Science and Religion

I believe that there is a natural and a supernatural element to reality. Science can explain a great deal of natural phenomena, but not all--for instance, the existence of "dark matter" in the galaxy is assumed due to the nature of the orbits of stars, but by no means do we understand it, and stellar orbits within our galaxy are relatively easy to observe and measure. The origin of cellular life is equally a mystery despite our understanding of cellular structure and function. Maybe our understanding of these will improve in the future, but the point is that science sometimes cannot answer even basic questions about physical realities.

Good and evil are just as "real", (perhaps even more so) but you can only get so far in trying to explain them physiologically, psychologically, or through evolution. Assuming that you feel at least some responsibility for your actions and believe there is a degree of freedom in the choices you make, how else can we explain conscience and virtue? A supernatural explanation is the only satisfying one. But in allowing for the supernatural, we acknowledge something that does not rely on nature for its existence. Aquinas referred to this as a first cause. This cause encompasses the natural world as well, since without it, nature could not be.

So can we reconcile these two realities-the natural and supernatural, science and religion? Certainly! Our human experience demands that we do. But when we try to understand phenomena that have no convincing natural explanations (for example, the origin of the universe), shouldn't we allow for at least the possibility of supernatural ones? What we cannot reconcile is not religion and science, but religion and materialism. Allowing for only natural causes at the exclusion of the supernatural, or trying to limit the divine to the role of spectator in the physical universe closes our minds to the true splendor of the natural world.

PARTs of Prayer

I don't recall where this came from (probably the same wise gradeschool IHM nun who said my priorities should be God, Family, Work, and then Self), but I have found this valuable in structuring mental prayer:

PART stands for (in order of priority):

Adoration
Thanksgiving
Reparation (examination of conscience and contrition)
Petition

A great practical resource for fleshing this out is Introduction to the Devout Life by St Francis de Sales (my Confirmation Saint), particularly Part II. We are using this book as study material in Teams of Our Lady right now. St Francis not only understands the depths of God's Love, but how easy it is for us to get distracted from seeking it.

A nice Sunday in February

One of the hidden gems of the Potomac River is Little Falls. This class 3-4 rapid just above Chain Bridge runs all year and changes its nature with minor variations in river levels. The reason for this is that the Potomac river guage is located above the little falls dam at one of the widest areas of the river. Little Falls itself is one of the narrowest places, the entire flow of the river squeezing through two narrow channels around a central island.

The beautiful thing about this run is that it can be accessed easily just downstream of the dam at Brookmont via a short carry across the C&O Canal. This is where Olympic greats like Davey Hearn practiced their slalom moves in the gates hung above the canal flow. Paddling down a small channel to the river, you soon encounter creek features including this fun little pourover, shown in downstram and upstream views.

Heading into the main current of the river, a half mile of sometimes surfable wavetrains provide a warmup to Little Falls. Other than the houses that dot the Virginia banks, and Chain Bridge in the distance, the river here is in its natural state, with great blue herons, eagles, hawks, snakes, turtles, and other wildlife.

Little Falls first gets your attention with the "EXIT" sign posted on river left for those who do not choose to run the falls. It is easy to scout the falls on river left, and two choices await the paddler: a bouncy wave train on river left, and a squirrelly s-turn on the right with a nasty hole at higher levels. This day I chose to run the left channel, as the river was running high with recent snowmelt. The view is from an eddy below the rapid on river left.

Normally, a short walk up to the canal and a flatwater paddle back up to the put-in completes the circuit, but today I slid across a frozen canal to the parkway and walked back up stream! Back to civilization, renewed by the river.