Brother Fire

 "Whenever I meet someone in need, it's really Jesus in his most distressing disguise.” -- Mother Teresa As many of you know, I often visit the Charlotte Douglas Airport Overlook -- a parking lot/picnic area beside the airport's busiest runway. I find it to be a wonderful place to relax, pray, write, and enjoy the magic of watching planes takeoff and land. I also feel a great connection to God, to the Queen City, and to the rest of the country as I pray, welcome and bless planes as they arrive and take off to parts unknown. I'm at the Airport even now as I write this and I just had one of those God experiences that reminds me that Jesus is with us always. Shortly after arriving this evening it began to rain -- a steady light rain that blurred the view through my car's windshield -- but not enough that I couldn't see the dozen or so jets lined up ready to take off.  The humid air in my car was becoming stale and stuffy, so I opened my windows despite th...

I love Easter -- not just Easter day or the Triduum, but the whole season. I love the build-up during lent -- preparing for the death and resurrection of Jesus. I love praying the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. And I especially love the Sundays of Easter following. The Easter season reminds me of the birth of the church. Jesus and the apostles were such revolutionaries of their time. I love reading the Book of Acts. I love the story of Jesus walking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). As you can tell...I'm absolutely in my glory as the Easter season progresses. Indeed CHRIST IS RISEN. May the Risen Lord be with us always! Peace.

Ugh! That's the only word to describe the attitude of those who are scurrying around to find the "latest thing" to buy each other for Christmas. It seems that negativity is a prerequisite feeling for shoppers who think that the importance of the holiday is not that guy....you know...that famous guy...whatsHisname...oh yeah....JESUS, but rather buying stuff for people.. I generally am not a big retail store shopper. Which is ironic being that I work in retail part-time. I prefer casually meandering through small shops and patiently finding things that mean a lot to friends and family for the holidays. If I can't find that 'special something,' well then...that special something was not meant to be found and a gift card will have to do. Presents are nice. But clearly...that's not the point. And the point definitely isn't to make sure one says, "Merry Christmas!" instead of "Happy Holidays"...because if I don't say "Merry Chris...