True that, Kool. The birth of the Kool as a friend. To me. A priviledge.

For a moment, allow me to shed my netty persona and be real.

Each day, I am blessed with the knowledge, born of experience, that there is truly one with all power. The Alpha. The Omega. God. There has never been anything I've done to deserve the tender mercies I'm given freely each day. Grace alone. Freely. When I remember, I slip away from the noise of the world and I am filled. When I remember.


My experience, my faith, has been of the educational variety that William James wrote of. And while I thought, for a time, I needed to be tossed from a horse on the road to Damascus, I know, for me, all I need do is treat with kindness those put in my path, love my neighbor as myself, and love God with all my heart and soul. Aw, always the rub. This last brings me to my knees. Self-centered fear (what do I have that I'll lose; what do I want that I may not get) always trips me up. But each day brings a new beginning. And while shadows may fall between the dream and the reality, there is always a beacon to guide me. When I remember.

I don't belong to a church (I was excommunicated from the Catholic church and pursued it no further despite 12 years of Catholic education) and have only a layman's knowledge of the Bible's scripture and verse. But there has always been the Hound of Heaven at my heels. No matter the alley, no matter the palace, the Hound of Heaven has never wearied. Not to nip or chew at my ankles, but to soothe and comfort wounds still unhealed. More, this Hound, seeks to guide me as I stumble blind; seeking this, discarding that, restless, discontent. A guide to Grace. When I remember.

One thing is certain. I am no better than any man or woman. The plank and the splinter require I do not judge. The other. All others from me. When I remember.

This I know is true. And I hold to it. In my secret place.

"Whatever is good. Whatever is kind. Whatever is lovely or excellent. Think of these things and the peace, that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

(apologies to the authors, and literalists that followed, as I paraphrased the above).

When I remember.

I promise you, my thread-killing friends, this will be the last I write in this vein. For me (it's intensely private and I don't need to shout what I've found) and for you (you come here to kill threads not to ponder some knucklehead's ramblings on divinity) I will keep this promise.

Today, I just needed to put it down to the word. If I've offended anyone (this was quite selfish of me..not the first), I apologize.

Best to all and thank you.