I sense a pattern.

Step 1- Try to do a lot of work because I am behind.
Step 2- Get dehydrated and get contractions. (did I mention it is still 100 degrees? GRRR)
Step 3- Sit down and drink tons of water, thereby getting behind.
Step 4- Get contractions from having to go to bathroom due to tons of water drinking.
Step 5- Go to the bathroom and rest some more.
Step 6- Cut back a bit on the water so I can stop the contractions.
Step 7- Repeat steps 1 through 6 for the next 5 weeks.

O.bama as theologian

There was a quote from our esteemed president in the WSJ this morning in regard to the budget talks. Apparently during the course of the negotiations he started using a phrase from sort of catholic VP Bi.den- "There's no point dying on a small cross." Thousands of people will read those words today. I am sure most won't even think about them short of an implicit agreement. But think about it....the President and VP couldn't be more wrong.

I know the quote was in reference to budget talks and I understand that negotiations are negotiations but I couldn't help thinking of all the times when I have given in to that advice to the detriment of my family, my friends, or myself. If there's no point dying on a small cross then there's no point is smiling when I want to frown, keeping calm when I want to yell, or sticking to my prayers when I don't feel like it.

St. Therese of Liseux and St. Josemaria have wrote many words on this topic more eloquent than I ever could. Look them up. But the point is really to ask ourselves how could we be ready to die on a big cross, should it ever come to that, if we can't do it in the little things? I think it is so easy for us to think, "Oh, I could never do something like X"....but is that really true if we aren't denying ourselves in the little things? I know for myself the honest answer is "no".