Sacred Hearts

 You know, I always get a little chuckle out of the biker tattoos and punk or rockabilly co-opting of the Sacred Heart image.  Some might well gasp in shock or tsk tsk...but really, I think it's kind of a flipped, inside joke.

I mean, I know it's supposed to be, in many tho maybe not all cases,  radical and all... and a way of thumbing their punk biker noses at organized religion or God or whatever.  But to me, it's a little joke on them.  Because I really am  not sure  you can walk around wearing a Sacred Heart image without it somehow, in teeny tiny ways, rubbing off on you.  God's funny like that.  He's got a great sense of humor....look at my family, look at me!  Jesus, I would guess, is fine with a biker having a tattoo of His sacred heart...at least He's there, right? Isn't it a little bit like a small boy writing "Mama" on  his arm with a sharpie and then going in and being a out of control little rebel?  It's that natural conflict that we all have.  These tough punkers or bikers seem to be much the same.  Can you say "arrested development?"  I can.  {Ok, now I am sure a fleet of rough tough bikers will want to come rumbling through my yard....please.  Have a sense of humor, life is short!}

And really, even punk   hipster mamas can carry their babes in these "rockabilly punk slings", see just below...I'm not even sure what to make of that!  Good or no? Hmmmm, good, really....but too few really understand so the public at large will think you've gone punk if  you cart your kiddo around in this.  But the really hardcore Catholics might give you a big high five!  What's a mom to do??  Ha! And speaking of moms...tomorrow we could, maybe, look at some fun co-opts of pop culture and Mary, talk about conflicted children! Folks can't stop splashing her around...but she's cool, or, as the youngsters say, "chill" (they say that right?), because we old moms know that just like with celebs, any publicity is good publicity.  (To a degree...there IS blasphemy and sacrilege, but this is a happy post so we won't go there this time.)

Anyhow, today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June is the month of the Sacred Heart. {I lifted this part of this post, shamelessly, from a prior post on this solemnity, because of the travel thing, so cut me some slack ok!? Thanks!}  This is an old devotion, a private devotion and one that helps any day, every, day be more mindful. Read all about it here. It helps transform our mundane regular daily grind into something bigger than ourselves - and instead offers our mere efforts to Christ as a way of showing we love Him, despite ourselves and our habitual selfish nature. And it's not just this month, it can be done year 'round, of course.

When I make this offering in the morning, somehow it helps my days. It doesn't make them smoother, it doesn't make them all jolly...but it makes even those "terrible horrible no good very bad days" into something more. It's a comfort. Oddly, I am often more out of sorts when I forget this prayer to start the day. It's like resting my head on His chest for a moment before I hop on the whirlwind of the day and try to lasso it.

So, yeah, it's another Catholic post. It's an uber Catholic post, really. Meaning, it's one that might seem strange to those not familiar with it all (though I don't mind explaining or questions either, I can take it!). It's one of those old Catholic devotions, but it's a goody. And if any of you are having days that are way stressed or out of sorts, I'd suggest giving it a go if you wonder... because really, what's the risk? A little comfort? A little extra grace in the day? What's not to like about that?

 Odilon Redon, The Sacred Heart

Heck, maybe you'll want to get a radical tattoo...but because devotion to the heart of Jesus IS so cool, AND so radical, that you'd be hip to be square!  Who knew?