Trade Show in Pennsylvania, Ecclesiastes, Software, and Schedules

I try to post something each day on this blog. For the next week or so, though: that may not be possible.

As I explained in my other 'daily' blog, Apathetic Lemming of the North, my son-in-law is taking me to a trade show in Pennsylvania: where I'll be the company gopher.

And manage streaming video from the convention. Using software that I didn't know existed last week. But hey: no pressure, right?

My plan is to use most of tomorrow through Friday, learning enough about the video software to be - competent. If it's as simple a process as I hope it is, I'll be able to get a post or two out. If not - that's why I'm blocking out three days for learning.

Business and the Practicing Catholic

I've posted about wealth, poverty, and getting a grip before. Including this trio:

• "Passing Through Status Symbol Land"
  (May 14, 2011)
• "Wealth, Poverty, Stereotypes, and Snidely Whiplash"
  (March 8, 2011)
• "Success, Wealth, Poverty, and Getting a Grip"
  (September 27, 2010)

Bottom line, as far as I can tell, is that it's okay to be poor - it's okay to be rich - what matters is what each of us does with what we've got. Going into a little more detail:

• Human beings are equal
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1934, 1935)
• But we're not all alike
  (Catechism, 1936)
• And this is okay
  (Catechism, 1937)

I think that makes sense: provided folks accept the idea that there's more to life than wealth, pleasure, and status symbols. (May 14, 2011)

Isn't Money Evil?

First, remember: I've got the authority of "some guy with a blog."

Money, wealth, is okay - as far as I can tell. It's when someone worships the 'almighty buck' that problems start. The Catholic Church strictly forbids idolatry. (Catechism, 2112-2114, for starters)

"...Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc...."
(2113)

Maybe that's not what you've heard about 'those Catholics.' I'm not surprised, and that's another topic. (July 15, 2011, February 22, 2010)

You've probably heard the old saying, 'money can't buy happiness.' It's not a new idea: check out Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23, written about 23 centuries ago. Also my take on that not-cheerful book:

• "Brooding on Ecclesiastes"
  (August 1, 2010)
  Particularly
  • Big Income, Big Car, Big House: And the Big Picture

I don't think it makes sense to sit on a pile of ashes, moaning about people who have more money than I do - or feel superior to folks who haven't had my material blessings. Never mind what I think, though. Here's part of what the Church says:

"Desire for true happiness frees man from his immoderate attachment to the goods of this world so that he can find his fulfillment in the vision and beatitude of God. 'The promise [of seeing God] surpasses all beatitude. . . . In Scripture, to see is to possess. . . . Whoever sees God has obtained all the goods of which he can conceive.'³⁴⁴"
(Catechism, 2548)

I'll be Back - God Willing, of Course

I'd planned to make this a short post about a trade show I'm going to next week. Somehow it wandered into Ecclesiastes and the beatific vision. It's getting late, so I'll wrap this up quickly.

We'll be showing off Spiral Light Candles at the trade show. This video shows what the things are, better (faster, anyway) than I could:

"Spiral Self Filling Candle"

(shown half-size: full version at YouTube)
anoasisproduction, YouTube (March 15, 2011)
video, 0:42

"A candle that burns around a hollow center and fills itself...."

I plan to be back, now and then, during the rest of this week. Next week I'll be at the trade show - and that's another topic.

Somewhat-related posts:

• "Lemming Tracks: The Lemming's Taking a Sabbatical, Sort Of"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (July 26, 2011)
• "Wealth, Poverty, Stereotypes, and Snidely Whiplash"
  (March 8, 2011)
• "Striving for Success: A Successful Strategy?"
  (August 29, 2010)
• "Money isn't Everything: But it Helps"
  (April 10, 2010)
• "Working on Sunday: At Growing the Christian Interior Life"
  (January 2, 2010)

More about the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show and me:

• "Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind

Background:

• Catholic Marketing Network
• 15th Annual Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show
  Near Philadelphia, PA: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 - Friday, August 5, 2011