Hello friends, this is Smorgasbord, a self-service buffet of ideas—the roasted marshmallow of newsletters.
I’m currently in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona, camping with the family. I’m writing this Smorgasbord ahead of time so you can start your weekend in full swing, even though I’m in the middle of nowhere with poor cell service. Two years ago, I wrote: “Go camping, they said, it’ll be fun, they said,” where I write about our first family camping trip and how everything went south real fast; if you’re up for a cautionary tale. This time, I recruited a second family to go with us, and the head of that family used to be a marine, so I think we’ll be fine. Plus, we have better gear and a couple more camping trips under our belt since then.
Alright, let’s get on with it.
11th Hour
I was listening to the Pints with Aquinas episode, in which Matt Fradd interviews Cardinal Burke. One of the first things they discuss is this novena that Cardinal Burke is asking people to pray from March 12 through December 12, 2024, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. From Cardinal Burke’s website:
It was during an age much like our own when Our Lady first appeared to Saint Juan Diego some 500 years ago. Again, we are contending with disease, war, and deep spiritual confusion. Again, many poor souls are tempted to fear that all hope is lost.
But Our Lord has not called us to fear. No matter the darkness of our age, men and women of faith are not without the truth and love of Christ, nor the faithful care of His mother. Through Saint Juan Diego’s humble and courageous cooperation with grace, Our Lady's intercession transformed the world and brought millions of souls to Christ. It is this same maternal care and protection that we seek today—a care and protection that she will grant us, should we earnestly ask for it.
In 1531, a bishop wrote, “Unless the hand of God intervenes directly, all will be lost.” This is a novena that seeks Mary’s intercession for our times.
I thought, “Well, it’s already August. It’s too late to catch up,” but then Cardinal Burke addressed this very question by referencing Matthew 20, the workers in the vineyard, and how the landowner paid a daily wage to everyone, even those who came at the 11th Hour. This was a good reminder that God is never outdone in generosity.
If you want to join Cardinal Burke in praying this novena, click here. And if you want to listen to the whole interview in Pints with Aquinas, click here.
Scrum
I’ve been watching a lot of Olympic Rugby 7 matches, and I find this game format quite entertaining. I’ve learned there are Rugby Union, Rugby League, and Rugby 7s which seems like a lighter version of the other two.
I have also learned things like the scrum, a way to resume the game in which three players from each team interlock positions and bind each other by pushing forward. Then, the ball is thrown between the players’ legs and feet, and someone kicks it back for another player to attempt a try. Usually, the fastest player in the team can sprint down the field and score.
If you work in software like me, you may be familiar with Scrum, an agile project management framework. One of the main things in Scrum is the Sprint, a time-boxed effort no longer than a month, usually two weeks long, where teams commit to delivering working software, also called artifacts. And that’s where the rugby references end, sadly. There is no ruck, line-out, or hooker. It looks like someone should’ve try(ed) harder. I’ll see myself out.
Campfire
I’m hoping there are no fire restrictions at the campsite. Camping without a campfire just doesn’t feel like camping. Last September, my oldest boy and I went camping in Sedona, and we had a good time around the fire.
I was fascinated by how the embers glowed towards the end of the night, as if they were a living, breathing creature. Also, someone had turned the nature sounds up around that time; it sounded real nice for the first thirty minutes, but it got old fast, especially when I wanted to fall asleep.
I’m going to punt this over to
for a short story prompt: “I thought it would be quiet in the woods.”Finally, I think I will take a cigar and a “backpacker’s Manhattan,” which is like a regular Manhattan, except you mix it at home, put it in a flask, and carry it with you to the campsite. I might need to carry the cocktail cherries in a baggie, though.
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Sobremesa
Have you ever prayed a novena? If so, which one?
Have you ever played rugby?
What’s your favorite piece of camping gear?
What’s your favorite camping meal/drink?
I pray a perpetual novena to St. Joseph. (Because he's a boss.)
Looved that embers video. Thank you for sharing it.
I’ve had my backpacking tent for 15 years now. Lots of great memories in beautiful places.
Brats fried in beer with peppers and onions.