WOW, what a great piece!

I really enjoyed reading this ... I never know what else to say without sounding like an literary expert, or a critic, and I am niether, just a person who enjoyed your writings.

- Thom

You blew me away! You are a man of great ability. Somehow,I feel proud of you,E.

Thom- Nothing needs be said, your presence here is honor enough for me to know pride at my humble letter above...

Circe- When you are blown away,I know I have done something worthy. I very much appreciate your comments and love that you have pride in me. Thank You my friend...

E

Well now my dear friend. Thou confuseth my simple mind, said he lapsing into quasi biblical terminology. But then to whom are you speaking as the Editor. Am I to understand that on the road back from the Giants causeway you marvelled at the magnitude of things that man could never do? Or have you travelled along a different road to Damascus, one that starts in Baghdad and passes though some terrible places before it reaches Damascus? Or alternatively are you just exercising your imagination and wondering what it might be like to believe in a god. Either way I enjoyed your musing. Regards to Mt T.

Mr. B- Perhaps it is all that you mentioned or perhaps none... I do not know what I do not know, therefore options are a possibility. Would be the greatest of errors to let that single grain of doubt go to waste especially if came to the point of standing at the gates and thinking to myself, "DAMN! I was wrong all this time!"

Great joy to have you visit. Mr. T is himself, a joy and a bane, but I would have it no other way!

Peace my friend, please come again!

E

E - that was absolutely awesome! Am I, then, to understand that you believe in a greater power? Truly awesome man, I am without words to do it justice.

E: No need for a dedication, but thanks. I don't feel like I have really done anything. I like they way you wrote this. Also in my opinion, you did forget one thing. He does not always correct with flame and fire. Sometimes we may feel that way, but He does do things gently like we do with our kids. A gentle nudge or an encouraging word to help us decide which direction we should go.
So did you put up a short timers calendar or buy one of those T-shirts (I assume they still sell them) where it states "SHORT!" and has a helmet on top of a pair of combat boots? And I haven't forgotten that I still owe you a beer.

My word, you did do well. Mr B didn't tell me about this - I have just opened it but I can tell you have him thinking. What a lot of thought you have given this and then managed to express yourself in the way the reader can almost understand the journey. A rare talent indeed.

One day i will send you a letter i sent to my minister of religion who asked us for topics to be part of teaching this autumn. I hesitate because i know you are not a believer and the last thing I want to be is evangalistic towards you!
Anyway, today was a lovely day 22 degrees and i played occassionally good golf. Are there really 2 c's and 2 s's in that word? anyway love to Miss M.
Bryan

Tony- I can only refer you to the comment reply to itsadogslife above... I do not know what I do not know...

Louisj- When it comes time for me to stand before the editor- fire and flame just may be the implements used in the process. I have made no calandars, I have made not shirts, no times, I am just counting the days in my head. They are packingmy house up around me as I sit and type this... It is a beautiful thing...

Auntie E- I do not know how the reader can understand this write. For I barely understand it myself. I get all these thoughts, concerns, doubts, Ideas runnign through my head and then I just sit and write it out. glad you liked...

Mr. B- Please do send the letter. I will forward our NEW home address via privae e-mail once I get there. There is a difference between forced preaching and a discussion on the topic of religion. Many times people ge3t very upset when I begin my discussion of religion and so forth with them. I have upset many a chaplain in my military career. I very much respect the choice to believe, I just ask for respect in my choice to not believe. This is why I dedicated this write to Louisj andd BigD, they very much respect my choice to not believe.

Raining and sucky here, but I am going home sooooooo...

Miss. M sends her love...

E

ok

You are Brilliant my friend just brilliant :).

Your avatar is the bomb! I LOVE beer! HEHEHEHE Perfect! I need to stop and visit, I am in a full sprint so my visiting of friends is suffering terribly. I hope everyone does not abandon me!

Peace...

E

hi E...

this is a really clever idea... i like it a lot!

it is interesting this lack/loss of faith that continually reappears in your writing.
it makes me wonder, however, 'why?' I mean, a person needs to live by their own truths and, should not such reflections quiet the conscience rather than inflame it to new turmoils? so, if you have your truth, why is there still a problem? Can't you be happy in the life you've made and accept the manuscript - without the 'editor's' corrections?
hmmmm....

cheers!
:)

Stick- Were we to accept a manuscript with out corrections, why would there be a need for a circle of squares, let alone a desire and drive to be a member of said circle? Were we to only publish what we think is perfected, I for one would probably never publish a thing. Thus this life! While it is worth publishing, living, and learning, it is still flawed and full of errors with discrepencies that may never be corrected until they day the editor has his say. If this is the case.

My lack of faith comes from lack of proof. Period...

Peace my friend...

E

Charles Wesley had a period of self doubt after failure of his mission in Georgia- and found his salvation in the words of a moravian preacher- " preach as though you had faith and faith will be given you." I found it to be so.. I am a " universalist"- I believe in a God of infinite forgiveness-it seems to me to be the only logical conclusion if God is truly love- and I believe him to be.. I know I am a minority- but I think more people would believe this- If they thought they were allowed to.. and I find comfort in the story of the prodigal son. if God- In a way I can't understand- can forgive Hitler and Manson and..then I can rejoice- and be part of the banquet- I'll never be the oldest son...and as to proof- there are just too many blessings in my life that are so improbable they can't be coincidence....may your heart find peace...

Pastor- I think I need to accept peace in my heart. I do have much to be thankful for. I just had a conversation with one of my brothers. He critizised my writings because they are all sad in conotation. I told him I do not "DO" happy, humor, funny stuff. I do not know why, no reason I can think of, other than sorrow is more embedded in my soul than happiness. And once again no reason for that either. I have a beautiful family and a wonderful life on the cusp of a military retirement, but consistantly find myself becoming sad. Although I have been MUCH, MUCH better in the past month or two, I still can not explain it. My mind wanders over many things constantly, God is but one of them... I think I explained it best in my comment to "Itsadogslife" above.

Peace my friend...

E

Well once again you wrote a piece of eternity upon our hearts. And you say you have no faith yet you write with such grace and conviction. Remember it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain.

Hebrew 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen.

If you search it is because you have hope and in turn hope becomes faith even when we see nothing within us to prove otherwise.

D

Well BigD I am not in search, "per Se'" but if I stumble upon it then I will not regret it once I get to jugement day and learn that it may have just saved my eternal soul...

E

If you go to bed with the realization that tomorrow is another day then you have faith. Nothing is a given in this world my friend.

BigD- Nothign is a given is right, therefor until I see it with my own eyes, I have doubt... Just is what it is... But I know I could be wrong!

E