(no subject)

Many people think of "worship" as an activity confined to a specific place and a specific time, one perhaps involving ancient rituals and singing of hymns. Of course a service on Sunday morning or Friday night when you're joined with a group of potentially like-minded people can be a rich and rewarding version of worship, but it can also be simply a social gathering or a mask for the celebrant's real worship. What people truly worship is often most obvious from how they live their lives in non-religious settings: They make their decisions based on the object of their worship: perform activity X because their true deity approves of activity X; avoid activity Y because their true deity may be angered or disappointed by activity Y.

What I'm wondering this morning is why the heck so many are so willing to worship people we don't even like. Of course someone who's being controlled and abused has reason to placate their abuser like some wrathful deity unless and until they can make their escape--but what about those who choose to serve capricious gods? Is life so simple that we must find ways to make it more complicated? And is there anything more frustrating than worshiping an insecure god?

Bah. Folks who pay their service to money are frequently mocked for their hypocrisy, but at least their god is more likely to make sense than human beings are.

Holiday update

I had a quiet holiday. On Christmas Eve, I got myself to a 9:00 p.m. service, actually going to an English-language service for a change. This was the candlelight service, but much less calm than some candlelight services I've been to. Is it just me, or is it odd to hear "Silent Night" performed with drums? Anyway, though my legs cramped up and I was a little too close to passing out from sitting so long, it was good to be there.

Came home about 11:30, spent time chatting online with dcjensen and windsparrow and possibly someone else my sleepy brain has forgotten (edit: lingmao was there too). After walking about four miles on the 24th and staying up later than usual, I was pretty weary by the time I collapsed in bed. Tried to sleep late on Christmas day, but my body refuses to remain unconscious after 8 in the morning. Anyway, it was a very quiet day full of peaceful not-moving. The only bit of excitement was a walk to the local 7-Eleven to buy some toilet paper, followed by a walk around the neighborhood looking at the lights. It didn't feel particularly festive, but a bit of peace and quiet was what I needed.

Still tired today after too little sleep (again) and not at all sure how I'm going to spend Boxing Day. The weather forecasters have said that it should be mostly sunny, but all I've seen so far is an overcast sky. As much as I'd like to go grocery shopping again (whee!), I may be better off staying at home and reading. We'll see what happens.

(no subject)

Why did I consider buying pork ears at the grocery store today? I don't need a silk purse. Oh, I know what you're all thinking. You're thinking, "But you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." I'm sure that's why they sell at least three pork ears per package--you need more than one ear per purse.

Seeing packaged pig ears can make even a committed omnivore think there are some body parts that simply should not be removed from the animal who grew them. And then, if you're me, it makes you wonder if one of those ears belonged to Pigcent van Gogh.

In other news, a black cat crossed my path this evening--twice. I believe black cats bring good luck and would have invited this one into the house if allowed to do so. The cat looked very much at home sitting on our front porch. I wonder what it would have done if presented with a pork ear.