Practicing Faith

Yeah, the holidays are especially tough. I just missed this Easter, usually a family holiday with color and joy. I have many fond memories of Easters with my family all coming together. So this year, just like at Christmas, I feel left out, aloof, and really depressed. Seeing my folks yesterday was a great diversion but, like I tell the guys when I get back to the dorm, the visits are the best part of the week until they have to leave.

Christmas was much tougher and I actually came to tears just watching a commercial from the local weatherman about his Christmas beliefs. Each member of the evening news team had their own commercial where they talked about their favorite Christmas. Gary Coleman said his favorite Christmas memory was of his parents reminding the kids what the season was all about. He closed with "Happy Birthday, Jesus,"and I was just broken. All the sadness of not being with my family, I realized, was nothing compared to if I was separated from the best friend I could ever want, Jesus the Christ.

A Prayer For Owen Meany - John Irving

"The janitor stopped the clock. That was when I would turn and look; usually our time had expired.

00:00

But this time, when I looked, there was one second left on the clock.

00:01

He had sunk the shot in under four seconds!

'You see what a little faith can do?' said Owen Meany. The brain-damaged janitor was applauding. 'Set the clock to three seconds!' Owen told him.

'Jesus Christ!' I said.

'If we can do it in under four seconds, we can do it in under three,' he said,' It just takes a little more faith.'

'It takes more practice,' I told him irritably.

'Faith takes practice,' said Owen Meany."