This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Vincit qui se vincit" is a Latin phrase meaning "He conquers who conquers himself." Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God. "
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Forge of Ages is a year-long journey through history's great physical archetypes. Each week focuses on one practical body principle, one nutrition lesson, and one spiritual virtue. The goal is not just fitness. The goal is readiness: becoming stronger, more capable, and more useful in service to faith, family, work, and community.
The Vigilant Body
The knight protected those under his care.
The Swiss pikeman held the line.
The Swiss Guard stood watch.
Since 1506, the Swiss Guard has guarded the Holy Father and served the Church with loyalty, discipline, and courage. Their mission has never been conquest or glory.
Most victories begin with small acts of awareness.
The Christian life is much the same.
The husband watches over his family.
The worker watches over his responsibilities.
The disciple watches over his soul.
The Swiss Guard teaches us that readiness begins long before the crisis arrives.
The vigilant man is prepared because he pays attention.
BODY FOCUS
Protective Readiness
This week's objective is simple:
Stay ready.
Training benefits:
Better balance
Greater agility
Improved coordination
Stronger posture
Better overall conditioning
The strongest man is not always the biggest man.
Often he is the one prepared to act when needed.
TABLE FOCUS
Fuel for Alertness
Fatigue often begins at the table.
A vigilant man does not eat merely for pleasure.
He eats for readiness.
Breakfast
Eggs and fruit
Oatmeal with nuts
Greek yogurt and berries
Lunch
Chicken salad
Tuna with vegetables
Bean soup and whole-grain bread
Dinner
Roast chicken and potatoes
Beef stew and vegetables
Baked fish with rice
Pork loin and roasted vegetables
The Swiss Guard Rule
Most meals should include:
✅ Protein
✅ Fruits or vegetables
✅ Quality carbohydrates
✅ Water
The goal is not dietary perfection.
The goal is maintaining energy for today's duties and tomorrow's challenges.
SPIRIT FOCUS
Vigilance
Jesus repeatedly warned His disciples:
"Stay awake."
The Christian is called to watchfulness.
Watch your words.
Watch your habits.
Watch your thoughts.
Watch your priorities.
A neglected vice grows stronger.
A practiced virtue grows deeper.
Vigilance is not fear.
Vigilance is faithful attention.
Prayer
Lord, help me remain watchful in body, mind, and spirit. Give me eyes to see what matters, wisdom to recognize danger, and courage to remain faithful at the post You have given me.
THE WORKOUT
Tuesday — Guard Strength
Warm-Up
Brisk Walk × 5 minutes
Arm Circles × 20
Bodyweight Squats × 10
Main Circuit
Complete 5 Rounds:
Bulgarian Split Squat × 8 each leg
Pushups × 12
Resistance Band Rows × 15
Farmer Carry × 60 seconds
Plank × 30 seconds
Rest 60 seconds between rounds.
Cool Down
Easy Walk × 5 minutes
Total Time: 35–40 minutes
Mission: Build strength that remains useful after a long day.
Thursday — Guardian Intervals
Warm-Up
Easy Walk × 5 minutes
Conditioning
Repeat 8 Times:
Fast Walk or Uphill Walk × 1 minute
Easy Walk × 2 minutes
After the final round:
Farmer Carry × 5 minutes total
Use dumbbells, kettlebells, or loaded grocery bags
Total Time: 35–45 minutes
Mission: Improve recovery, endurance, and readiness under pressure.
Sunday — Vatican Patrol
Walk 60 minutes continuously.
Carry a light backpack if comfortable.
Every 15 minutes:
Stop
Perform 10 Bodyweight Squats
Resume walking
Focus on:
Tall posture
Controlled breathing
Steady pace
Situational awareness
This is not speed training.
This is readiness training.
Mission: Build durability and alertness.
RECOVERY
Three evenings this week:
Calf Stretch × 30 seconds
Hip Flexor Stretch × 30 seconds
Chest Stretch × 30 seconds
Dead Hang × 20 seconds (if available)
Repeat twice.
Five minutes total.
The vigilant body notices small problems before they become large ones.
WEEKLY CHALLENGE
Every day this week:
Make your bed.
Take a 10-minute walk.
Perform 25 pushups.
No excuses.
The challenge is not intensity.
The challenge is vigilance.
THIS WEEK'S TAKEAWAY
Mind: Pay attention.
Body: Build readiness.
Table: Fuel alertness.
Spirit: Practice vigilance.
Most dangers announce themselves quietly.
Most opportunities do too.
The man who remains attentive is prepared for both.
The Knight asks:Who can depend on me when I arrive?
The Swiss Pikeman asks:Will I still be standing when the hard season comes?
The Swiss Guard asks:Am I faithfully watching the post God has given me?
NEXT WEEK IN THE FORGE
Week 15 — The Musketeer: The Precise Body
The Swiss Guard teaches vigilance.
The Musketeer teaches precision.
As firearms transformed warfare, success increasingly belonged not to the strongest soldier but to the one who could remain calm, focused, and accurate under pressure. Small adjustments often determined victory.
Next week we will explore how precision applies to training, nutrition, recovery, and spiritual life. Many failures come from scattered effort. Many successes come from doing small things correctly, consistently, and deliberately.
The vigilant man remains awake.
The Musketeer learns where to aim.
BLOOD ON THE SUN (1945) - WHEN TRUTH CHALLENGES POWER
From Courage to Conviction
(Based on Blood on the Sun, 1945)
When a Man Refuses to Surrender the Truth
Every man is called to courage.
A husband must defend his family.
A citizen must defend what is right.
A Christian must defend the truth.
Most men imagine courage appears only on battlefields.
Yet some of history's greatest battles have been fought with words, convictions, and the willingness to stand alone.
In Blood on the Sun, James Cagney portrays journalist Nick Condon, an American newspaper editor working in Japan. When evidence of an aggressive political conspiracy comes into his hands, powerful forces attempt to silence him. Threats, intimidation, violence, and corruption all pressure him to abandon the truth.
He refuses.
The film presents a simple question that every generation must answer:
What is truth worth?
Many men compromise when the cost becomes high.
Some remain silent to protect comfort.
Others remain silent to protect careers.
Still others remain silent to avoid conflict.
Yet truth abandoned today becomes tyranny tomorrow.
Scripture teaches that the devil is the father of lies. Every lie seeks darkness. Every truth seeks light.
The lesson is that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to act despite it.
The verdict is that a man who serves truth serves something greater than himself.
Film Card - Blood on the Sun (1945)
Blood on the Sun • Spy Thriller • Drama • War • 1h 34m
An American journalist in prewar Japan risks his life to expose secret plans hidden by powerful political forces.
Cast: James Cagney, Sylvia Sidney, Porter Hall, John Emery
Production: William Cagney Productions / United Artists
Cultural Frame: Released during World War II, the film reflected the era's concern with authoritarian power, censorship, and the importance of a free press.
Production & Cultural Setting
The Power of the Press
The story centers on a journalist whose greatest weapon is not force but truth.
Wartime America
Released in 1945, the film reflected the belief that free societies depend upon informed citizens and courageous voices.
James Cagney the Patriot
Unlike many of his gangster roles, Cagney portrays a man whose strength comes from conviction rather than violence.
Truth Versus Power
The central conflict is between those who seek to reveal facts and those who seek to conceal them.
Freedom Requires Courage
The film reminds viewers that freedom often depends on ordinary people refusing to cooperate with lies.
Story Summary
The Discovery:
Nick Condon gains access to information powerful men do not want revealed.
The Opposition:
Government agents and political conspirators attempt to silence him.
The Investigation:
Condon works to uncover the truth while evading those pursuing him.
The Risk:
The closer he comes to success, the greater the danger grows.
The Struggle:
His courage is tested by threats, isolation, and violence.
The Victory:
The battle becomes a contest between truth and deception.
Moral & Spiritual Resonances
A. Truth Has a Cost
The easiest path is often silence.
B. Courage Is a Virtue
Fear is natural. Surrender is optional.
C. Lies Require Darkness
Falsehood thrives when good people refuse to speak.
D. Freedom Depends on Character
Laws matter, but virtue sustains liberty.
E. One Man Can Make a Difference
History often turns on the courage of a few.
Hospitality Pairing - An Investigative Evening
Food - Newsroom Supper
Roast beef sandwich
Potato salad
Pickles
Apple pie
Drink - Straightforward and Strong
Russell's Reserve
Black coffee
Dry bourbon highball
Iced tea
Cigar
Corojo
Atmosphere - Press Room Resolve
Desk lamp lighting
Wartime jazz
Newspaper clippings
Discussion about truth, courage, and responsibility
Personal Reflection
Do I tell the truth when it costs me something?
Have I remained silent when I should have spoken?
Do I seek comfort more than courage?
Am I willing to stand alone for what is right?
Where do I compromise with small lies?
How can I become a more trustworthy man?
Nick Condon's battle is not merely against powerful men.
It is against the temptation to surrender the truth for safety.
Scripture teaches that the truth sets men free.
The world often asks, "What is the safest course?"
Christian virtue asks, "What is the right course?"
For in the end, courage is not measured by strength.
Public discussion about America's future often centers on elections, legislation, court decisions, economic policy, or cultural trends. While these issues matter, Catholic teaching suggests they are not the deepest source of either national decline or national renewal.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes evil not simply as a political or institutional problem but as a moral reality rooted in human choices. Human beings are created with freedom and are capable of choosing either good or evil (CCC 1704-1707). According to Catholic teaching, societies are ultimately shaped by the character of the people who compose them. When dishonesty, selfishness, indifference, or violence become common, those attitudes eventually influence families, communities, and public institutions.
The Catechism further teaches that sin has both personal and social consequences. Individuals can become responsible not only for their own wrongdoing but also for the sins of others through cooperation, approval, or indifference (CCC 1868). Over time, these patterns can become embedded within institutions and cultures, creating what the Church calls "structures of sin" (CCC 1869).
This perspective offers a different lens through which to view America's current divisions. Political debates often encourage citizens to locate the nation's problems in opposing parties, ideologies, or social groups. Yet Catholic teaching maintains that no movement, party, class, or generation possesses a monopoly on either virtue or vice. The central question is not simply who is responsible for the nation's problems, but whether citizens are becoming more capable of living lives ordered toward truth, justice, and the common good (CCC 1905-1912).
The Church's response to evil therefore extends beyond policy preferences. Catholics are called to defend human dignity, strengthen families, protect innocent life, pursue justice, and contribute to society's well-being (CCC 1928-1942). At the same time, the Church warns that lasting reform cannot be achieved through anger alone. Evil cannot be overcome by adopting the habits that contribute to disorder in the first place.
An often-overlooked biblical concept helps illustrate this point. The Hebrew word ezer, often translated as "helper," is also associated with strength, rescue, and protection. In many passages of Scripture, God Himself is described as the ezer of His people. Applied to civic life, the concept suggests an alternative to perpetual political conflict: citizens acting as sources of strength for one another rather than viewing one another primarily as opponents.
From this perspective, the challenge facing America is not merely institutional but cultural. The health of a nation depends upon the health of its families, communities, and moral habits. Political victories may influence events for a season, but character influences a civilization for generations.
History provides numerous examples of this principle. Periods of renewal have often been associated not only with new governments or laws but with men and women whose lives embodied courage, integrity, sacrifice, and faith. The Catholic tradition points to the saints as evidence that profound social change frequently begins at the personal level before becoming visible at the social level.
This leads to a conclusion that is both simple and demanding. If evil is ultimately rooted in the human heart, confronting it requires more than winning arguments or elections. It requires what the Church calls conversion: a turning toward truth, virtue, responsibility, and God (CCC 1427-1431).
In Catholic thought, the most important task facing America is therefore not partisan victory but moral renewal.
The principle can be summarized in the words of St. Paul:
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
For the Church, that remains both a spiritual command and a civic strategy.
The One Thing America Must Do
If Catholic teaching were reduced to a single prescription for confronting evil in America, it would be this:
Return to God.
The Catechism teaches that authentic social renewal begins with the conversion of persons. "Without the help of grace, men would not know how to discern the often narrow path between cowardice which gives in to evil and the violence which under the illusion of fighting evil only makes it worse" (CCC 1889).
When hearts change, families change. When families change, communities change. When communities change, culture changes. When culture changes, nations change.
The Church's long-term answer to America's challenges is therefore neither revolution nor retreat. It is the formation of men and women whose lives are governed by faith, hope, charity, truth, courage, and self-sacrifice.
The Church has a name for such people:
Saints.
Arbinger Training and the American Challenge:
Seeing People as People
In discussions about America's cultural, political, and moral struggles, attention is often focused on policies, institutions, and public figures. Yet one leadership model gaining attention in business, education, healthcare, and government begins with a far simpler question:
How do people see one another?
The Arbinger Institute's Outward Mindset framework argues that many conflicts persist because individuals stop seeing others as people with needs, challenges, hopes, and objectives equal to their own. Instead, they begin viewing others as obstacles, vehicles, irrelevancies, or problems to be managed. Arbinger refers to this condition as an inward mindset. In contrast, an outward mindset recognizes the humanity, needs, and objectives of others while remaining committed to achieving results.¹
While developed as a leadership and organizational model, the concept overlaps in remarkable ways with Catholic teaching on human dignity.
The Catechism teaches that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (CCC 1700). Human dignity does not depend on political affiliation, social status, race, education, wealth, or agreement with one's opinions. Every person possesses an inherent worth that must be respected.
This principle becomes especially important during periods of national division. Modern political discourse often encourages citizens to sort one another into categories. Individuals become labels. Neighbors become voting blocs. Opponents become caricatures. The result is a society increasingly skilled at argument and increasingly incapable of understanding.
Arbinger's central insight is that people often create many of the conflicts they later blame on others. When individuals view others primarily as obstacles, they tend to provoke the very resistance they fear. Relationships deteriorate. Cooperation declines. Trust evaporates. Productivity falls. What appears to be someone else's problem may begin with one's own mindset.
Catholic theology arrives at a similar conclusion from a different direction. The tradition teaches that moral renewal begins with self-examination rather than condemnation of others. Before confronting the faults of neighbors, believers are called to confront their own hearts (CCC 1779, 1780).
Applied to American life, this presents a challenge.
Instead of asking only what is wrong with political opponents, citizens might ask:
Have they listened before judging?
Have they sought understanding before criticism?
Have they treated others as persons rather than categories?
Have they contributed to the problems they wish to solve?
These questions require humility. They also require courage.
The Hebrew word ezer offers another useful lens. Often translated as "helper," ezer carries the stronger meaning of protector, rescuer, and source of strength. Scripture frequently uses the word to describe God's relationship with His people.
Viewed through this lens, citizenship becomes something more than competition. Neighbors become people to strengthen rather than enemies to defeat. Communities become places of mutual responsibility rather than permanent ideological battlefields.
The challenge is to confront these realities without losing sight of the humanity of the people involved.
America does not merely need better arguments. It needs better citizens.
The Catechism teaches that society improves when people grow in virtue and accept responsibility for the common good (CCC 1888-1889; 1905-1912). Arbinger training reaches a similar conclusion through different language: lasting improvement occurs when people move beyond self-justification and begin to see others more clearly.
Both perspectives point toward the same practical lesson.
A stronger nation begins when citizens learn to see one another not as objects to overcome, but as people to understand.
Before America can overcome many of its outward divisions, it may first need an outward mindset.
Sources
Arbinger Institute, Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset workshop materials and overview. Arbinger teaches that individuals and organizations improve results when they shift from an inward mindset to an outward mindset that considers the needs, objectives, and challenges of others.
Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1700-1706 (Human Dignity)
Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1779-1780 (Conscience and Self-Examination)
Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1888-1889 (Renewal of the Social Order)
Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1905-1912 (The Common Good)
Most sins hurt the person committing them. Scandal hurts someone else as well. It occurs when our words, actions, or example make sin easier and virtue harder for another person. That is why Our Lord spoke so strongly against leading others away from the path of God.
Father Nicholas Zucchi, a seventeenth-century Jesuit priest, guided three young women toward religious life. Before the youngest entered the convent, a young nobleman sought to persuade her to abandon her vocation. He repeatedly encouraged her to leave the service of God and return to worldly pursuits. Seeing the danger, Father Zucchi warned him to repent and reminded him that he would soon stand before God's judgment.
Two weeks later, the young man died.
Not long afterward, the novice encountered an apparition of the deceased nobleman. Bound by fiery chains, he revealed the suffering he was enduring and cried out only, "Pray for me!" God's mercy had not abandoned him, but his punishment served as a warning about the consequences of attempting to draw another soul away from its divine calling.
The Swiss pikemen understood that a single soldier breaking ranks could expose the entire formation. The spiritual life is no different. Parents, spouses, friends, teachers, and coworkers all influence the souls around them. Every encouragement toward virtue strengthens the line. Every temptation toward sin weakens it.
As today's smoke rises, ask yourself a simple question: Do my words help others reach Heaven, or do they point them somewhere else?
"Let your speech always be gracious." — Colossians 4:6
NOVEMBER 19 Thursday Twenty-Fifth Week Pentecost
St. Elizabeth of Hungary-World Toilet Day
Psalm 118, verse 4-6
Let
those who FEAR the LORD say, his mercy endures forever. In danger I called on
the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is with me; I am not AFRAID;
what can mortals do against me?
When can we say, “His
mercy endures forever!” It is when we have received it and given it away.
Everybody needs to forgive somebody.
Allen R. Hunt outlines
there are three parts to forgiveness:
1) Receiving forgiveness, which involves
experiencing God and forgiving yourself.
2) Deciding to Forgive.
3) Sharing Forgiveness.
Copilot’s Take
Fear and forgiveness stand side by
side in Psalm 118. Those who fear the Lord do not live in fear of people,
because they have discovered a mercy stronger than sin, betrayal, politics,
prejudice, and failure. As Allen Hunt reminds us, forgiveness begins by
receiving God's mercy, continues with the decision to forgive, and reaches its
fullness when we extend that same mercy to others. Only then can we honestly
proclaim, "His mercy endures forever."
The Catechism teaches that Christians
cannot receive God's forgiveness while refusing to forgive others (CCC
2838-2840). This does not mean ignoring evil or abandoning justice. America
faces real evils: violence, dishonesty, division, greed, addiction, and
contempt for neighbors. Evil must be confronted with truth and courage, but
never with hatred. The Christian response is to resist wrongdoing while
remembering that every person remains a child of God capable of conversion.
One thing that must change: we must stop treating fellow Americans as enemies and start treating
them as neighbors. When mercy replaces contempt, truth replaces propaganda, and
responsibility replaces blame, a divided people can begin to heal. Then, with
grateful hearts and renewed courage, we can say together, "His mercy
endures forever." (CCC 2302-2303, 2843-2844)
🌹 Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
Feast Day (Devotional): November 19
Patron of the Poor · Icon of Mercy · Franciscan Mystic
Born in 1207
to Hungarian royalty, Elizabeth lived as both princess and servant. She opened
granaries during famine, founded hospitals, and embraced Franciscan poverty
after her husband’s death. Her most famous miracle? Bread hidden in her cloak
for the poor transformed into roses when questioned—a divine affirmation that
mercy blooms in secret acts.
On this day
of bodily dignity and spiritual unity, her legacy shines: clean water, shared bread, and hidden
roses. She reminds us that nobility
kneels, and that every act of care—whether for the sick, the poor, or the body
itself—is a liturgy of love.
🍷 Ritual Offering
Drink: Tokaji Aszú or Rose Cocktail
Meal: Lentil soup, fresh bread with rosewater butter
Blessing:
“To mercy
that multiplies, to roses that bloom in hidden cloaks, and to nobility that
kneels.”
World
Toilet Day aims to raise awareness of sanitation and hygiene issues around the
world. Poor sanitation and hygiene refer to a lack of access to clean drinking
water, toilets and showers. Poor sanitation drastically increases the risk of
disease and malnutrition, especially for women and children. Today, 2.6 billion
people, about one-third of the population on the planet, do not have access to
proper sanitation, a problem that kills nearly 1 million young children every
year. World Toilet Day was designated by the United Nations in July 2013. It is
celebrated annually on November 19 as people all over the world take action and
support the basic human right of access to clean water and sanitation.
World Toilet Day Facts & Quotes
1 in 8 people in the
world practices open defecation, meaning that the person must relieve
him/herself without cover or shelter from other people.
The average person
spends one hour and 42 minutes a week on the toilet, or nearly 92 days over
his/her lifetime.
Diarrhea is the
second leading cause of deaths in children under age 5 in developing countries.
Diarrhea is primarily due to poor hygiene and sanitation.
The 2030 Agenda
calls on us to renew our efforts in providing access to adequate sanitation
worldwide. We must continue to educate and protect communities at risk, and to
change cultural perceptions and long-standing practices that hinder the quest
for dignity. – Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
World Toilet Day Top Events and Things to Do
Watch a movie about
toilets and the importance of sanitation. Some suggestions are: Guts For
Change (2015), A New Culture of Water (2004) and A
Thirsty World (2012).
Spread awareness by
using the hashtag #WorldToiletDay, #WeCantWait and #ToiletAccessIsARight.
Tour a local
sanitation plant. Sanitation plants throughout the US exist to recycle and
clean water while properly disposing of human excrement and other waste.
Donate to the
World Toilet Organization. All proceeds are used by the organization to help
break the taboo around the toilet and sanitation crisis. They help lobby
governments, public and private sector stakeholders to prioritize sanitation on
the agenda.
Read a book about
toilets and the importance of sanitation. Some suggestions are: Sanitation
& Water Supply in Low-Income Countries, Sitting Pretty An
Uninhibited History of the Toilet and The Big Necessity.
One
time, I took a dump in my backyard because the toilet had been broken for two
weeks (blame our absentee slumlord). My best friend never let me live it down,
but you know what? I didn't care, because on that crisp fall day in 2007, when
the gas station whose toilets I had been relying on was unexpectedly closed, I
learned something. Specifically, I learned that pooping outside is… kind of
pleasant. But it wasn't until the advent of the Squatty Potty that I
really started to analyze why that was. Basically, if you use a Western toilet
on the reg, you're fighting against your body's anatomy. But now, there's a way
to poop optimally that doesn't involve squatting behind the
shrubs and hoping a neighbor won't walk by (though I do recommend everyone try
that at least once). Here it is.
You
don't know squat. The Squatty Potty is a small footstool designed to fit a
toilet's curves. The idea is to elevate your feet and knees, so your body is
closer to a squatting angle -- a natural pooping position -- than the upright
position imposed on it by a porcelain throne. This isn't just hippie BS,
either. There's actual science as to why a squat is the way to go when moving
your bowels. "Defecating is actually really complicated and involves a lot
of nerves and muscles relaxing and moving," says Dr. Michelle
Cohen, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai. "When you sit, the
puborectalis muscle is pulled in around the colon to create an angle, so the
stool can't drop out."
Think
of a kinked hose and you might be able to picture what's happening in your
colon as the puborectalis muscle stays tight around it. In some cases,
particularly in people with constipation or dyssynergic defecation (when your
muscles fail to relax, making pooping more difficult), sitting with your thighs
perpendicular to the ground can make it much harder to poop. Enter the Squatty
Potty
The
Squatty Potty was born in 2010 because of this exact scenario. "They say
necessity is the mother of invention," says Bobby Edwards, CEO and
co-creator of the defecation device. "My mother was constipated. It was
definitely out of need." Edwards says his mother's physical therapist
explained that constipation is, in many cases, "an anatomical thing,"
and that if she elevated her feet while eliminating, it would change the angle
of the colon and make the whole process work smoothly, the way nature intended.
She propped her feet up on a stool and loved the results, but the process
wasn't ideal. "She couldn't quite get comfortable with a regular stool,
and it was in the way in the bathroom," Edwards says. "I was taking
design classes, and she asked if I could design a stool for the toilet, with
the height and width to simulate a natural squat."
Boy,
could he. Edwards made five prototypes before hitting on the perfect model.
Delighted, his mother gave proto-Squatty Potties to constipated friends for
Christmas gifts. "She thought everybody needed to be squatting,"
Edwards says. Word of mouth spread, and in 2012, Edwards launched the website.
A media blitz ensued, and the rest is history.
Putting
the potty to the test. I was pretty intrigued by the "squatting is
better" maxim, so much so that I tried literally squatting on my toilet.
Surprisingly (or not?), a militant vegan has uploaded a YouTube video
about how to do exactly that. It was a little weird, and there was some serious
splash back when shit hit the water, but I could tell stuff was rearranging
itself in my colon -- that's the medical terminology, right? It felt good and
correct, and I understood why my cats wear such serene, noble expressions when
they poop.
Not
only is that method impractical, but it’s also probably dangerous for older
folks, people with physical challenges or injuries, and, well, everyone,
honestly. I needed to try the real deal. The Squatty Potty was delivered to my
office in a freaking huge (but mercifully unmarked) brown cardboard box. I
sneaked it out to my car, hoping to dodge co-workers and the inevitable,
"Ooh, what's that?" The box contained the white plastic stool,
a Burger King-like crown with the hashtag #pooplikeroyalty, and a button that
read "I Pooped Today!" (Though Squatty Potty entreats its Twitter
followers to "share your Poop Like Royalty pics! #pooplikeroyalty,"
only one brave soul had risen to the challenge as of press time.)
🌍 World Cruise Aboard The World
Veils &
Vision | November 19–25, 2026
Theme:
Mystery, Revelation & the Grace to See
Coordinates:
Sailing from Singapore through the Strait of Malacca toward Port Klang, Penang,
Langkawi, and Phuket
🕊️ Day 1 — November 19, 2026 | Offshore
Singapore (Singapore Strait) Veil of the Waters
Pilgrims begin
the week with a sunrise ritual overlooking the mist-covered shipping lanes of
the Singapore Strait—each receives a silk veil and is invited to wear it during
morning silence.
📖 2 Corinthians 3:16 — “Whenever
anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
Meal: Kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs, pandan chiffon, and pulled milk tea (teh
tarik)
Reflection: “Mystery
is not confusion—it is invitation.”
Hospitality
Arc: Offer a quiet gesture of welcome to someone new.
🪨 Day 2 — November 20, 2026 | Docked in
Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia
Vision in the Market
Pilgrims walk
the spice, batik, and incense markets of Brickfields and Central Market, each
choosing one item to carry as a symbol of what they seek.
📖 Proverbs 20:12 — “Eyes that see
and ears that hear—the Lord has made them both.”
Meal: Charred
eggplant (terung bakar) with tamarind sambal and fragrant coconut rice (nasi
lemak)
Reflection: “To
see clearly is to see with mercy.”
Hospitality
Arc: Ask someone what they’re searching for—and listen without fixing.
🕯️ Day 3 — November 21, 2026 | Sailing
the Strait of Malacca toward Penang
Lanterns of
the Hidden
At dusk,
pilgrims light lanterns and place them in shadowed corners of the outer decks
as the ship glides past coastal lighthouses—each flame a prayer for what
remains unseen.
📖 Isaiah 45:3 — “I will give you
treasures hidden in darkness…”
Meal: Spiced
red lentil dhal with curry leaves, turmeric, and toasted roti
Reflection: “The
hidden is not lost—it is waiting.”
Hospitality
Arc: Share a story of something you found when you weren’t looking.
🌄 Day 4 — November 22, 2026 | Docked in
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Pilgrimage of the Eyes
Pilgrims walk
the weathered shophouses, clan jetties, and historic coastal walls of George
Town, reflecting on what endures after time and tide. Each sketches one
architectural detail or doorway they wish to remember.
📖 John 9:25 — “I was blind, and now
I see.”
Meal: Grilled
sea bass with tamarind-ginger glaze (asam pedas style) and pomelo-herb
salad
Reflection: “Vision
is not sight—it is recognition.”
Hospitality
Arc: Offer someone a new way to see something familiar.
🌬️ Day 5 — November 23, 2026 | Sailing
toward Langkawi (Andaman Sea)
Wind of
Discernment
A midday
ritual on deck in the Andaman breeze invites pilgrims to write two
questions—one they’ve answered, one they still carry.
📖 James 1:5 — “If any of you lacks
wisdom, ask…”
Meal:
Slow-simmered chickpea and palm-sugar curry with cinnamon-cardamom rice
Reflection: “Discernment
is not decision—it is listening.”
Hospitality
Arc: Ask someone what wisdom they’ve received—and honor it aloud.
🕊️ Day 6 — November 24, 2026 | Docked in
Langkawi, Malaysia
City of Mirrors
Pilgrims visit
a tranquil waterfront pavilion and reflecting pool framed by limestone karst
peaks. Each receives a small polished shard of sea glass etched with a word of
clarity.
📖 1 Corinthians 13:12 — “Now we see
through a glass, darkly…”
Meal: Braised
spiced lamb shank (kambing masak hitam) with toasted cashews, raisins,
and rosewater-scented rice
Reflection: “Even
the broken reflects light.”
Hospitality
Arc: Reflect someone’s strength back to them—name what you see.
🌅 Day 7 — November 25, 2026 | Offshore
Phuket, Thailand (Andaman Sea)
Eucharist of
Vision
The week
closes with a sunrise Eucharist facing the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay.
Each pilgrim receives a scroll inscribed with a question for the next voyage.
📖 Mark 8:25 — “Then his eyes were
opened, and he saw everything clearly.”
Meal:
Cashew-stuffed dates, pandan-lemongrass tea, and honey-glazed figs
Reflection: “Vision
is not arrival—it is readiness.”
Hospitality
Arc: Share aloud one veil you’ve lifted—and one you still carry.
Havasupai Falls is sure to take your breath away as soon as
you set your eyes on the bright blue water. Although it’s about a 10-mile hike to get to
the falls, the trip is totally worth it. While temperatures might be too
cold to enjoy swimming in the water in November, you might still be able to
take a dip if you’re feeling brave.
The main reason why November is ideal for seeing Havasupai
Falls is that the usual Arizona
heat is much milder. Considering the length of the hike, you’ll be glad to
enjoy those cooler temps.
The area is closed during the winter, starting in December,
and both October and November see fewer visitors. This means more opportunities
for moments of solitude like the one in the photo!
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week that
our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last
supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of
the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the
blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one.
Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a
special meal. Be at Peace.
appetizer Beaujolais
goes great with French charcuterie like patés, terrines, rillettes, and
saucisson sec. You can also serve it with cornichons, fresh radishes, and a
crusty baguette
main course
Poached salmon or seared tuna and salmon
Dessert:
Cheesecake with Red Fruit
Around
the Corner
How to celebrate Nov 19th
Next up, celebrate National Working Daughters Day by showing appreciation
for all the hardworking daughters out there. Reach out to a fellow working
daughter and plan a virtual coffee break or send a thoughtful message. It’s a
simple way to acknowledge the balancing act many women perform on a daily
basis.
For lunch, why not honor National Kentucky Day by whipping up a homemade
Kentucky-inspired meal? Try your hand at making fried chicken, cornbread, or a
comforting bourbon-infused dish. It’s a delicious nod to the flavors of the
South.
In the afternoon, indulge in some friendly competition on National Play
Monopoly Day. Gather your household or organize a virtual game night with
friends. Monopoly is a classic board game that never fails to entertain and
bring people together.
As evening approaches, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of
discovery on Discovery of Puerto Rico Day. Explore Puerto Rican culture through
music, food, or art. Try cooking a traditional Puerto Rican dish or tuning into
some salsa music for a mini cultural escape.
Wrap up your day with a mini camping experience on National Camp Day. Set
up a tent in your backyard or create a cozy indoor campsite. Roast
marshmallows, share stories, and enjoy the simple pleasure of being in nature,
even if it’s just for one night.
LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945) - WHEN LOVE BECOMES POSSESSION
From Devotion to Destruction
(Based on Leave Her to Heaven, 1945)
When a Man Makes Another Person His God
Every man is called to love.
A husband should love his wife.
A wife should love her husband.
Parents should love their children.
Friends should love one another.
Yet love becomes dangerous when it ceases to be ordered.
Love that serves becomes charity.
Love that controls becomes possession.
In Leave Her to Heaven, Gene Tierney portrays Ellen Berent, a woman whose beauty and devotion conceal a deeply disordered heart. She loves her husband Richard intensely, but her affection gradually becomes obsession. She cannot tolerate sharing his attention with family, friends, or anyone else who competes for his affection.
What appears at first to be romantic devotion slowly reveals itself as selfish attachment.
Many men make a similar mistake.
Not through crime or obsession, but through misplaced priorities.
A man can become more attached to a spouse than to God.
More attached to a child than to truth.
More attached to approval than to virtue.
More attached to comfort than to duty.
Anything placed above God eventually demands a price.
Scripture repeatedly warns against idols.
Most idols are not statues.
They are loves that have become disordered.
The lesson is that love must be governed by virtue.
The verdict is that true love seeks the good of another, not possession of another.
Film Card - Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
Leave Her to Heaven • Psychological Drama • Film Noir • Romance • 1h 50m
A beautiful newlywed's obsessive attachment to her husband gradually destroys the lives of those around her as love turns into jealousy and possession.
Cast: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price
Production: Twentieth Century-Fox
Cultural Frame: Released immediately after World War II, the film challenged traditional romantic ideals by portraying how excessive attachment and possessiveness can become destructive rather than loving.
Production & Cultural Setting
Technicolor Noir
Unlike most film noir productions, the story unfolds in brilliant color, creating a striking contrast between outward beauty and inner corruption.
The Ideal Wife Question
Postwar America often celebrated domestic happiness, yet the film explores how appearances can conceal profound spiritual disorder.
Possessive Love
The story examines the difference between loving a person and attempting to own a person.
The Hidden Idol
What begins as affection slowly reveals itself as an idol demanding complete devotion.
Beauty and Temptation
The film reminds viewers that external attractiveness does not guarantee internal virtue.
Story Summary
The Romance:
Richard Harland falls in love with the beautiful Ellen Berent and quickly marries her.
The Attachment:
Ellen's devotion appears admirable but grows increasingly possessive.
The Jealousy:
She resents anyone who receives Richard's attention, including members of his own family.
The Obsession:
Her need for exclusive affection drives her toward increasingly destructive decisions.
The Consequences:
The lives of those closest to her are damaged by her refusal to place any limits on her desires.
The Tragedy:
Disordered love ultimately destroys the very relationships Ellen seeks to preserve.
Moral & Spiritual Resonances
A. Love Must Have Order
Every love finds its proper place only when God remains first.
B. Possession Is Not Love
Love desires another's good. Possession desires another's control.
C. Jealousy Distorts Reality
Unchecked jealousy often creates the very losses it fears.
D. Idols Demand Sacrifice
Anything elevated above God eventually consumes peace, joy, and freedom.
E. Virtue Protects Affection
Without humility, self-control, and charity, even good desires can become destructive.
Hospitality Pairing - A Classic Hollywood Evening
Food - Elegant 1940s Supper
Roast chicken
Butter-glazed vegetables
Garden salad
Lemon pie
Drink - Refined but Strong
Bourbon Old Fashioned
Russell's Reserve
Dry red wine
Coffee
Cigar
Dark Habano
Atmosphere - Golden Age Hollywood
Soft jazz
Candlelight
Classic film posters
Discussion about love, attachment, and virtue
Personal Reflection
Do I love God more than the people closest to me?
Have I confused attachment with love?
Where has jealousy entered my relationships?
What possession or relationship would be hardest for me to surrender to God?
Do I seek to serve others or control them?
Am I helping those I love become saints?
Ellen Berent's tragedy is not that she loved.
Her tragedy is that she loved without order.
Scripture teaches that God must be first because every other love depends upon Him.
When God remains first, love becomes freedom.
When God is replaced, love becomes possession.
The world often says, "I cannot live without you."
Christian love says, "I love you enough to want God's will for you."
