So Sad

I don't usually link to newspaper articles, but this one just broke my heart:

Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus

Since Josh and I would never choose to abort a child, we recognize the possibility that our children may grow up in the world as a distinct minority, if we were to have a child with a disability. I worry about resources being diverted from treatments for conditions that often lead to abortions. It's already happening. The March of Dimes, for example, uses abortion as a way to decrease the incidence of birth defects. As if killing the child is a better way to address the problem than researching ways to treat a disease or providing support to enable a disabled child to reach his or her full potential.

I apologize if you're reading this after the article is no longer accessible.

The Importance of Gratitude

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
by Barry Schwartz

This book was another of Josh's finds. It's a fascinating look at why having more choices can actually make people more unhappy. It touched on everything from choosing a career to choosing a pair of jeans. (I've always had a problem myself with the toothpaste aisle. Why in the world do we need so many options?)

The first 10 chapters presented a convincing set of studies and reports that having too many options does indeed make an individual unhappy, and has contributed to increasing levels of depression and stress in American society. I thought it was interesting to see how religion, faith and family values can help people deal with this particular kind of stress by limiting options to those that are morally acceptable.

The best chapter, in my opinion, was the eleventh chapter. Here, Schwartz gives some concrete ways to decrease the disadvantages while still enjoying the benefits of all the choices we have today. The eleven steps he gives are all directly related to the evidence presented in the preceeding chapters, but I will try to sum it up in laymen's terms:

Take some time to consider what's important in life. Pay attention to those choices and don't worry about the others. Go with what's "good enough" more often than finding the absolute best. Once you've made a decision don't give yourself the option to go back and choose something else. Be thankful for what you have. Don't waste time and energy on regret. Be aware that whatever you choose, eventually it won't bring as much pleasure as it did at first. Keep expectations within reason. Don't concentrate so much on what others are doing or buying. Embrace limits and constraints that eliminate choices for us.

If you're interested in how these strategies can combat the depressing effect of too many choices, read the book. It's a pretty quick read.

Caleb's Current Favorites

These are the books that are read, loved, carried around and slept with (currently).

The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese

Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Anything about Cars (the movie)

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies (and friends) by Laura Numeroff

47 Beavers on the Big Blue Sea by Phil Vischer

Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (In fact, Caleb thinks everything is by Dr. Seuss. He'll pull down a book to "read" aloud, say the title and "by Dr. Seuss", then proceed with the story.)

A Well-Ordered Life

One of our favorite magazines (see previous post) had another little article I particularly enjoyed. It's one of the few they've chosen from the most recent issue to be available online to non-subscribers, so I wanted to post a link here.

Schooling at Home

Enjoy - and consider a subscription!

Thy Kingdom Come

Will Catholics Be Left Behind?
A Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers
by Carl E. Olson

In a recent Bible study, I realized I didn't really know what the Catholic faith teaches about the end times, other than that Jesus will come again in glory (as we recite every week). I wanted to learn more so I could understand how my study-mates' vision of the Rapture fit with Catholic teaching.

Reading this book gave me exactly what I needed to understand my faith's vision. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to read, in very small chunks, because I feel like my understanding is a little disjointed, but that's the fault of my current reading time, not the book itself. The author, Mr. Olson, is a convert to Catholicism who once believed in the Rapture, so he has great insight into exactly what others believe. I do think it was a little harsh on the fundamentalists, not because I think they're right, but because I'd like to recommend this book to friends who don't understand the Catholic view but would be afraid they'd find it abrasive. (Though a lot of his comments are actually amusing.)

If you're Catholic, I highly recommend this book so you can feel confident in the beliefs of your faith and your ability to talk with someone who does believe in the Rapture without being overwhelmed. If you're not Catholic but have a heart to understand the Catholic faith, give it a try. You might be surprised at what you find.