With so much "heavy" stuff to talk about with regard to the sexual abuse crises in the church, I thought I would spend this column sharing with you my wonderful experiences that happen regularly on Sunday afternoon and evening.  It is during that time that I visit some of our shut-ins and people in the hospital (if we have parishioners there).  This ministry to the sick, aged and handicapped brings many blessings (especially the Eucharist and sometimes Anointing of the Sick) to them and to me as well.

After visiting our parishioners in the Village, I go into Hot Springs to see people there (and, at some point, to visit my mother who often has a delicious supper ready for me).  I regularly go to see people at Brookfield Assisted Living and at a group home a dear lady, Terry Ann, who is not all that old but is challenged both physically and intellectually.  At Brookfield I see four ladies most often together in the dining hall around their suppertime.  We chit chat and say things that make us all laugh, whether it be about them, the food there (which they often say is not so good) or the weather.  We always end our time with prayer, reception of Communion and a blessing.  I then go to the "group home" I mentioned where Terry Ann always greets me happily and has said to me on more than a few occasions that I'm her "best friend" or her "favorite priest."  This past week after greeting me, she broke out singing the "Happy Birthday" song to me from start to finish.  Our conversations don't get too far before she asks how my mother is doing (every week) and no visit is complete without talking about her favorite team, the Arkansas Razorbacks.  I thank God for these dear people in my life and ministry and for the opportunity to encounter them personally every week.  We truly light up each other's lives with the love and peace of the Lord dwelling in and among us.  Such experiences give me the grace I need to minister to all of God's people in good times and in challenging times as well.