Did Heaven Gain Another Soul?

Late last week, I was called to play the piano and organ at a funeral Mass.  I was perhaps plan B or even plan C, since our parish director of music was on vacation.  Because I had the benefit of very capable and effective music teacher, I had no problem preparing and playing the music for this funeral - even though I had to learn two unfamiliar hymns.  One of the hymns was a contemporary hymn called "Saints of God" that was for the Commendation near the end of the funeral Mass. 

Saints of God, come to his aid!

Hasten to meet him, angels of the Lord!

Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.

As I was learning this hymn, I could not help but thinking of the possibility and hope that Osama bin Laden's soul somehow made its way to Heaven.  Given the choices he made during life, saving bin Laden's soul might require a few extra angels.  However, nothing is impossible with God!

The Greatest Shall Be The Least

Nearly a generation ago, I worked for an organization that served physicians.  One of the physician leaders at the time would sometimes describe several physician colleagues as being, "a mile wide and a millimeter deep".

Fast forward a generation.  Whenever scanning across the hundreds of cable television channels and coming across EWTN, a Catholic television network, there was more than a 50% chance that I would see the friar in the gray habit with the booming voice.  This friar is Father John Corapi.  For many years, Father Corapi has been the darling of what many might refer to as conservative Catholics.  The former Green Beret/media mogul/drug user/womanizer/etc. pulled himself up by his bootstraps, embraced the faith and became a priest.  If anyone ever had any doubt about this remaarkable transformation, all they had to do was ask Father Corapi.  He would tell anyone with a willing ear how HE served admirable in the military, how HE associated with the famous and wealthy, how HE had enough money to buy beach homes, yachts, fancy cars, how HE somehow managed to turn his life around, how HE shares the true faith of the Church, how well-known HE has become.  One can find all of this on Father Corapi's website.

A click on the website will show that Father Corapi must now embrace a core element of our faith - that we are not in control.  As high of a being as Father Corapi thinks he is, there is a higher being. 

It is somewhat ironic that Father Corapi made significant amounts of money writing several books, giving thousands of presentations, producing numerous CDs and DVDs, appearing on countless television and radio programs, etc.  He has spent thousands of hours and earned millions expounding on a simple theme:  pray for all concerned. Those are the final words of his statement related to his current situation.

The Watchman Cometh

I got to know Paul through a mutual friend.  I haven't seen much of Paul in recent years.  In fact, the last time I saw him was at the retirement party for the mutual friend.  In past years, I spent New Year's Eve at Paul's apartment in another city.  We would go to a local establishment to watch the indoor barstool races.  Yes, these were actual races with gas powered barstools going around an indoor track.

All of us worried a bit about Paul.  He drank a fair amount.  He was overweight and didn't take the best care of himself, even though he was an emergency medical technician.  He battled diabetes.  He was always somewhat of a loner.

Two days ago, a family member found Paul dead in his condo.  Paul was just 44.  However, heart disease and diabetes don't always recognize youth.  It appears both played a role in Paul's death.

The primary prayer and hope is that Paul's somewhat wayward soul has finally returned home and that his family can take comfort in knowing that such a return has taken place.

Chiller Theater

I am getting old and my body is not what it once was.  Several years ago, I came down with bacterial pneumonia.  It wasn't too bad.  I went to the doctor, got checked out and was given some antibiotics.  The doctor said that this malady will likely return in the future.  In my case, it has.  Just like the swallows at San Juan Capistrano.  Every year in late January or early February, I get sick, sometimes very sick.  This year was the worst.  Last night, I had a case of the chills.  They were coming and they were going.  At one point, they came and did not leave for about 30 minutes.  My wife was on the verge of calling 911 based on her fear that I was having some sort of siezure.  I have to admit that I was getting close to the point of worry.  Due to the uncontrollable shaking, I could not communicate well.  I didn't have religious thoughts.  My primary goal during this uncontrollable shaking was to inform my wife about the location of my life insurance policies. 

Fortunately, no claims on the policies needed to be made.  However, the event was a reminder of the need to have some things in order - just in case.

What Do We Do Now?

It is the day after the day after the election.  In my state, a change in partisan control took place in the Governor's office and both chambers of the state legislature.  An incumbent U.S. Senator lost.  Those that support the party that will soon control most of the elected offices in my state are quite gleeful.  Their mantra is:  The people want change. 

Those that support the party that lost control of most elected offices in my state are saying they are happy.  They argue that the other party will now have the responsibility of cleaning up the mess they created.

I have always argued that campaigning and governing are two different animals.  One party ran a system of campaigns that was effective.  However, the supporters of this party now have to hold the feet of the newly elected officials to the fire.  The electoral courtship is over - the campaign to get the newly empowered party to the altar has been successful.  We will soon get a more accurate picture of the party we "married" - warts and all.  If the new spouse doesn't do what they promised (aka:  to govern), we can count on another divorce in two years.

Spring Break In October

Earlier this week, we had frost every night.  However, we are now entering into a very mild stretch of weather with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70s (far above the average for this region at this time of the year). 

Unfortunately, I am not able to fully enjoy this wonderful weather environment.  I am stranded in my own home.  Earlier this morning, after my wife left for work, I heard and felt a thud in the house.  My initial assumption was that the beloved canine knocked something over.  I did some investigating and found a sleeping dog and no signs of mischief.

All was going as usual until I pressed the button for the garage door opener and nothing happened.  I pressed it again and still nothing.  Then I noticed that the spring that makes it possible to lift the door had snapped in two.  That was the thud I felt and heard earlier.  This has happened before.  The garage door is down and is not moving.  My car is inside and is not moving, either.

So, here I sit.  Fortunately, I am able to connect to the computer server at work and can accomplish quite a bit.  However, it is a strange feeling to know that I just cannot go get into the car and drive somewhere.  While I don't have to face such challenges very often, many people with disabilities face the challenge of being "stranded" at home every day of their lives.  They cannot come up with the idea of going to a movie and then just go.  They have to make arrangements to find transporation.  If transportation is available at all, it is often difficult to coordinate and is very expensive - even in the large university city where I live.

A Foxy Challenge

A friend that is a priest of St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, WI, was recently playing a bit of tennis for some exercise.  Lo and behold, his tennis match was "crashed" by one of the residents of the abbey property.  Father Andrew was able to snap a photo of the "crasher".