on this st. patrick's day

I was visited by a Jehovah's Witness. Ed had his life threatened. I saw a dear, old friend. Met a interesting bagpiper at an Italian restaurant. Watched Ed tear up at the sound of live pipes.

Most importantly, Ed. I received a somber phone call from Ed saying that some freak at work who we thought was our friend ended up saying something about "a bullet with his name on it." Talk about way outta left field. The saddest thing was that Ed was more concerned with what he had done to illicit such a response from someone who he had always treated with kindness rather than actually being scared for his life. The man never ceases to amaze me. And on St. Patrick's Day of all days. My poor Irishman couldn't have handled it better and I know that the Lord was with him; I can only hope that he draws strength from His constant presence.

A perfect segway. Enter Jehovah's Witness. There is also nothing more callous than having your faith challenged in the door to your own home. While I am always eager to hear about other religions, the discussion should never trivialize what another denomination believes. Especially during a special time such as Lent. Of course, Catholicism and Christianity has its faults, the good far outweighs the bad and I'll be damned if someone tries to claim that their faith is good and pure and all others are false and untrue.

Bagpipes remind Ed of his father.