Reflections on Christopraxis

Welome to Minnesota!

It is the hottest part of the day, and only -4 degrees Fahrenheit, with windchills at -20 or greater.  They do not predict the temps to get above zero for a couple of days.  Life goes on.  The St. Paul Winter Carnival is in full swing.   My wife and daughter went to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and I spent the day at home paying bills.  Well, they are all paid.  I wonder if that is what St. Benedict meant by "working with our hands?"  It is really a nice day, sunny and pleasant.  Matthew 6.33.  More on the day to day discipleship of Jesus coming up.  May peace be with you.

Simplifying Life Tip #1

It goes without saying these days that our lives are too hectic.  Society encourages the complexity and confusion with an every increasing list of options.  It is not a coincidence that Simplicity is often listed as a spiritual discipline.  Simplicity can bring a harmony to our lives that will benefit us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  It can also enhance our relationship with God.  Sometimes the little things make a difference. 

If you are like our family, every day brings us a pile of offers in the mail.  We try to sort through the stuff and dispose of it as we get it, but that does not seem to prevent piles of mail stacking up, only to require hours to sort through later.  Today I read an article in an AARP publication (I am just barely 50), that told me about a way to reduce some of this mail.

The law requires that the credit bureaus need to give us an opt-out option for pre-approved offers.  You can take advantage of this by going to the following web site.

http://www.optoutprescreen.com

You can opt in or out with this web site.  The opt-out option on this site is good for five years, but you can permanently opt out my mail, using a form available on the site.  The site will also describe the "benefits" of opting in.  It is a personal decision.  You will have to decide what is best for you.  These offers might be helpful for a young person, just getting started in life.  However, in my case, I have the credit and insurance I need, and I normally do not respond to offers received in the mail.  As noted in the article, the site will ask for your social security number, but don't worry, the credit bureau already has it.

A similar site, http://www.donotcall.gov  will allow you to put yourself on a national do not call list, so you can stop those annoying phone calls that come during dinner.