Good Morning Digital Neighbors! Blessed Sunday Friends & Refugees, Phamily & Triggeratti, ADD Irregulars and Goodly Souls I've yet to meet. Sunday is without a doubt my favorite day, and the hours I spend with my parish family in prayer and the visiting that happens before and after Mass are a joy. I remind my little flock in New Melle that our worship is the most important hour of the week to join in prayer and fellowship to celebrate and recognize the gift of it all. The gift of life is not always an easy gift to receive, there are difficult chapters, and everyone has their own story and contributing cast and circumstances. But to see it as a gift is a great frame for living and appreciating what the day holds, the unexpected surprises, the subtle movements of spirit, a pausing coincidence, or those moments of post experience enlightenment that make us wonder if something is afoot.

We know it is not all peaches & cream. One of my frequent reminders in my preaching is that belief does not spare us the trials of life, it can bring meaning and hope through those trials, but there is never the promise that the faith ticket is a smooth ride. The Promise is not to be alone. I trust the One who said "I will be with you always." When my personal light goes out I will get a chance to discover if is there ultimate truth or just nothingness. I'm banking on some One, but I won't know any difference if there is just non-existence. My prayer and hope is that the lost and wandering find a welcoming Presence on the other side just as the Seekers do. As I remind myself and others who give me an ear, I am not here to covert people to my path but rather to be a good neighbor, even if it is just a digital one. The Coffee Talks I like to host offer a more personal dimension to these digital encounters. I am always happy with inquiries into what I love, but I only tend to beat the bushes as it were for the home crowd. Loving one's neighbor begins with listening to them, talking with them and taking genuine interest in their story, to come in guns blazing about "Da Jesus" is not my style, but I don't fault those who do.

Everyone has their path and passions in life, religious fervor about one's convictions is praiseworthy as long as it is not condescending and combative to those who disagree. If I have to convince you under threat of pain, I believe more in the power of pain than in the veracity of my convictions. If I have to threaten you I believe more in the wielding of power than the patience of persuasion. That gets lost on people all the time. The blindness of fervor is not unlike that of fever induced delusions. Persuasion is funny, it is most often an experience unique to the person. I tell you some talk moved me and inspired me and you wonder if I have been drinking or taking some drug. Sometimes persuasion takes time and prolonged exposure and other times it happens unexpectedly. Often it never happens. Some are never persuaded, such is life. But I am not here to persuade, I am here to know and share. That is one of the best aspect of the gift of life, other people. I love all the like minded people I am about to see this morning, and I love the many different minded souls I meet outside of worship and often when I wander the inter-webs. Some of the best different people I have met via the wonders of the internet. I am so blessed to live in this amazing age of connection. Have a great day my digital neighbors, know that as I pray with those in the flesh, I remember all of you I have gotten to know here with fondness and gratitude.