My scanner has not been working. I get a message that tells me it is not connected. But ... it is! I figured that it was a software problem and reinstalled it. It still insisted that it was not connected. While doing another check of all the connections I noticed that the power adapter was cold. They are always a little warm to the touch. It was only then that I checked the little indicator lights on the front. Dark! The first thing they taught us at Navy electronics school (over 50 years ago) was that if something didn't work, see if it is plugged in and the power turned on. So, a trip to the local electronics store is in order.

"I fell flat on my face". ... That expression is usually used by someone who has attempted something and failed. like giving an important speech or competing in a sports event. Well, ... I actually fell flat on my face. Saturday evening I had retrieved the mail from my curb-side mailbox wearing my slippers. My sidewalk has settled a bit in front of my porch creating an extra high step. Even though I am quite aware of that, I was more interested in the mail and didn't lift my foot high enough. The toe of the right slipper caught on the edge and I went down. My left chin and right knee hit first. My hands broke the fall but my face hit the concrete. For a moment I didn't try to move but just took mental inventory to make sure I was thinking right. Then I slowly recovered and stood up, realizing that my slippers had left my feet.  As I slid back into them I realized that a car was pulling away from the curb behind me and I remembered hearing their brakes at the same time I hit the pavement.  The help of a stranger would have come If I hadn't gotten to my feet. Thanks for stopping, ... whoever you are.

It was not as bad as I first imagined. I expected to find blood on my face or my knee but other than a little redness, the skin was not broken. I think my beard saved me although my nose was sore all evening. It wasn't 'till later that I discovered I had cut the inside of my upper lip on a tooth. I should get that sidewalk fixed.

An internet friend, Bob Clarke, sent an email with real meaning on Sunday. I have written about this myself in the past but this story covers the problem better than I could ever hope to do. It is too bad it had to happen and that in itself is a lesson to be learned. If you don't read any more of this page, please take a few moments and read Taking Offense  Thanks Bob.

Fr. Artur put a slant on a familiar Gospel in his homily Sunday. You remember, ... it's the somewhat comical tale of the stubby little tax collector who climbed a tree in order to see Jesus passing by. But Fr Artur, a tree of a man himself, who would never need to go to such drastic measures since he towers over everyone, pointed out that our little tax collector really wanted to see this Jesus who was attracting so many followers, so he went to extremes to see him. After all, it is not easy for a short person to climb trees and he could not have been a young man either. His efforts paid off and that is the point. We must want to meet and become familiar with God in order for it to happen. We must make an effort, a deliberate effort to do all it takes to become His friend. Wishful thinking doesn't do it.

It isn't that He is hiding from us, not in the least. God is always giving us the opportunity to approach Him and tell Him that we are ready. When I look back on my life I see a myriad of opportunities I let go by when I didn't realize I needed Him and so just went along doing it "my way". Then, like the tax collector, I was amazed at how easy it was when I took the step to approach Him. I was even more astounded to see how my life improved when I put my trust in God. But ... don't expect God to force Himself on us. He really intended "free will" to work.

After church I made a couple stops expecting to get a replacement for my scanner's power adapter. Neither Radio Shack or Circuit City had it. I had checked the HP web site but they do not sell the part on their on-line store. 

Sunday Tom dropped Kelly at a friends house to work on a school project and came here to wait for a call to pick her up. We sat and talked while watching the Picture Gallery on TV, beautiful photos with pleasant background music. It provides great therapy in a fast moving world while allowing conversation. Shortly after he left, I went to the Albano's for the annual Joe's birthday dinner. All his brothers were there along with his sister-in-law Sarah and his grandma Rose Albano. It was a continuation of a great day. So ...

And ...

Janice Webb is my (newly found) niece, daughter of my sister Jean (Copeland) & Earl Rutzen and wife of David Webb. All this explanation is necessary because most of my family has not met her. I don't even have her email address. Unfortunately I have not met Jean since she was born to eternal life in 2006, nor have I met Earl. Maybe if Janet sees this she will send an email so we can get better acquainted.

I got report from Karen regarding the weekend. ...

Tuesday's reflections and readings brought me this from a favorite author, C. S. Lewis:

"When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others - not because He has favorites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favorites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one ... God can show Himself as He really is only to real men. And that means not simply to men who are individually good, but to men who are united together in a body, loving on another, helping one another, showing Him to one another. For that is what God meant humanity to be like, like players in one band, or organs in one body."

In this day and age, I must assume that Lewis, when he speaks of "men" he intended to mean "people". Seventy five years ago when he wrote those words it was not necessary to explain that. In any case, he has a unique ability to make a point, one of the reasons I love to read his words. In saying that the initiative is on God's side he is saying that the creation can not know it's creator unless the creator reveals Himself. In another of Lewis' writings he compares that to the character in a book and the Author. It is the author who knows of the character, not the other way around. I can't help but think that Steven King read Lewis' remarks because King wrote himself into several of his books revealing himself to the characters as their author. It is only then that the characters could interact with their creator.

The point that Lewis is making here is that it is in cooperative living and sharing that we are what God intended. We, however always manage to distort His intentions. Some have gotten part of the message and decided that we must share everything equally in a communistic or socialistic state where God is not required or recognized. Others have decided that a benevolent dictatorship is the way to go, with a leader of absolute power to look after the needs of the populous, forgetting that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Pure democracy is too cumbersome and slow to wait until every one cast their vote on every item which could take forever and lead to incessant squabbling. So, we have devised the republic in which we elect people to make our choices for us. It seems to be a good compromise even though the elected sometimes disappoint us. That does not surprise us though, due to the fact that they were elected as a compromise in the first place.

In early times. the religion of the nation was not a compromise or a choice, but ipso-facto the religion of the people. This resulted in harmony to a point, but stifled freedom and often truth. Faith had little to do with it when you are told "You WILL believe in this." God had given us free will and wanted our love based on our acceptance of Him on His merits not some command. At one time most of the Western world and part of the Eastern world was united, sort of, under Christendom. Entire tribes and nations were "converted" en mass and not by individual choice. Then, the unity of Christendom itself fell apart with denominations squabbling amongst themselves, fracturing the fragile unity.

The founding fathers of this nation who recognized that civil government should be involved in providing for their nation's infrastructure and safety and not in the citizen's perception or belief in God, wrote into the constitution that it should not be involved with forming or promoting a particular religious belief. I believe they were wise in this decision, thereby giving the people freedom to believe (or not) in God and to chose the way they want to express their belief. At the same time, they agreed that government would not suppress the people's belief in any way. (Some conveniently wish to forget or deny that part.) Hopefully, in time, world wide Christendom can be established and the factions within it can be reunited. I don't expect to see that any time soon. It can only happen when are able to put our egos aside and look at the things about God on which we agree and put our petty misconceptions aside.

I don't mean to slight our Jewish and Islamic brothers. Somehow we must convince them that our belief in the Trinity is not a belief in multiple gods but a perception of the single Creator that is difficult to understand, if not impossible, ... even for us. I do not exclude the followers of Hinduism. Buddhism, Paganism or Animism or any of their derivative cults and sects. Although there are countless religions, each different from the other, they all have the same goal. Each answers questions which all humans seem to need to ask: Why are we here? What happens when I die? How shall I live my life? It is my contention that the first and last questions are tightly tied together and are the most important, since they effect our relationship with each other. These are the questions to be considered when we judge the actions of others, if indeed, we must judge at all.

Well, my mind does wander and goes to pontificating a bit ... or a lot. I should reiterate that this is not meant to be preaching  but just letting you know what goes on in my head and what drives me to behave and act the way I do.

Wednesday after lunch I went foraging again for a replacement power adapter for my scanner. My first stop was Best Buy, followed by Tiger Direct. In both places all they could offer were "universal" power adapters which would have worked. The voltage is selectable and they have a myriad of plug types to fit whatever you are going to connect. All this versatility comes at a price and I can buy a new scanner for the price of one of theses multi-use gems. Forgetaboutit! I had looked on the HP website where they tell me the model number of the device I need but they do not sell it. I have searched on line to no avail. But ... as they say on the TV ... "But Wait" ... I was searching by the description of the product. When I put in the (strange) name of the manufacturer "yHi" as a google search, I came up with an entire list of sources and selecting one, I did a search using the model number. Surprise! "$19.95 ... In Stock". Of course shipping is $7 but that sure beats the $110 monster they were trying to sell in the local stores. It was ordered on the spot. The seller is "Laptops for Less". I never would have thought to look there for it.  Isn't the internet wonderful! I had a college professor who said that if we learned where to find what you needed and that you can't push a rope, he would consider his class a success. Well, the internet makes it easy to find things if we have the common sense to look using the right parameters.

While I was out foraging I stopped at the new Lowe's store and picked up a 12" X 48" laminated shelf board. It has been placed on top of a low 28" wide cabinet in front of the window in my recreation room, overhanging each side and giving me a wide, well lit, shelf. From the garden have brought in two planters containing the "Hens & Chicks" which now join the Christmas cactus along with a couple pictures. It looks great and I will have part of Grandpa's Garden in the house all winter and a couple plants for an early start in the spring. The Christmas cactus is in bloom and upstairs in the living room, so is Biscus. (Say "Hi Biscus".)

Wednesday evening we had our monthly session of "Know Your Catholic Faith". I continue to wonder at some of the "old timers" who hang on to so many misconceptions about the Catholic faith. These sessions are badly needed. The problem is that even after being exposed to the truth, they still don't get it. I can see why other faiths have a problem with us ... especially other Christians. Some of these Catholic's beliefs are nothing more than superstitions and that is a tough nut to crack.

Thursday morning I left Mikey with the groomer and went on to Bible study. This group is a more enlightened bunch and there are always interesting discussions. We have finished the study of three of the lesser known Old Testament Prophets. They were very repetitious but that is just the point. They were trying to get the people and leaders back on the right path and they had to do it again and again. Sounds familiar. We will take a break for the Advent season except for a special presentation by Fr Steve on the "Infancy Narratives" of the Gospels. In January our new study will be of the Gospel of John.

Joe has been looking for seasonal work that will fit in with his class schedule and not be a problem for his recent shoulder surgery. Most major corporations now utilize the convenience of the web in their hiring and Joe had submitted several résumés. He was called for an interview at Sears but when he arrived he was informed that the computer system was down and they could not review the information he submitted. His interview was postponed. I wonder if they thought of talking with him? 

I have changed my routine for getting my mail since falling last weekend, especially since it is now dark when I go out there. In stead of going out the front door and navigating the high step, I  simply open the (attached) garage door. The two small steps from the house into the garage are easily negotiated and there is the added advantage that the light from the garage spills all the way to the curb. Our mail seldom comes before 5:30 pm and Wednesday evening the truck pulled up at 6:45 as I was leaving for the meeting at church. I really need a device that alerts me to the delivery of the mail. I have seen a radio signal gadget that does the job but I am too cheap to spend the $50 + shipping for it. There have been times when I have made several trips to the box before the mil has actually arrived. Even if I have outgoing mail and have put the flag up I have gone out late at night to discover that the mail had been delivered but the flag had not been pushed down. All this shows how spoiled I am. Besides, 98% of what is delivered goes directly into the recycle bin. By the way, I am writing this on Thursday evening and I am fully recovered from my little encounter with the cement stoop.

Well, I think I am recovered ... it may have rattled my brain. After I returned from Bible study Thursday morning I noticed there was a phone message waiting for me. I thought it was Paula from Touch of Class calling to tell me that Mikey was ready to be picked up but no, it was from my daughter and it was from her home phone! She should be at work! What had happened? I called in a panic and got Anthony who told me that, indeed, she was at work. I then called her at work not even considering how she may have called me from work using her home phone number. No, she hadn't called but she asked if I had erased her call from Wednesday evening ... ☼ then came the light! Let's see if I can remember ... you can't push a rope!

One last thought. ...
I never complete my weekly update before having my little visit with God and Anne and that includes a short passage from a book of value. Currently that book is a compilation of daily excerpts from the writings or addresses of C. S. Lewis. This morning's bit of wisdom is another analogy using a book, this time he compares God to the author again but in an explanation of how He relates to our concept of time. "There is a knock on the door and Mary puts down her work."  C. S. explains that, to Mary, the character in the book, there is no appreciable time separation between the knock and her action. But, to God, the author, he may have paused in his writing for several hours before writing the last part of the sentence. He has an eternity to consider Mary's actions and can review her past and future actions while Mary is confined to the sequence of words in the book.

I thought that was a great analogy as long as we remember that like all analogies, it is not quite the same. In reality, the characters, (us) have free will  and although God can look at any page of the book to see what we have done and will do, He does not write down our actions in advance. Another analogy ... but just that ... an analogy.