The noun, rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.

The word, distortion, means the act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state.

Last Sunday our two grandchildren, ages 3 and 4, came over to swim in our above ground pool. With their little water wings and under the careful watch of their parents, aunt, and grandparents these two little ones laughed with glee at the simplest things such as jumping in the water or splashing.

On the side of the pool, we have three windsocks, one shaped like a fish and two like eagles. These colorful decorations blow in the wind and help keep ducks from using the pool as their new home. The movement of the windsocks frightens them so that they do not land.

My older granddaughter asked why the windsocks were present and we explained to keep ducks out of the water. My granddaughter then asked with innocent concern what do we do when we catch the duck in the windsock. We smiled at her innocent imagination and explained that we do not catch them. We just keep them from landing. With that answer she smiled as if to say, “Good…I am glad that they do not get hurt.”

As I thought about this, I thought how we all need to follow my granddaughter’s approach to life when we have questions about our faith. We should not be tempted to unintentionally distort the truth in guessing answers with statements that might seem reasonable. We should ask those who know the answer.

We should turn to the Catechism of the Catholic Church to find the answer.

May God gives us this grace.

by Deacon Tom Gryzbek