What’s the “weekly mettle maker?”
Training ideas and info supporting Heritage Arts’ programs — Heritage Self-Defense, Wildwood outdoor skills, Heritage Fitness, and Heritage Spirit.
Mettle Maker #327
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Self-defense and fitness combo — Prep for Mettlecraft Month 2022. Our Fifth Annual Mettlecraft Month starts next week — go here for details! Watch the video on the right, learn the exercises, get your equipment together (the only thing you really need is a pair of gloves and some kind of pad for your head — I use a stadium seat cushion), and start thinking about your training regimen. You are probably not going to waltz through this year’s challenge by training once or twice a week. I recommend doing at 25% to 50% of this constitutional an additional 3 days per week for a total of 5 ‘touches’ per week on the exercises. I call this method MBF© or Martial Base Fitness ©. Get there. For more on MBF © and for formal martial arts programming, check out our free programs here.
Wildwood — Gathering your nuts for winter - part 2. As I mentioned last week, if it hadn’t been for acorns, the indigenous people of Virginia would’ve probably starved to death. But you can’t eat acorns in their unprocessed state. Yesterday I started processing a couple of cups of acorn meat (photo set at the right). Watch the YouTube channel for updates — coming soon there will be a crossover video series. My video will explain processing and the Two Riders channel will be making a cooking video. Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? Sign up for one of our free distance learning programs.
CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAM
Homily for the Feast of All Souls (Observed) Sunday, Oct. 30th, 2022 – Archdeacon Mitch
Readings: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14, 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6, 1 Jn 3:1-3, Mt 5:1-12a
Matthew 5:1-12a World English Bible
1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
Pawpaw, my maternal grandfather, was a pilot in WWII. He earned enough medals to fill a cigar box, one of which was a Distinguished Flying Cross for acts of heroism, bravery, and extraordinary gallantry under enemy fire. He was a great American and a fine grandfather.
My fondest memory of him dates back to when I was about twelve. My teenage uncle and I went off to explore Rattlesnake Creek and we didn’t come back for lunch as we had promised. When we finally emerged from the woods, eight hours late and after dark, we found our entire family and two police officers standing in the yard illuminated by flashing red lights, discussing the need to call out the dogs. They converged on us, hopping mad. But Pawpaw stood between of us and the crowd with outstretched arms. He wouldn’t let anyone get near us. "Boys will be boys," he told them, then turned to us and said, “You two, go wash up and get ready for bed." And that was the end of it. No tongue-lashing, no punishment. He knew we knew better and would never do it again.
I also remember him taking me to McDonald's when I was about eight years old. After we ate, he put me on his lap so that I could drive his cherished Buick around the parking lot. I remember him giving me my first big-boy haircut. I remember him teaching me how to properly shine a pair of shoes before church. I recall him making everyone root beer floats after Sunday dinner. And I remember, in the summer of 1980, when he died from a heart attack.
I mourned his loss, but some did not. Because, I regret to say, there was more to this man than warm memories. PawPaw returned from the war with what we now call PTSD. He got little sympathy and support from the community and armed forces and struggled alone. He was given to fits of depression, rage, and violence. I heard from relatives chilling tales of cold malice and wicked vengeance, some from my mother. She had borne the brunt of his most cruel abuses. But I never witnessed any of that firsthand. And so, while I mourned his loss, others did not.
There are those who will tell you that the right place for him is Hell. But I pray for him. I beg our Heavenly Father to find it in his heart to deliver him to heaven for the man he was when he was at his best rather than sending him to hell for his sins. Pray with me, brothers and sisters, for my grandfather and for all departed souls. For our heroes and departed loved ones, yes; but also for the baptized and the unbaptized, for those who died in repentance and those who died before they saw the light. I assure you, my friends, the good and the evil are often one and the same, like opposing sides of the same coin, and they desperately need our prayers.
We have all made mistakes and errors, and no man’s fate is certain. Just as we would appreciate the prayers of our loved ones, let us then obey our Lord Jesus’ instruction to do for others what we would have them do for us (Matt. 7:12). Let us pray together the prayer of Our Lady of Fatima: "Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.”