Plotinus

My son (9) and I stopped in to see Josie. A stroke a few days ago has ended her eating and talking. Her stuffed cats gave her kisses (she's a cat nut - one of them is named after me). She smiled. We prayed. Plots Jr.and I said good-bye and left. I think she'll go into a coma any hour now - so each visit is an evening cherry blossom. Maybe the next time I see her I'll slip my book of short stories into my Mighty Mac one last time.

Laleo and Socks, Thanks for two great replies! Laleo, I passed the E.D. on to Sally, while also admitting that I don't full understand it yet. What are her two closures? Her parents?

(a couple years you don't hear from me...then you can't shut me up) I have a 1,116 (99.9%) positive feedback rating on E-bay.

O Shaz! (Maine!?) Do I have to? Oh, how can I say 'no' to you; with whom I've sung Handel on Easter?

I go to 2-6 funerals a month.

I attended a black Pentecostal church by myself (get the pattern) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I was the first to leave -- after 2 hours. I carried my wife's books to school 10 minutes after I met her (I was 17, she was 16). We dated for 2 months; then married 20 years later.

I can almost always quiet an entire bar just by walking in the front door.

Dr. Wierwille "cast a devil spirit out of me" once in front of everyone in the packed BRC.

I was one of the 100,000 people who participated in the first Earth Day at Union Square, NYC in 1970. I was 15 and took the train into NYC from Rye by myself to do so. I went to Union Square by myself again today. I went for a booksigning by Christo, the artist, at Strand Bookstore. It was over when I got there. But a pots and pans drummer in the Port Authority subway station made the trip worthwhile. I danced a bit with the brothers and sisters.

Sally's 90-year-old mother, Josie, is dying. I feel real close to both of them. Josie is scary smart. I say that because I read to Josie at the nursing home. The denser the short story the better she likes it. She gets every allusion, pun, metaphor, foreign phrase etc. She eats abstruse for breakfast along with her Ensure. A photo of Josie in her childbearing years evidences a beauty that might well have caused guy-operated vehicles to run up over curbs… and she’s still got it. Sally has taken phenomenal, loving care of her mother who is her best friend. She sent me an e-mail this morning with just the following question. My stab at an answer follows. "What do you really think happens to people when they die?" Dear Sally, I think the conclusion and beyond are even more absurdly gracious than the process of getting there. Our mental and intellectual doubts that anything happens do not change the reality, or much sway our natural belief that absurd graciousness continues. I've been wondering if we believe that heaven is full of God's glory to the extent that we perceive God's glory on earth. This of course, means a great degree of pleasant surprise at the pearly gates... for all except Monet, Picasso, Bach, Mozart, Rilke, and a few others. But even they are surprised. This answer feels penultimate. I hope to pen the ultimate to you as soon as possible, in sharing our hope and plight, if not in words. Thanks for asking. Peace, [Plots]

I've been out of TWI since, like 1977. I've been to a really good seminary. I'm ordained to gospel ministry by God and the Presbyterian Church (USA). I've served three fine churches, preaching biblically every Sunday after, many hours of preparation. I teach an hour-long Bible class once a week, sometimes twice after preparation. And... I'm still recovering from TWI's poisonous effect on my love of God's Word. I, like most of us, drank a lot of Kool-Aid! However, this year I've made a quantum leap in my ability and motivation to 'just read' the Bible. I'm reading: 3 pages of OT 3 pages of psalms 3 pages of NT & 3 pages of Gospels on about 5 out of 7 mornings WITH PURE UNCONTAMINATED PLEASURE. [Maybe 'TRUST' is a better word - "peasure" is not to imply that scripture doesn't convict me] Can you believe it? I hardly can. (it takes me about an hour) I should invite all the neighbors in AND kill the fatted calf! This pleasure's been mine now for a couple of months - though I've been doing 3 pages a day of psalms for a year or more. No one thing did it - just living life, I think. Time and effort (to understand the Bible and live by it) I also credit reading of ancient and modern Christian and Jewish writings with integrity (lately, James Kugel and Bernard of Clairvaux). It's been worth the struggle - though I haven't experienced it as a struggle to overcome the poison -just as a struggle to be faithful and live by the Book's finest deep message - that only comes through a knowledge of the particulars (to me, at least) - a struggle that hasn't and won't abate as long as I'm on this side, I guess. Whether you recover love for Bible reading is up to you. I can only speak for myself. I'm glad I have. Maybe TWI helped by making it such a struggle.

Hi Gary! GO PIRATES! (I mean ECU, not TWI) Hey, what do you think of Pat? A character, right? ...least he makes your days interesting, huh? He may be Pat but he's our Pat. And don't forget, he's a grad. Geez, for all anyone knows, he might be walking by WOK, WOW and DOS; whattyathink? No? Figures you'd say that. I'll include you and your family in my prayers. Seriously. Not to leave TWI or anything...just to prosper and be in health. Who prints and files the posts, you? No you're a big shot.. a secretary. Is she/he a Way Corps grad? Well, "HI" to them too.. you work for a great guy (or has he changed? yuck yuck) Well, now everyone back to work... we'll keep disseminating info re: our experiences in TWI and you keep track of us.

JT. you say, just a clarification... We heavy revvies are only exempt from that part of our incomes that constitutes housing expense... otherwise we pay income tax just like real people (well, poor people).

I wish I'd never heard of them. They took a lot (time especially) and gave nothing worthwhile in return. But if having been through 'it' helps me help others here or others who make foolish decisions in life... I'll accept that. Still, I vote, "wish I'd never heard of them." And yes, I REALLY wish a loved one hadn't.. hurt she was... badly hurt... by VPW. When she was SO young! (not that age matters much) Peace, Plots