Potpourri

As Abigail Van Buren used to say, “Dear Readers.” And as Paul Harvey used to say, “Here’s today’s potpourri.”

Political savvy

It may shock and amaze you to realize this: Our new President is doing exactly what he said he would do. He is doing exactly what those who elected him want him to do.

Sad fact is, there are now more of “them” than there are of “us.” Shocking concept: Elections are won by the candidates who receive the most votes. (Well, maybe except in Chicago.) Makes me question whether Democracy is the best way to choose leadership.

So the man won, and the man is doing what he promised. The only way to prevent four additional years of this outrage will be to persuade more of “us” to vote next time.

If you didn’t vote, don’t say anything. You can’t, morally, say anything.

I see lots of “Obama/Biden” bumper stickers on vehicles in the church parking lot. You say you’re a Catholic but you support the man who is the world’s foremost proponent of abortion? That really sucks.

Abortion isn’t the only issue. There are many issues. But if you voted Obama/Biden like your bumper sticker says, you will be the direct cause of the murder of your unborn grandchildren. Guaranteed.

Firm skeptic

When Laura and I were coming into the Church, I chose Thomas the Apostle as my patron saint.

I picked Thomas for a couple of reasons. First, he was my namesake. Secondarily, you may recall, Thomas was known as “The doubter.” He didn’t believe it unless he saw it, vis a vis the holy wounds of our Lord Jesus.

I retain a healthy quotient of skepticism in my personality makeup. If someone else wrote the following, I probably wouldn’t believe it. But these anecdotes are true: I was there.

A spirit rises to heaven

It was at the end of the Mass of Christian Burial for our elderly friend.

The priest was saying the last few words in the final commendation. I had been deep in prayer. (Odd, for me. Used to be, for most of my younger life I didn’t pray at all.)

I looked up as the morticians walked toward the casket, preparing to roll it to the waiting hearse.

Something emerged. Something rose. It wasn’t dark and it wasn’t light. Nearly invisible, it came shadow-like from the casket and it flickered rapidly upward, like a bird formed in vapor. It disappeared immediately into the Easter decoration on the ceiling high above.

My first thought was, “There goes her spirit.”

Pondering on this strange happening since then, I have encountered no evidence to dispute my initial impression.

My eyes

To be candid, there are problems with my eyes.

It could be that I “see things” because of physical causes. There are cataract issues (hey, I am 67 after all) and I have had corrective surgery in one eye.

But I saw something move that day at the funeral. When I was blind in one eye for a while, I didn’t see motion. I saw only blackness. At the funeral, I definitely saw motion; something moved upward from that casket.

Doris, Laura’s Mom, responded with her customary understanding and kindness when I questioned her about this sort of extrasensory vision I experience.

She said, “It’s a gift. Enjoy it.”

Thanks Mom. I do. Apparently, I had the privilege of watching a blessed soul ascend into heaven. I took delight in it.

A Mother’s Day treat

Mother’s Day this year, during 7 a.m. Mass at St. Peter in Greeley, I saw my own blessed mother, my own Mom who died in 1976.

It was right after the elevation, right after the consecration.

Again, I had been deep in prayer. Some would call it a trance, but I have that. It goes on.

I was kneeling, head bowed. When I lifted my head at one point, I saw her. It wasn’t like an apparition, not like when the Mother Mary appears to various persons around the world.

I didn’t see her with my eyes. It was inside my head, but it was more. It was a vivid picture of my Mom’s beautiful olive-skinned face and salt-and-pepper hair. This was overlaid on the scene playing out in the sanctuary.

She wasn’t smiling. She was looking at me serenely, lovingly. And her hands were folded in front of her, as if she was in prayer.

All this was reassuring, gave reason to rejoice. Mother’s Day, 2009, Mom came to visit. I treasure it.

Please feel free to examine these reports. Feel free to offer “rational” explanations. Try to dispute this stuff if you like. I welcome skepticism from my readers.

Word of the Week: Kerygma. It’s a Greek word of relatively recent heritage. It means the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, especially in the manner of the early church, or secondarily, the content or message of such preaching.

Next week’s word: Scoop.

Gripes? Complaints? Whines? Comments? Adoration? Puppy love? Reciprocal rant? Feel free to express yourself in the comment section below!