Well, I guess I should respond to some of Sarah's comments. First about our neighborhood. You all have to understand something about Sarah. She is only just now realizing what we have done. She's been blissfully oblivious for over a year now. I have no idea what brought the realization home. We are urban pioneers Sarah. We have been for a year and a half, and we will continue to be until the house goes up in value enough that we can make a little money on our investment. The funny part is that in the last year our neighborhood has shown significant improvement. We have new sidewalks all down the street. This summer people actually mowed their lawns. The streets are MUCH quieter than they were last year. I see far fewer drug deals. And since several of us put up new fences, the drug dealers are no longer sitting right on our front steps. (Note to Sarah: Drug Lords don't live here. They can afford to live in much nicer houses than ours.) I am glad she got motivated to do something about the front garden-type-thing. I've only got enough motivation in me for the morning-glory-monster in the back yard now and then.

Now, about her experience at my church. I'm sorry the one comment at the end overshaddowed all the rest of the day for her. I heard a lot of interesting things to think about, and we were in exactly the same meetings. Those things weren't all expressed with the eloquence of a trained orator, but they were there. I guess I've had more practice listening for them. Our church is a group effort. Everyone participates. Absolutely everyone. That means our organist makes mistakes now and then. Our Communion is sometimes blessed by a man on crutches. Our speakers are earnest, but untrained. It's all organized, though, and runs smoothly each week. In spite of our human frailties. The experience can be a little uneven that way, but it has definitely taught me to be responsible for my own spiritual growth. I don't depend on a brilliant speaker - or even brilliant books - to feel inspired. I don't need pomp and circumstance to get a sense of the cosmic unknown. This is a gift I am deeply grateful for. I know how to prepare myself to touch the divine. So I feel I have a responsibility to participate in the community that has helped me learn to be spiritually mature. To throw my own human frailties into the mix, and hopefully help someone else feel inspired or comforted, or give them an example. That means putting all my weaknesses out there for everyone to see, and remembering to try to learn from everyone there. Even Sarah, fighting through her bitterness to some closure on this tragic week. So, Sarah, I hope it helped a little bit. I like your sense of commonality - the way you really feel exactly how disasters happen to the whole human family in a truly shared way, free of agendas. Thanks for broadening my view. (Let me know if that sounds pompous. That's not how it's intended.)