Winning Words 2/12/13
“If everything’s a carnival, there’s no carnival left.”  (Victor Hugo)  Many people go to fairs because of the carnival rides.  No Zipper for me; I’m a Ferris Wheel kind of guy.  In many “Catholic” countries the days before Lent are called, “Carnival,”  A man from Tobago said, “Pastor, you don’t want to go there during Carnival.”  V.H. writes that life is more than party-time.  What will you do when the carnival days are over?    ;-)  Jack

 .FROM WALMART REV:  ...sit at Wal-Mart and talk about the "good old carnival days" of course! ////JACK:  Since today is Fat Tuesday, will you be eating  a Paczki?  Or, don't the A of G observe Lent? ////REV:  Unfortunately...we have missed the significance of that and Advent.////JACK:  It's the Spirit that counts, not the season.  In that sense, you have been "keeping" Lent and Advent.

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  Isn't this really about the conflicts of seeking the pleasures of the flesh as opposed to the fruits of the Spirit? What good does it do to gain the world and lose one's soul? Are not the rituals of Carnival, bachelor parties, finishing the pack of cigarettes before quitting, "fat Tuesday", and the like, all just ways of gorging the flesh prior to its upcoming absence or fasting? We all like to have fun for sure. We need to keep making "The Way" a fun and enlivening experience; for indeed it truly is! ////JACK:  Different "fun" for different people.  "In the beginning" Catholics wanted to remember the suffering and death of Jesus by eating fish.  Traditionally the fish is a symbol of Christ.  The Greek word for fish is ΙΧΘΥΣ, and was used as an acrostic (bit that's another story).  Eating fish, for some, meant not eating meat, or meat products, such as fat.  Lent was meant to be a solemn season, so pre-Lent and post-Lent were seasons of celebration.  Have fun today...whatever your fun might be.  Mine was eating paczki.

FROM JB IN WISCONSIN:  My son and his wife used to live in New Orleans and they used to tell us you don't want to be around at Mardi Gras time.  Even a lot of the locals just stay put in their homes at that time. ////JACK:  There's a phrase that seems to fit..."Too much of a good thing."  The idea of Carnival isn't that bad.  Like with other good celebrations...like Christmas, there can be too much of a good thing.  Moderation is a good word for many circumstances. 

 FROM GUSTIE MARLYS:  I don't even like the ferris wheel--the Merry Go Round is more my speed! ////JACK:  Even more exciting than a Carnival ride was my first water skiing experience on Balsam Lake

 FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  I have a carousel horse that I carved. It's in the living room and I can go to the "carnival" whenever I want. Why accept anything  less?  The carnival is over only if you decide to get off the ride.////JACK:  I like the song, "Catch a Painted Pony."  You've already caught yours.  

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  When the "carnival" is over, imagine I'll "keep on keeping on". I once wrote an article for our AB Women's Nat'l. magazine on overcoming FEAR, by telling how my 8th grade students on a Field Trip to 6 Flags near St. Lois, cajoled me into riding on the NINJA, the biggest, best (worst) Rollercoaster there.  I have never been able to stomach (literally) carnival rides....but I DID IT!! Heroine for the day! HA! So why fear what comes after the carnival is gone...? !////JACK:  A lesson was taught at 6 Flags, but after that lesson, more were waiting to be taught in the classroom.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Life itself is a carnival...we get on and off 'rides" all the time.  After carnival days are over I will still be riding but more quietly.////JACK:  For some, life is one big party, but there comes a time when someone says, "The party's over, and we have to do some serious deciding and living.".