Kathryn Griffin Swegart's Blog, page 7

Song of the Robin

“DiscoverWithDima.”

Death first smacked me one day as I was walking to school. Back in the olden days, neighborhood children walked to school with not a responsible adult in sight. In fall, I shuffled through dried leaves piled up on sidewalks, picking up horse chestnuts along the way. One spring day, I saw my first baby robin lying dead on the sidewalk. Teachers may have noticed that I looked somber that day. None could have guessed what images danced in my head. Poor baby robin! His lifeless body lay flat on the cement, surrounded by broken pieces of pale blue eggshells. He never had a chance to breathe fresh air or to fly or to eat a worm. I honored that dead chick. I gently picked up bits of eggshells and put them in my pocket. 

Many years later, robins taught me another lesson. Propped up by bed pillows, I gazed down at my infant daughter. In the darkness before dawn, I nursed this little one and longed to sleep; strange how loneliness creeps in at these moments. A bird song broke the silence. This solitary robin sensed the sun edging upward and announced the arrival of a new day. Gratitude touched my heart. Miracles awaited me. I watched my little one discover her dimpled hands. Perhaps today she would smile at me for the first time. 

Now I am a grandmother and still wake up before dawn. It is dark, but I listen and wait for the first song from our friendly robin. That sound twangs my heart and acts like a time machine — zipping me back to old Cape Cod, to our starter home with weathered shingles and picket fence. In my mind’s eye, I picture little children playing in the sandbox and our collie pup romping in the backyard. Those children have grown, moved away, and have lives of their own.

Life seems to be all about change, but I believe some things never change.  I believe that nature draws us toward beauty and the transcendent nature of life. I believe that God’s love is immutable, like the chirp of a robin at dawn.

The Holy Veil of Manoppello

One of the most famous relics the Church venerates today is the Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus. Imprinted on the 14-foot-long piece of linen is the image of a man who was beaten, scourged, and crucified.

Yet how many people know about another shroud with a mysterious image? It is the holy veil of Manoppello, also called the little shroud or the resurrection veil It shows the face of Jesus, a man who is alive, not dead. Venerated quietly by the Church for centuries, the cloth is thought to be the same cloth found in the empty tomb on the first Easter morning. John, the Evangelist described it as “the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloth, but rolled up in a place by itself.” (John 20:7) The eyes are open, face slightly disfigured, and his mouth parted. This unusual image of Christ has been depicted in art for centuries. Villagers in the hamlet of Manoppello, Italy have venerated the veil for 400 years. Over the last few decades, Manoppello has become a destination for pilgrims. Popes, cardinals, and saints have visited the mysterious shroud.

Saint Padre Pio called it “the greatest miracle we have.” Robert Cardinal Sarah visited the site in 2018 and said, “In Manoppello we encounter God face-to-face. It is such a moving piece. One is touched by the gentleness of Christ’s eyes, with their extraordinary penetrating and calming power.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI venerated the Holy Face on September 1, 20006. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines traveled to Manoppello in 2017 and was overwhelmed with joy. He said, “You gladly have my permission to spread the devotion to the face of Jesus. We hope that through you, so many will find that Jesus is real.”

Two other miraculous images-St. Juan Diego’s tilma and the Shroud of Turin-have both been investigated by scientists. These extensive investigations have left scientists scratching their heads. No explanation has ever been uncovered. The Holy Veil of Manoppello has not been subjected intensive study. However, in September 2004, Chiara Vigo, an expert in ancient fabrics studied the veil. She determined that the cloth was marine byssus, ancient in origin and incompatible with the paint strokes of artists.

In one recent study of the veil, scientists did a 3-D analysis of both the Shroud of Turin and the veil. Results indicate the two faces overlap in likeness to a point of great accuracy.

The report concluded:

While the Shroud has been studied in depth, the Veil of Manoppello has still information to be discovered and discussed, including the striking fact that its proportions are so similar to those of the Turin Shroud face, such are the detailed analysis on the cheek’s width has shown.

Perhaps in years to come, the Holy Veil of Manoppello will be subjected to more research by scientists. For now, the Church moves cautiously on its origins, encouraging us all to ponder the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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E.T. Go Home!

Years ago, filmmaker Stephen Spielberg made a big splash with his blockbuster hit E.T. – an abbreviation for the term extraterrestrial. It was about an endearing creature from a distant planet who finds its way into the life and heart of a boy. Spielberg’s romp into sci-fi land was all for fun and not to be taken seriously. Or so it would seem. 

Come to find out, the federal government and private citizens have spent millions of dollars over the decades to answer one question. Is there life on other planets? One privately funded group called Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), based at UC Berkeley, has thrown in the towel. Recently, the group announced that they were “going into hibernation”. Here is a quote from SETI. “Scientifically, they (volunteers) have reached a point of diminishing returns; basically, they analyzed all the data they need for now.”

For over 20 years, with the help of 20 million volunteers, and the use of radio telescope, E.T. remains silent. Not one peep from outer space. Science is rapidly learning that life on other planets (even primitive forms) is impossible. Decades ago, it was believed that, given the vastness of the universe, you could bet the farm that E.T. and his cousins existed. Scientists believed that only two conditions were needed for life to exist. A star like our sun must be at the center of a solar system and a planet must be a certain distance from the sun. Quaint idea.

Over the years, scientists have discovered condition after condition necessary  for organisms to spring into life. Eric Metaxas wrote about this in his book Is Atheism Dead?

Every time another condition was discovered that was necessary for life, it mathematically reduced the number of planets down until the conditions mounted so high that the number of planets that might support life was winnowed down to almost nothing.

So here we are back at square one. Earth is an exquisitely designed planet of infinite complexity. To believe that it all happened by a random throw of the dice is to defy logic and science. 

More on this later.  

What Happened to the Dinosaurs?

Perhaps you pondered this question as you watched children play with snarling dinosaur toys. Not until 1980 did scientists come up with an answer. Sixty-six million years ago an asteroid slammed into earth, destroying much of plant life and 75 per cent of animal life, including all dinosaurs. The asteroid was only seven miles in diameter yet created a gigantic cloud of dust that blocked sunlight and destroyed many forms of life.

Here’s more history that might make you nervous. In 1908 an asteroid only three hundred feet in diameter exploded over Siberia and destroyed eighty million trees. A recent movie, Don’t Look Up, told the story of a comet barreling toward earth. Scientists discover the comet and try to warn the world. If the comet crashes into earth, we all die. I won’t spoil the ending. I will tell you that this scenario is highly unlikely.

Here’s why.

Eric Metaxis in his book Is Atheism Dead?, writes that we have two “celestial linebackers” that protect us from incoming asteroids and meteorites. Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants, incredibly large and distant, with powerful gravitational pull. Metaxis writes that Saturn and Jupiter protect us “either by simply deflecting them into outer space or actually absorbing them into themselves.” 

Without Jupiter and Saturn life on earth would have ceased to exist long ago. Once again, here is an example of the fine-tuning of the universe that atheist find troubling and impossible to refute.

More on this later.

Mystic Lake

On the Solemnity of the Annunciation

My dear husband can, at times, be a puzzling gentleman. Perhaps you can relate to this statement. I present to you a case in point.

On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, he wished to celebrate the feast in a unique way. He conjured up the perplexing idea of having a picnic. That may sound fine to you, but we live in central Maine, near the Canadian tundra. Technically, spring had arrived. A peek out the window told a different story. Clouds shrouded the sky and temperatures were a chilly 45 degrees. Heavy mist hung over the lake, still covered with ice. 

“Let’s have supper at the lake!” he declared.

Now that is a surprising announcement considering his dislike of cold weather. Still, I ( grudgingly) packed a simple meal in the wicker picnic basket and we drove off for our next adventure. Thus began a dreary hour in which I wrapped myself in a blanket and munched on sourdough bread. All was solitary until a majestic bald eagle soared overhead and swooped down on us in search of fish carcasses. My husband gasped in delight and tried to capture the moment on video.

Attention now shifted westerly to dense, low-lying fog that floated over the ice, undulating in patterns, drifting like ghosts. I was intrigued, but soon it was time to pack up and leave. We drove home in silence as I pondered how this wintry picnic celebrated the Annunciation. That night I got my answer.

At dawn I woke up with a start. Images of the mystical fog came to mind. Yes, white fog hovered like the finger of God, real as that Incarnate moment of the Annunciation and of Mary’s Magnificat. 

More Wonders of Water!

Spring has sprung even in the frozen tundra of Maine. I spotted people outside wearing T-shirts in 60-degree weather! Snow still melts in the woods behind our house. I have yet to hear the chirping of robins. Here and there I see green grass sprouting in sunny areas. That brings us to our next topic. Ready for another miracle of nature? Let’s look at photosynthesis. 

Several astounding qualities of water make life possible on our planet. We have the inexplicable ability for solid ice to float in lighter liquids, to boil and freeze at precisely the correct temperature (against all logic), and the viscosity of water to erode rocks and bring nutrients into the soil.

Let’s try a thought experiment to understand why the viscosity (thickness) of water is crucial to life. Suppose water was thick like olive oil. Trees would not be able to draw water through narrow capillaries into uppermost branches where leaves absorb sunlight. Photosynthesis could not work its magic. In this vital chemical reaction, sun hits the leaves, and triggers chlorophyll to fracture water into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen fills the air for us to breathe. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by leaves, combines with hydrogen to manufacture sugars and carbohydrates used to feed the tree. 

No photosynthesis means no life on earth. Be grateful that water is not thick as olive oil. 

Once again, we see the intricacies of nature, that fine tuning of even a humble water molecule point to one inescapable conclusion. Science now leads us to the reality that an infinitely intelligent Being created our world.

The Wonders of Water

Your teacher, Miss Peach, is at the chalk board again. Class, listen up. Watch as she sketches a water strider on the blackboard. It is walking across the surface of a pond. How is this possible? Water has a high surface tension and high viscosity thanks to the strong hydrogen bond in the H2O molecule.

Miss Peach asks you as question. Why is this quality of water important for life to exist on Earth? Miss Peach breaks her chalk as she draws a picture of water flowing over rocks.

Little Johnny (the wise guy in the class) raises his hand, “Who cares?” 

Teacher leans on her desks and peers over her reading glasses. ”If water did not have the exact (she pounds the desk) viscosity, all life forms would cease to exist.”

Without this thickness of water, rocks would not erode. Water flows swiftly over rocks, carrying pebbles and sand. Particles picked up by water carry minerals and metals that are dumped in the soil, enriching it. Plants absorbed the nutrient-rich soil needed to sustain life. Animals drink from the stream, building strong bodies and remain part of complex ecosystems.

Michael Denton writes in his book, The Wonders of Water, “It is hard to conceive of a more ideal agent than water for dissolving the vital minerals in the Earth’s crust.”

Once again, fine-tuning of the universe rears its majestic head. God has created a supremely complex world for all for us to live and enjoy the beauty of creation.

More on this later.

No Ice Fishing?

In the last post, I described the strange nature of water. How peculiar to think ice (a solid) is lighter than liquid and yet an ice cube can float. What does that matter? Just shrug your shoulders and move on to other matters. Hold on a minute. Listen to this important message.

Imagine that ice did not float. Lakes would freeze from the bottom up thus demolishing the entire ecosystem. Every drop of water above the frozen bottom would freeze. No liquid water, no fish. Every perch or trout or pickerel would be frozen dead in blocks of ice, no longer swimming freely. Ice fishermen know this. They can drill through a foot of ice and see life teeming far below, even in the dead of winter. Why? That layer of ice at the top insulates the water below, allowing fish to survive. 

Now the plot thickens.

Nobel-prize winning biochemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi considers the nature of water “extraordinary.” Chemists can accurately predict the boiling and freezing points of substances by molecular size. Not in the case of water. Based on his study of water molecules, Gyorgyi predicts that water should boil (not freeze) at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. As we know, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. He also predicts that water should freeze at the almost unimaginable temperature of -148 degrees Fahrenheit.

How vital are these bizarre qualities of water to life on earth? Tweak the boiling or freezing temperatures of water and life could not exist on our planet. Here is still more fine tuning of our planet that baffles even the most intelligent atheist. It begins to defy logic that the complexity of our world does not point to the thumbprint of God.

More on this later.

Why Does Ice Float?

Now that is a crazy question! Ice floats because it is ice and ice floats. You drop an ice cube into lemonade, and it bobs to the surface. Simple explanation. Or is it?

Think back to your elementary school science class. Miss Peach (your teacher) stands at the chalk board and writes the three stages of a substance-gas, liquid, and solid. Liquid is denser than gas and solid is denser than liquid. Miss Peach then explains that solids are heavier than liquids. Liquids are heavier than gas. That principle applies to most substances in our world except…water. 

Look at that ice cube floating in your glass. Ice is heavier than lemonade therefore it should sink. Please explain that to me, Miss Peach. Drop butter into water. It sinks. Drop a Hershey kiss into milk. It sinks. Why does ice float in water?

Let’s take a closer look. Water at 70 degrees is lighter than water at 50 degrees. A strange phenomenon happens at 39 degrees. That is the tipping point. Water starts to get lighter, continues to get lighter until it hits 32 degrees and freezes. Ice is 9 percent lighter than liquid. Even Miss Peach could not explain this curiosity of nature.

British biochemist Michael Denton wrote of the bizarre behavior of water in his book The Wonder of Water. Best-selling author Eric Metaxas read Denton’s book and pondered the nature of water, a subject he once would have labeled humdrum.

…the way things are so dramatically improbable that we must at least wonder…how it can all be possible, and whether a God with infinite intelligence may have made these things intentionally. 

Atheists call this type of phenomenon the fine tuning of the universe. For non-believers, it is the hardest argument to mount against the existence of God. Even a cell or molecule of water is exquisitely designed. 

Metaxas wrote the following words in his eye-opening book, Is Atheism Dead? 

We are living in unprecedentedly exciting times. But most of us don’t know it yet. …By this I mean the emergence of inescapably compelling evidence for God’s existence.

Metaxas draws on recent scientific studies and discoveries in biblical archaeology to build his case for the existence of God. Not only are faith and reason compatible, but history also shows that Christianity begat science.

More on this later.

Who Preserved Western Civilization?

How Catholic monks saved the day.

On one bitter cold day in the year 406 AD, the Rhine River lay thick with ice, solid enough for hundreds of thousands of starving people to cross this icy bridge into a land we now called Europe. The unthinkable had happened. The mighty Roman empire had fallen and with it came the nomadic wanderings of a race of people historians call barbarians¾illiterate non-Romans. Now these barbarians had the unfortunate habit of burning books and looting ancient artifacts. Why would do such a thing? To stay warm, I guess. Unstopped, they would have destroyed all western literature, from the writings of Greco-Roman cultures to sacred texts preserved in the Judeo-Christian culture.

Several key players walk onto our stage in this cultural cliff hanger. First came Charlemagne (747-814) who was the first great leader to emerge after the collapse of Rome. Some might call the next act in this story to be a miraculous insight. With the help of the brilliant scholar Alcuin of York, Charlemagne collected books and had them copied. 

Switch the scene to a rocky island off the Irish coast to a place called Skellig Michael. Centuries ago, Irish monks rowed across Dingle Bay to this desolate spot to escape the barbarians and to establish a permanent settlement. It was a good plan. I surmise that invaders must have gazed upon the foreboding landscape and decided no fool would ever live there. Thus, these intrepid monks were left to their own devices.

For over a century, Irish monks constructed beehive huts out of stone and hunched over parchment paper, diligently copying the great works of western culture, often under candlelight. One monk implored future readers to remember him. He copied Saint Jerome’s commentary on the Book of Daniel.

Good readers who may use this work, do not, I pray you, forget him who copied it: it was a poor brother named Louis, who, while he transcribed this volume, brought from a foreign country, endured the cold, and was obliged to finish in the night what he was not able to write by daylight. But Thou, Lord, wilt be to him the full recompense of his labors.

To this day, tourists can visit this sacred spot, albeit often inaccessible by boat, and see the remains of oratories, beehive cells, monastic cemeteries and Celtic crosses built of stone.

Even Hollywood deemed it a magical place. Two Star Wars movies were filmed on Skellig Michael. Spectacular aerial shots of the desolate outcrop can be seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens Star Wars, The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Luke Skywalker.