In my early twenties, just after graduating from college I attended church nearly every weekend for about a year something was missing from my life and I thought that maybe I would find it there. I didn't and for the most part it's rare that I attend mass with any sort of regularity or at all. When I do go, it's because of one man, because of the messenger rather than the message. That messenger is Father Leon Alexander. Maybe that's the wrong reason for attending, but hearing Father Leonpresent his weekly homily never fails to make me believe that I'm in the right place. Regardless of whether or not it's for the right reasons, it feels right to me. I read in today's paper that Father Leon will be leaving Blessed Sacrament, my home parish, in June. He will be replacing a retiring priest in Morgantown. I'm sure he's unaware and I'm not even sure he'd recognize me if I passed him on the street, but he's had a positive impact on my life, a powerful impact on my life and I respect him immensely. There are not many men, or people even to whom I can express that regard. Father Leon is the heart of our parish, but his impact is further reaching than the 500 family church in South Charleston. I'm saddened that we'll be losing such a great man and I hope that his new parish knows how lucky they are. I'll attend mass tomorrow and, with good effort, I'll be there every Saturday or Sunday through June. Maybe it's not for the right reasons, but it feels right to me and I think that's what matters.

Wake Me Up or Just Go Go

(Because a blog can never have too many Wham! references.)
I'm not sure when it happened, but for the past few days I've been awakened by the banal conversation of a married couple named, Jon and Sheri Rivers. On Monday, expecting the local weather or at the very least a familiar voice reporting for Good Morning West Virginia, I heard about Sheri's fear of the Oscars. She relayed to Jon that it was a risk and given that Jon Stewart was so "edgy" she feared that it wouldn't be family friendly. I listened a bit longer because I found it curious and I was too far from the clock to hit snooze. As I'd watched a bit of the Oscars and knew that there was nothing edgy about them, I couldn't help but smile.

This morning, I listened to the "spiritual" news as the newscaster celebrated South Dakota's governor's signature on the near total abortion ban in the state. She encouraged listeners to visit K-LOVE's website. And, bored at work, I did. As I clicked on the South Dakota story, a warning popped up:

Attention: You have requested a link that is not a part of KLOVE.com and could possibly contain content which is not subject to K-LOVE’s "family friendly" standards, and as a result may not be suitable for all ages. Please browse with care.

Your friends at Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE Radio

The link, naturally, led me to Fox News. While I listened to K-Love this morning and the last I heard phrases "family friendly" and "postive and encouraging" numerous times. But what I also heard was right wing, conservative Christian rhetoric. And while that's fine for some, I wonder when those things became synonymous with "family friendly." I have no doubt that raising children is difficult especially when they're inundated with messages from the media encouraging them to grow up quickly, but I don't think a steady diet of Fox News and praise and worship music is the road to a healthy childhood either. I wouldn't consult Dr. James Dobson for parenting advice any sooner than I'd consult Dr. Laura for marital advice and I'm tired of seeing conservatives take ownership of family values. I've adjusted my dial and will go back to my schedule. I don't think I'll be any less family friendly.