The Parable of the Miners

The Parable of the Miners, by Patricia Snow, discusses how the rescue of the Chilean miners earlier this year can be seen as a parable of how God saves us.

But for Christians, and especially for Catholic Christians, who share the faith of the miners themselves, this was a profoundly Christian event, understandable both in its details and its overall scope only in Christian terms. It was a teaching moment, rich in theological references. It was a kind of parable, worth considering as an Advent reflection, with its strong movement from darkness to light.

Via On the Square.

The Digital Story of the Nativity

Saw this humorous take on the Nativity story yesterday on First Thoughts and thought it was cool, but when I mentioned it to my family, my mother-in-law said she had seen it last week!

More Unwritten Laws of Engineering

Part 3 of 3 has tips regarding personal and professional behavior in the workplace.

Links to Parts 1 and 2 can be found in my earlier post.

Via Mechanical Engineering Magazine.

200 Hundred Years of Human Health

A very cool visualization showing how countries' wealth and health have changed over 200 years.

Via First Thoughts.

True Size of Africa

A map designed to show the true size of Africa.

Via Keith.

Greatest Mathematicians

A list of the Top 10 Greatest Mathematicians.

Via First Thoughts.

billions of bills

You would think that they would fix the problem before printing 1.1 BILLION $100 bills, some (but not all) of which have mistakes.

(Thanks, Mike!)

Comments on George Bailey

Joe Carter (in On the Square today) has an article about George Bailey, the protagonist of the classic film It's a Wonderful Life. Carter discusses Bailey and Howard Roark, from Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead.

Carter' conclusions:

What makes George Bailey one of the most inspiring, emotionally complex characters in modern popular culture is that he continually chooses the needs of his family and community over his own self-interested ambitions and desires—and suffers immensely and repeatedly for his sacrifices.

and

Capra’s underlying message is thus radically subversive: It is by serving our fellow man, even to the point of subordinating our dreams and ambitions, that we achieve both true greatness and lasting happiness.