Letters from Canada - 16 August 2014
Father Mark: In the past, I enjoyed my encounters with Linda. We joked, we laughed, we pushed each other buttons or sometimes we got engrossed in philosophical and theological debates. But lately our talks have taken a more serious tone because we are both dealing with sad life stories. During this particular visit to the Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, I asked Linda for a private talk after she finished her rounds at the Center. In return I helped her comfort and entertain some of the patients.
In a private conference room at the Center, I brought Linda up to speed about me and my cohorts, Susan and Tom looking for Mary. By her facial expressive reaction to my story, She knew something.
Father Mark: Did Mary confide in you about her problems and are you aware she took off.
Linda: My conversions with Mary are confidential.
Father Mark: Given the importance of finding her safe, I am going to ask you a series of questions. If the question violates the confidentiality just remain silent. If it does not, then answer my question. Do you know where Mary is right now? Linda: No!
Father Mark: Do you think she is safe? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: Did she talk to you about her predicament before she left? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: Is she pregnant? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: Does she know the phone numbers to reach you? Linda: Yes!
Father Mark: Has she contacted you after she disappeared? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: I ran into a strange woman at Chucks named Bambi, I mean Ginger. Do you know Ginger and if you do, please let me how to get in touch with her. Also I forgot to warn you, Mary’s Father hired a private investigator Vinny, who might pay you a visit.
Linda: The way we keep confidences, one of us will surely end up in hell, but I will take that risk for you. I pray every day that you will find Mary safe. Like everyone else, I know all about your date with Ginger and she will again get in touch with you but I can’t tell you when. A stranger who identified himself as Joey from Chucks was looking for Mary to personally give her back pay. Every word he uttered was a lie, so I directed him to drop off whatever he had for Mary at the police station. At which point he became menacing, so I called security and we reported his car license number to the police. It did turned out to be that private investigator.
It looks from this discussion, that you are not updating Bishop Cornelius about your extracurricular activities.
Father Mark: Not sure how He would react. I was hoping that Mary would show up before I had to share this story with Him. My next stop will be a conference with Bishop Cornelius.
Linda: Now you need to do me a favor. That sad person in the corner is Charlie. He is ill but also depressed about his son battling cancer. Please talk to him!
Father Mark: Walking over to the corner where Charlie was sitting, I prayed for compassion to help this person in pain. As I was about to introduce myself as Father Mark from St. Theresa parish, Charlie barked at me: “Don’t try to convert me, I don’t need a priest”.
Father Mark: Charlie, I am Father Mark, you may not need a priest, but you do need a friend. I would like to talk to you about your Son, Allen. What kind of person is he? What makes Allen special?
Charlie: What are you up to? Why do you care?
Father Mark: It’s my job to care! I work for Someone who cares for you and your Son. That Someone right now wants me to guide you and your son through this rough patch in your lives. Why do you love your Son?
Charlie: It’s because of all the happy moments He brought to me, my wife who died last year, his wife and two boys and everyone who was fortunate to be part of his life. Now all that is coming to an end.
Father Mark: It is not the end! Everyone on this Earth is here temporarily. This is not our permanent home. Our home is with God!
Charlie: I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but god and heaven are not real.
Father Mark: Not believing in God and Heaven does not diminish Their existence. Many people like me know God, the source of our meaning and purpose. Some of that meaning and purpose is using our skills and abilities to better the lives of others. You mentioned Allen makes people happy, how?
Charlie: To my son, the wellbeing of his loved ones and pretty much everyone else is very important. He is good listener, be it good news or venting. If he can help you with something, he will without expecting something in return. His family loves him for reasons too numerous to list. Besides being a good provider, Allen finds time to help out at a homeless shelter. In fact, he got his family and friends involved during times he could not make it to the shelter because of his job. My Son does not go to church or is religious.
Father Mark: You may find this strange coming from a Catholic Priest, but God does not count how many times a person goes to church. God does count how many times a person helps at a homeless shelter and better the lives of others. Your Son is OK with God.
Charlie: Father Mark, when I feel a little better, can you come with me to visit my Son?
Father Mark: We will see your Son very soon, because I expect God to answer my prayers for this reunion.
To be continued in “Letters from Canada - 17”
Father Mark: In the past, I enjoyed my encounters with Linda. We joked, we laughed, we pushed each other buttons or sometimes we got engrossed in philosophical and theological debates. But lately our talks have taken a more serious tone because we are both dealing with sad life stories. During this particular visit to the Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, I asked Linda for a private talk after she finished her rounds at the Center. In return I helped her comfort and entertain some of the patients.
In a private conference room at the Center, I brought Linda up to speed about me and my cohorts, Susan and Tom looking for Mary. By her facial expressive reaction to my story, She knew something.
Father Mark: Did Mary confide in you about her problems and are you aware she took off.
Linda: My conversions with Mary are confidential.
Father Mark: Given the importance of finding her safe, I am going to ask you a series of questions. If the question violates the confidentiality just remain silent. If it does not, then answer my question. Do you know where Mary is right now? Linda: No!
Father Mark: Do you think she is safe? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: Did she talk to you about her predicament before she left? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: Is she pregnant? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: Does she know the phone numbers to reach you? Linda: Yes!
Father Mark: Has she contacted you after she disappeared? Linda: (silence)
Father Mark: I ran into a strange woman at Chucks named Bambi, I mean Ginger. Do you know Ginger and if you do, please let me how to get in touch with her. Also I forgot to warn you, Mary’s Father hired a private investigator Vinny, who might pay you a visit.
Linda: The way we keep confidences, one of us will surely end up in hell, but I will take that risk for you. I pray every day that you will find Mary safe. Like everyone else, I know all about your date with Ginger and she will again get in touch with you but I can’t tell you when. A stranger who identified himself as Joey from Chucks was looking for Mary to personally give her back pay. Every word he uttered was a lie, so I directed him to drop off whatever he had for Mary at the police station. At which point he became menacing, so I called security and we reported his car license number to the police. It did turned out to be that private investigator.
It looks from this discussion, that you are not updating Bishop Cornelius about your extracurricular activities.
Father Mark: Not sure how He would react. I was hoping that Mary would show up before I had to share this story with Him. My next stop will be a conference with Bishop Cornelius.
Linda: Now you need to do me a favor. That sad person in the corner is Charlie. He is ill but also depressed about his son battling cancer. Please talk to him!
Father Mark: Walking over to the corner where Charlie was sitting, I prayed for compassion to help this person in pain. As I was about to introduce myself as Father Mark from St. Theresa parish, Charlie barked at me: “Don’t try to convert me, I don’t need a priest”.
Father Mark: Charlie, I am Father Mark, you may not need a priest, but you do need a friend. I would like to talk to you about your Son, Allen. What kind of person is he? What makes Allen special?
Charlie: What are you up to? Why do you care?
Father Mark: It’s my job to care! I work for Someone who cares for you and your Son. That Someone right now wants me to guide you and your son through this rough patch in your lives. Why do you love your Son?
Charlie: It’s because of all the happy moments He brought to me, my wife who died last year, his wife and two boys and everyone who was fortunate to be part of his life. Now all that is coming to an end.
Father Mark: It is not the end! Everyone on this Earth is here temporarily. This is not our permanent home. Our home is with God!
Charlie: I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but god and heaven are not real.
Father Mark: Not believing in God and Heaven does not diminish Their existence. Many people like me know God, the source of our meaning and purpose. Some of that meaning and purpose is using our skills and abilities to better the lives of others. You mentioned Allen makes people happy, how?
Charlie: To my son, the wellbeing of his loved ones and pretty much everyone else is very important. He is good listener, be it good news or venting. If he can help you with something, he will without expecting something in return. His family loves him for reasons too numerous to list. Besides being a good provider, Allen finds time to help out at a homeless shelter. In fact, he got his family and friends involved during times he could not make it to the shelter because of his job. My Son does not go to church or is religious.
Father Mark: You may find this strange coming from a Catholic Priest, but God does not count how many times a person goes to church. God does count how many times a person helps at a homeless shelter and better the lives of others. Your Son is OK with God.
Charlie: Father Mark, when I feel a little better, can you come with me to visit my Son?
Father Mark: We will see your Son very soon, because I expect God to answer my prayers for this reunion.
To be continued in “Letters from Canada - 17”
