Saturday, December 8, 2012

Oliver, Sandy and the Blessed Virgin Mary


The photo above has been circulating pretty widely since terrible Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast last month. Despite horrific fires that followed the hurricane in a heavily Catholic area of Queens, New York, this statue of Mary remained standing midst ruins. My eleven year old son Oliver of the existential angst, who is anxious about the coming Mayan end of time calendar date and who possesses a giant, invisible antennae tuned in to everything that passes through the universe, looked at the photo soberly and said,

O.K. I mean, it's nice, but if Jesus and Mary and God are so strong, why didn't they leave the building standing for the people and let the statue burn?

 Honestly, readers, I have my work cut out for me.
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16 comments:

  1. Ms. MoonDecember 8, 2012 at 1:48 PM

    Yeah. I find that whole thing sort of sinister. I think Oliver is right.

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  2. From the KitchenDecember 8, 2012 at 2:18 PM

    I'm wondering the same thing.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. it's meDecember 8, 2012 at 2:47 PM

    a wise young man--

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  4. Vesuvius At HomeDecember 8, 2012 at 4:42 PM

    Oliver is exactly right. Spare us both religious superstition. He's going to be ok.

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  5. Lisa LilienthalDecember 8, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    I don't think you have your work cut out for you - I think Oliver has it figured out! He's just ahead of his time. A wise old man in a pre tween's body.

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  6. Kathleen ScottDecember 8, 2012 at 5:16 PM

    Right on Oliver!

    I've been thinking about God lately, with the conclusion that God is a Texan. He loves football and therefor Texas, where football starts in infancy and more people go to games than churches and not supporting the local team is a form of blasphemy.

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  7. Steve ReedDecember 9, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    Out of the mouths of babes, as they say. (In the Bible, ironically.)

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  8. michelleDecember 9, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    Yes. Out of the mouths of babes. New Years will come and go and Oliver can breathe a sigh of relief until that antenna is tweaked again. But he will be fine.

    xoxoxo

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  9. Phil DzialoDecember 9, 2012 at 7:52 AM

    I'm waiting for an answer from god that is understandable..

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  10. karioDecember 9, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    Maybe our friend Carrie (of the direct line to Mary) has a good answer for that one. He is a wonder, isn't he?

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  11. Christy ShakeDecember 9, 2012 at 12:51 PM

    i'm with oliver.

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  12. JillDecember 9, 2012 at 1:42 PM

    ha! Well said Oliver!

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  13. NoanDecember 9, 2012 at 5:41 PM

    I LOVE HIM.

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  14. Denise Emanuel ClemenDecember 9, 2012 at 6:03 PM

    Better that he's thinking critically and asking questions than bleating along like a hapless sheep. Lovely that he is your son and you are his mother.

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  15. Camp PapaDecember 9, 2012 at 6:45 PM

    He is well along the road.

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  16. UnknownDecember 12, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    whoa - he's an amazing kid

    I will be so glad when it's December 22nd
    I hate what rumors like this do to kids
    it's just plain mean

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