I am an awkward turtle...

I gave the URL for this blog to someone the other day and he responded "good for you, we need people to challenge the Church." (meaning the Catholic Church to which I belong). Maybe the name suggests something other than was intended... so let me explain.

I'm trying to walk this incredibly difficult road toward Sainthood. To be honest, it is often overwhelming. That is where the image of an awkward turtle comes in. People always say things like "don't worry about falling, it's getting back up that matters most," to which I would like to reply "but I have this hard shell to carry around, it's not that easy to lift!" Hence, this blog and it's readers are a Church of Turtles... perhaps Church FOR Turtles would have been a better name.

I've begun participating in a great shell-shedding adventure that involves being part of a lay formation program at the Catholic Theological Union while I am studying for a degree in Divinity. I am not a priest, nor do I aspire to be one. The formation program at CTU is similar to that experienced by our religious brothers and sisters and I study along side members of our many numerous spiritual traditions.

I also live in Hyde Park, Chicago which is a focal point of religious education for many faith traditions here in the United States. Many of my posts come from my experiences here at CTU and the people that I come in contact with in the neighborhood.

I write this blog first for purely personal reasons... it forces me to think and reflect. Second, I write it in the hopes that other "back wobblers" may read it and be inspired by it.

My apologies to anyone who comes expecting some ultra-progressive commentary on the Catholic Church, you won't find it here. I don't deny that the Church has problems, I just don't feel the need to commentate on them.

Peace turtles!