, it is a totem, though a better phrase might be doctrine. For it is a religious belief (in terms of the Doctrine of Persuasibility), and even outside that it is a doctrine in the creed of Progressive dogma. Keep in mind that Progressiveism is a religious belief intended to both fill the void left with the removal of Christianity from much of public life, and to help ensure that Christianity is eliminated, and not just from the public sphere.

If you study the dogma of Progressive politics, it is because Christianity was (and is) one of the major drivers of Western Civilization. Western Civilization is evil precisely because it raised the standard of living for much of the world, brought forth the ideas of individual liberty and freedom, the concept of natural rights (rights granted by God, not the government), and as part of this put them into practice (the Great Experiment that is our Republic) and abolished slavery in much of the world (at least for a time).

The very idea that you are smart enough to make informed decisions for yourself is an anathema to Progressive beliefs. According to them, you are not capable of such, nor are you capable or willing to vote against your own self-interest in the interest of the Greater Good. We are not always good with that, but on the whole I think America has done pretty good about it overall.

That said, the goal of Progressives is rule by the elite over a reduced population that can be and will be controlled in the best interest of the elite. After all, they know what is right, best, and good for everyone and the entire planet. On the latter, note that ending space exploration and exploitation is also a Progressive doctrine as it’s hard enough to control people on Earth, let them get off Earth and there is no way to control them.

This explains many things, such as the fight against Western Civilization, Christianity, and the oh-so-charming commitment to all things trans. After all, if you trans youth, you not only sterilize them, but happen to create objects for the use and amusement of said betters. Yes, I am saying that many are open and honest about the perversions of the flesh they enjoy. And, yes, I am saying (actually, pretty much just repeating their words) that you are the carbon they want to reduce.

Now, there is more but the key thing to remember is that this is a world-wide religious movement. No where in the world has it progressed further than in the United Kingdom. Now Germany and France are not far behind, but I think there is still a chance for them. I’m far less optimistic about the UK. Why?

Simply because Progressiveism has infected most of the leadership and affiliated classes. It dominates the news and entertainment media; it has gutted the Anglican Church; law enforcement is corrupted by it (and keep in mind that law enforcement in the UK has made it’s choice, and it is all in on Progressive and not the people); and, it would appear the majority of the political class is all in as well. For all that at least a couple of parties are now calling for reform and removal of illegal immigrants and those legal who break the law, the majority are not. Look to the local councils who are trying to ban or take down the flag(s) of the UK, and realize these are the same people who were good with the child rape gangs. How many turned a blind eye, or were willing participants (reports state that more than one member of law enforcement turned a blind eye in exchange for raping some of the children).

Two other points need to be raised for purposes of discussion. First, the whole open borders idea is designed to do several things. The first is to overwhelm and destroy the “native” population. Destroy the culture, the history, and then the literal people themselves, and you destroy Western Civilization. Keep in mind that here or there, it was never about the statues or books, but it was about what they represented. Just as the Taliban destroyed the buddhas in Afghanistan as they served as a constant reminder that there were other religions and beliefs, so too do Progressives seek to eliminate all reminders of the past, and in particular past glories.

As for destroying the population, that works on several levels. If you listen to the WEF types, the Progressive thought leaders, and even just some of the rank-and-file, you are the carbon they want to reduce. They believe that the Earth is overpopulated (and I agree with Elon and others that we are in a population decline that could gut humanity and end civilization as we know it) and that a radical reduction in the number of people is necessary to save the world. Letting the barbarians inside the walls can cause just that very thing through rampant crime, much less the destruction of high-trust societies and replacement with low.

Now, add to that the drive by Islam to create a world-wide caliphate. Yes, they are serious about it. You don’t even have to go overseas to hear this, and many of the details of what they are doing and why, you can just listen to a number of Imams here in the U.S. As for the UK, they openly boast that they are out breeding the English and will take over as the majority population in just a few years. They also are very open about breeding in other ways, such as by taking English girls and women and making them Sabaya (sex slaves). This is openly discussed in terms of strategy for the conquest/re-conquest of countries. The rapes that are being committed are not random acts, but a deliberate test. If no real push back, then keep doing it to raise new Muslim children while humiliating and breaking the will of the native population. If push back, play the victim, invoke Islamophobia, and otherwise use it to gut norms and set the stage for the next push (often creation of Sharia courts within the existing legal system). It’s simply a different form of Hudna, which is a truce or cease-fire until sufficient strength can be gathered to overwhelm the enemy.

Now that we have those precepts in place, let’s look at why I’m not sure the UK can be saved.

First, progressive ideology dominates leadership top to bottom. As part of this, subjects of the king have been disarmed to the point of not being allowed to even buy kitchen (cooking) knives. Seriously, look at the law, what they are allowed to buy, and the process for purchasing knives. They were also stupid enough to give up their guns.

Look at today’s headlines, where a young girl used a knife (and a hatchet) to prevent one of those charming Islamic immigrants from molesting/raping her even younger sister. Of course, the young girl who prevented the assault was the one arrested by the stalwart and upright police. The assailant wasn’t arrested until public outcry, and the Hudna playbook is in play. I’ve read that he now claims he can’t speak English (despite being heard speaking it on the video he took), he’s the victim, etc. Sad thing is, this is the norm now, and the young girl is far from the first person to be arrested for defending themselves or others. I hope this girl gets protection, as I expect so-called political leadership and the immigrant gangs to go after her hard. They both want to make an example of her to discourage resistance.

Now, add in the loss of any semblance of free speech by the English public. Rape a British child, get no time or a token sentence. Write a mean tweet that you delete later, get sentenced to three or more years in prison. Arrests and harassment by the police for thought (standing and possibly silently praying near the temple of Baal that are abortion clinics) or for saying something in the pub or online that your betters don’t like are common. So common that they far outnumber arrests for serious and real crimes. Don’t believe me, look it up as it is horrifying.

Also add in that for all there are now signs of resistance (fly those flags!), there is a more significant public sentiment against resistance than I would like. Look at the comments to the story of the young girl who fought back. Look at how many cheered her arrest for protecting her little sister. Look at how many proudly took the side of the attacker. It’s not just the leadership, it’s infected far too many of the public. A society that sick rarely is worth saving or has what it takes to save itself.

That said, keep in mind that their next elections are four years away. That’s four years for Starmer et cie to continue their destruction of the UK. For all that I think elections will come sooner than that, I’m not sure that even immediate elections can undo the damage done. So a new party takes the top spot. What about all those progressive leaders at the local and regional level? In the bureaucracy? In senior positions? The infection is systemic, and it needs a systemic cure.

Which leads me to the fall, or potential falls. For all that I would love to see the people of the UK pull this out, I don’t think it will come strictly through the ballot box. You vote yourself into the messes, but you rarely can vote your way out.

Scenario One: Starmer et cie stay in power for further two or more years, token efforts to deal with financial and immigration issues come too late and are typical half measures. The immigrant population does real resistance and pushes current gains (Sharia courts, etc.) to even further heights. Demographics being what they are, they become the dominant population and vote accordingly. Which leaves the native population to either accept dhimmi status or flee. They are already being groomed by their own government (and the immigrant population) for the former. The UK as we know it, as a historic entity, ceases to exist and becomes another Islamic state.

Scenario Two: Starmer et cie are removed from office within two years, and efforts are made to try to undo the financial and immigration disasters. Despite the encouragement of our current administration, the group in official charge continues to eliminate and punish free speech and such in a misguided attempt to “stabilize” the situation and prevent unrest. It will, of course, have the opposite effect. The police, who have already made their choice, come in on the side of the immigrants. Numbers and weapons matter, and the native population does not have either. Within a few short years, again, the UK as we know it is gone replaced by an Islamic state.

Scenario Three (best case): Starmer et cie depart office soon. New leadership comes in, takes a page from Trump, and puts in place real and effective changes to deal with the financial, immigration, and other disasters. The jihadi’s are not going to go quietly, but leadership perseveres and appropriate force is used to restore the peace and deal with the situation. I will note that while I will hope, and even pray, for this scenario, I think it is the most unrealistic given current British politics and politicians.

Scenario Four (worst case): Starmer et cie depart office soon. New leadership comes in, makes token efforts with lots of talk, and the native population of the UK has had enough. It will be a very uncivil war, and is likely to be full of horrors. The jihad side has machetes and a lot of edged weapons, plus will likely have the backing of the police (at least at first), while the native population is limited to bricks and such as they are effectively disarmed. Efforts by the immigrants to use terror and brutality will beget even more such from the natives. The political class is likely to find themselves lumped in with the immigrants and treated accordingly, which has the potential to make the French Revolution Terror seem tame. With the aid of arms and supplies from outside the country, the natives win for values of win. Whatever comes out the other side of that will not be the UK we know, but it could become something better than it is now, or wind up a shadow of its former self. Too many variables to predict much. Without outside aid, however, I don’t see the natives winning, or at least not quickly. If it turns into a long-term reign of terror time, the natives might still win in the end, but a stable and lasting government is not likely. Keep in mind most revolutions fail; and, of those that do succeed, few create governments that last more than a year or three.

There are several more scenarios, but the basic take is that in most scenarios things get bloody. Frankly, I would love to see it avoided, but doing so depends on competence, real leadership, and changes in British government and society that I’m not sure are possible. Just dealing with the financial disaster(s) that is the British economy is going to cause a lot of hardship and heartache such that few politicians will be willing to face it. And that’s something that I’ve left out of these scenarios as factoring them in would add pages to this post. Suffice it to say, their economy is in serious trouble, their current welfare state unsustainable, and I don’t see a Milei (or a Trump) anywhere on the British horizon.

If there is one such out there, sing out. Because, if they do have someone who can take this on and does so successfully, it would greatly increase the odds of the UK as we know it surviving. Fact is, if they are strong-willed enough to take on the disaster that is the British economy, they are also likely to be strong enough to take on the immigration issue. The two are interrelated in more ways than I have time to get into today.

I think the UK needs a modern “Chinese” Gordon (Gen. Charles George Gordon, who’s time as governor-general of Sudan saw the crushing of rebellion and more; though I would hope a modern version would avoid what happened at Khartoum a few years later). Again, don’t see one but can hope. The Islamists have their hooks in England and are not going to give up easily or willingly in their efforts to make it an Islamic state. It will take more strength of will and integrity than I see in the Throne or British political class to resist this.

I really would like to see the best case scenario take place. I’ve much enjoyed my visits to England and Scotland, and would have liked to have visited Wales. If you’ve not had Welsh whiskey, try it if you can as it is a perfect fit between Irish and Scotch. So, while I don’t see good things coming, I will pray that they do as I would like to see England/the UK survive and visit there again. Meantime, I hope that we have someone looking at how we might secure the UK’s nukes (or encourage their migration here) if it falls.

More soon, and possibly a discussion on mercy, false mercy, and being cruel to be kind. Then we can look at a few other scenarios and figure ways to avoid them.

Meantime, be prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

UPDATE I: Over on X, Larry Correia suggested we restart manufacturing Liberator pistols and air drop them to the British people. I say add in edged weapons and expand it to include the citizens of Germany and France. Also, Francis Turner has (as usual) a good post up on the situation. Well worth the read.

UPDATE II: Two more good posts on the brave Scottish girl Mayah up at Legal Insurrection and Hot Air. Leslie and Beege are well worth the read.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Thank You

To all who offered condolences, prayers, and humor (did need the laughs), thank you. It’s hard to believe that it’s just been a little over a week, as in some ways it feels like it’s been two or three. Sunday was sorta weird, in that I kept expecting to see him come through the door at his usual time.

Doing confession is going to be interesting, as some there have had him as their confessor for more than 40 years. Our liturgy may start on Orthodox time (late, in other words) because now there is only Father John to hear confessions and he can’t start the liturgy until all that need to do so have done confession. Father Stevan usually took care of that.

Hopefully back to more regular posting soon. Thank you for your good thoughts and patience during this time.

Recovering

I really do need to do a post about my Godfather soon, but right now I’m fried. Not going to lie or try to hide it. I’ve been at the Church almost non-stop since his repose. In the Orthodox Church, when a priest dies, they lie in state at the Church and to honor their teaching of the Gospel, the Gospel (books of the New Testament) and the Psalter (the Psalms) are read over them 24-7 until around the time of the formal funeral.

Took some of the night shifts and was also involved in various other services. Didn’t get a lot of sleep since last Thursday, wasn’t really hungry so did just one small meal a day, and knew I was not alone. As I noted before, a Bishop came to conduct his funeral, and more than a dozen other priests showed up as well. I think there were 10-12 priests involved with the service, and a lot of others were there but just no room or way for them to participate.

Not all of them were from our branch of Orthodoxy either, which tells you a lot about him right there. For all I wasn’t surprised, it was a bit staggering to find out how many people flew in from across the country to see him off. I didn’t have the time to do a proper count, but it looked like more than 200 of his closest friends came to pay last respects. Our little Church was standing room only and packed.

This morning, several of us took him out of the Church and put him into a funeral van to be driven to his final resting place in Missouri. His family was traveling with him (our priests can marry) and in a few hours he will be interred at a monastery in Missouri. In a few weeks, several of us are looking at going and spending some time there.

I’ve made some decisions, but more on that later. Right now, I’m exhausted, sad, happy, and a few other things. Still feels like a gut punch, but when seasoned priests choke up during the proceedings it pretty much says it all. Then again, to go peacefully in one’s sleep is a good ending in my book. I miss him. I will miss him. I am so very, very glad he was a part of my life. I can’t wait to share more of you with him. I wish each of you could have met him, as he had wit and a great sense of humor; an amazing intellect and more importantly a curiosity; and, a way about him that made everyone at home around him.

It is going to be hard for so many. Many grew up with him as their Priest, their Confessor, their friend. He was my Confessor and a good one. I can’t say how hard that is going to be on so many, as a Confessor just doesn’t hear your sins, they help you to grow so you don’t do the same sins again. A sub-Deacon at another Church and I had a great talk during all this about how good it was to have a Confessor who had extensive experience in the “real” world as well as simple lived life experience. Add in things like studying psychology and such, and you had someone who could and would truly help you grow. No offense against my Priest, but he is young. I am old and steeped in sin. I need someone with a lot more life experience to help me.

Too long, too much, too maudlin. May your week be blessed, and more regular posting will resume soon. After I catch up on some sleep and get my emotional feet back under me. Be good, be safe, keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Prayer Request

I just found out that my Godfather and confessor, Fr. Stevan Bauman, unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord last night. Please pray for the blessed repose of his soul; for mercy and comfort to his wife, two daughters, and their families; and, for the many, many, many people who’s lives he touched for the better.

UPDATE I: Will be offline mostly until Tuesday (at least). We are holding vigil and taking turns reading the Gospels over him in the Church until his funeral on Monday. I really need to tell his story one day soon, but it will be hard to do justice to him. He was a humble man, with a quick wit and amazing intellect, but simple is not a word I would associate with him. Which is part of why our Bishop is flying in to conduct his service. For those not Orthodox, it’s something like a Roman Catholic Cardinal flying in to do the funeral of a retired parish priest. Not the best analogy at all, but it’s the best I have right now. I will share that our Metropolitan was reported to be upset that he couldn’t come do it (he is above the Bishop).

Ouch

I’m not precisely hurting, but I am not feeling great right now. I suspect I will be feeling really good tomorrow. Why?

The really good massage therapist worked me over like a rented mule today. I was seriously ready to confess I had done it and tossed the body off the train outside Shanghai, or give a fake-but-realistic code if she wanted info. Again, why?

Well, running high voltage or lightning through the body is not good for it. Before taking me on as a client, she researched what lightning did to the body, what techniques worked best, and what issues she might face. One of the big things is that it can cause the fascia (connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, organs, etc.; think extra-cellular matrix) to harden. Which in turn is not good for strength, flexibility, mobility and other important things.

The first session she ended up working mostly on the upper body, and was surprised that the fascia wasn’t harder than it was. Today, however, she worked lower and the legs/lower back were hard. Which meant that today’s session was quite literally painful as she worked to break things up (including potential scar tissue). Thing is, I could already tell a difference (positive) before I left the center. I’m actually going back next week as we need to keep working to get things dealt with.

I’m honestly not surprised as I’ve known the legs (in particular) had issues and needed help. The right leg is in much worse shape than the left. Also, from some detective work with a therapist/physiologist, we traced the path of the lightning and know the bulk went down my right side and leg and then out the ball of the foot. Based on a number of factors, we also suspect the legs took more current than the upper body. While something very clearly hit behind my right ear, other things point to a good bit of inductance in other areas.

For now, I have some discomfort in the legs and am not feeling great, most likely because of all the nasty stuff getting released by the deep tissue work she did. So, drinking lots and lots of water to help get it out. I’ve been having a lot of leg cramps since the lightning strike, and there is some hope that this might help that situation as well. May take in some extra magnesium just to be safe.

For those that have followed the saga of the massage therapy, I’ve quit seeing the other therapist at the reflexology center. Nice lady, like her as a person, but not getting the results I need. The first time with the therapist I went back to today was amazing, and the proof is in the results. So, sorry for no “serious” post today but not sorry as well. Will be offline most of tomorrow as well, as we have a special service for the start of the Dormition Fast and I’m going to be trying to get to Costco and some other shopping afterwards (which is a pain because of the bus routes and schedules).

As always, be good, be safe, and be prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Saint Ailbe

In more traditional churches, it is the practice for people to be named for Saints and Martyrs, and for those joining as adults to take the name of a Saint or Martyr. When I joined the Catholic Church (I grew up Methodist, moved to the Episcopal Church, wandered a bit, then became Catholic) I was Michael Ailbe. When I joined the Orthodox Church, I was told to pick one name. St. Michael will always be a part of me, but I went with St. Ailbe. BTW, it’s Gaelic so is not pronounced anything like it looks (Ahl-Vee-ah)

Now, for the heathen out there, we don’t worship icons. Icons serve two primary purposes: they are windows into heaven, and they are a challenge to our lives. For the first, the short version is that the only people we know are in heaven for sure are the Saints and Martyrs. Icons are in effect windows to them, and we ask them to pray and intercede for us as we know they are in heaven and in position to appeal on our behalf. As for the second, go to any good military base or museum and look at all the photos, art, and illustrations of famous military figures. They are there as a challenge to both the recruit and the old salt, to live up to what they did on the field of battle. It’s the same thing with the Saints: they did good, so can you: can you do as well as they did?

For example, a Saint I have grown to admire is Saint John of Krondstat. Back in the day, he looked around at things and said this is bull. In his wake were orphanages, homes for the widows, food for the hungry, and medical care for those who needed it. The man did an amazing amount of good, and from what I have read was worried he hadn’t done enough. That’s a challenge for any warrior of the soul. As a side note, I was relieved to find out I wasn’t the only one to feel that the icon of St. Gregory of Palamas, who in our Church is next to St. John, was giving me/us the side-eye as I talked to St. John.

Back on track, St. Ailbe was a fifth century Irish priest and more. He had been born in Ireland and was a child of the hillside. Legend has it that the infant was rescued by a wolf, but what is known is that he was taken to England as a youth by a group of Christian evangelists and raised there. He became a priest, went to Rome, and was reported to have been made a Bishop there.

Other than he was highly regarded, his hearth (hospitality) was highly praised, and he dressed and spoke well, there is not a lot of verifiable fact to go with. Given the Irish penchant for tales, there are a lot of legends. He is alleged to have provided sanctuary to a female wolf who ran into his abode while avoiding hunters, with some legends saying it was the wolf who had saved him from the hillside many years before. Given that wolves do good to live five years in the wild, legend. It may be true that animals were as welcome at his hearth as people, as it would fit with the rules of hospitality at the time, especially Christian hospitality. He built several Churches, a monastery, and when he died was reported to have been buried in the cathedral at Emly. Sadly, that cathedral disappeared centuries ago.

There were a few icons and representations of him out there, but they were mostly generic and not terribly inspiring. Save for a couple that were less than flattering. In fact one with him and a wolf frankly looked like they were both up to no good and enjoying that fact. Again, not inspiring.

I had been looking around for something good, and have even looked at some Iconographers in England and Europe. Then, someone pointed me to a noted Iconographer who was located here in Indianapolis. I had seen his work, and to be honest his Icon of St. Brigid of Kildare is my favorite representation of her. I hadn’t really realized he was truly local or that he might be interested in working with me.

Long story short, I met with him and he had been briefed on me and my circumstances. Despite the latter, he was intrigued and we had a good discussion. I gave him all I had on St. Ailbe, and discussed some concepts I had thought about, but that he had free reign. A few months later, a concept sketch was presented which went in a very different direction, and was pretty much perfect. A few months after that, and today he presented me the Icon you see above.

Pretty much every report notes that the first Church he built upon returning to Ireland was by a lake and a yew tree. A basket of food at his feet symbolizes the hospitality of his hearth. There are a couple of other minor details, but those are the large ones that will stand out.

As you look at it, appreciate the colors and shadings. Something I didn’t know at the start, this talented artist and Iconographer is colorblind. I’m told his wife will help him a bit on colors, but appreciate that he can’t see the wonderful richness of the Icons and artwork he creates. If you are looking for a good Icon, and particularly if you are Orthodox, Catholic, or other traditional Church, be glad to put you in touch with him.

For me, I took the name Ailbe for several reasons. Yes, the connection to wolves led me to him, but the hospitality of his hearth hit home as I love to cook, helped lead a charity that cooked for troops and veterans (particularly wounded), and think highly of the ancient laws of hospitality. That he also did such a great job of spreading the Word, doing right by those who accepted the Word, and helped establish and expand the monastic tradition in Ireland made him someone to emulate. To have a good Icon to challenge me to live up to the name if I can is a treasure.

Oh, and if you are still bristling over the subject of Icons, keep in mind one of the earliest known Iconographers was the Apostle Luke. Yes, that Luke who is responsible for several books of the New Testament. I find it interesting that he is reported to have interviewed the Theotokos (The Virgin Mary, Theotokos translating as God Bearer/the one who gave birth to God). Note that the Book of Luke is the only book of the New Testament to have stories from the youth of Jesus. I would also contend that those are only stories a mother would tell. Of the Icons Luke created that have survived, I think it is four that deal with Mary and the infant Jesus.

The most famous (and most copied) is The Directress, where the Theotokos has the infant Jesus on her lap, and is pointing to him (He is the way, the truth, and the light). Another is the “Vladimir” Icon, which I love though the sadness in her eyes can rip your heart right out. I find it interesting and telling that while the infant is different in each, the Theotokos is pretty much identical, as if he had seen her but not him. Which is the historical case. There is more, but if interested it is well worth looking up and a fascinating glimpse into art and history.

As for me, once the Icon comes home (it is at the Church to stay on the altar and be blessed), it goes up in my room at the little shrine I have. I’m like a lot of guys in that if given a challenge, I try to live up to it. I hope I can do right by the name. I’d like to live this new life I’ve been granted such that I do so, and even do good enough St. Gregory stops giving me the side eye. I’m proof that God can work with anyone, and I remind myself and any who need it that Christ didn’t come down from the Heavens for the perfect. He came to save the sinners (of whom I am chief). Also keep in mind we are all called to be Saints in training. Few of us can and do live up to that, but the challenge is in trying.

Let’s get to it.